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Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia Archangel™) Raspberry Improved is a profusely blooming, magenta colored angelonia. It bloomed from early summer to fall in my zone 7a garden, and did well in a partly sunny location. I regret not overwintering it, as the Angelonia cultivar I picked up this year did not grow as large, spread as well, or bloom as profusely as Raspberry Improved did.

American Wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) 'Amethyst Falls' produces deep lavender blossoms in late spring to early summer, with a rebloom in late summer. A native to eastern North America, 'Amethyst Falls' is a profuse bloomer and grows to about 8-10 feet long. It grows more slowly than its Asian counterparts, and does not damage buildings. Wisteria frutescens is a larval host plant for the Marine Blue Butterfly and several Skipper Butterfly species, including, Silver-spotted, Horace's Duskywing, Zarucco Duskywing, and the Long-tailed Skipper. Its blossoms have a sweet, musky fragrance.

In my zone 7a garden, Viola cornuta is a hardy perennial that bloomed with the crocuses in early spring and is still blooming in early fall. 'Penny White' is one of my more robust V. cornuta cultivars and has been in bloom almost continuously since March. It also has thrown off volunteers -- it is such a delight to see violets blooming in the pavement cracks instead of spotted spurge weed. Viola cornuta is also a larval host plant for a variety of fritillary butterflies. Viola cornuta grows happily in my garden in moist soil in a part sun location.

Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) 'Lavender Towers' produces long pale lavender spikes of flowers in late spring to midsummer. A native of eastern North America, Culver's Root has special value to native and honey bees, and attracts a variety of bee species, including leafcutter, rustypatched bumble, sweat, yellowfaced, longhorned, green sweat, mason, green metallic, and masked bee species. Culver's Root also attracts beneficial insects to the garden, including syrphid flies, bee flies, thickheaded flies, and pollinating wasp species. A variety of butterflies are attracted to Culver's Root, including Red Admiral, Azure, and Eastern Tailed Blue Butterflies.

Speedwell (Veronica peduncularis) 'Georgia Blue' is a lovely, spreading Veronica that features bright blue blossoms in early to mid spring. Works nicely as a ground cover. It likes full sun, and given its early bloom time, will grow well in areas that may become shaded later in the summer. The leaves turn a bronze color in the fall, making this a multiseason ornamental groundcover.

Speedwell (Veronica) 'Giles van Hees' is a compact Speedwell cultivar that blooms profusely from early to late summer. Its rosy pink blossom spikes can be deadheaded to encourage the growth of additional blooming spikes. 'Giles van Hees' does well in a sunny spot, but its stalks may scorch in all-day sun. Avoid wet, poorly drained soils, as this may lead to root rot.

Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop' produces lovely, globe-shaped violet blossoms from early summer to frost. It is a pollinator magnet, especially for Skipper Butterflies. Bees will also visit it. A native of South America, it is hardy in zones 7-11 but may not survive a particularly harsh zone 7 winter. However, it may remain in the garden through self-seeding. In some warmer climates it can spread aggressively.

Waterlily Tulip (Tulipa kaufmanniana) 'Hearts Delight' is a cheerful, early spring bloomer. The large red, rose, and golden blooms sit atop short stems, with petals that spread out horizontally, creating a "water lily" look in the garden. Because of their short height, Kaufmanniana tulips work well at the front of borders, in rock gardens, or in containers.

Tulip 'Red Impression' is an absolutely gorgeous cultivar. Its large bulbs send up enormous, 20-22 inch stalks topped by huge brilliant red, silky blooms, so vibrant they look almost unreal in every photo I have of them. 'Red Impressions' is a Division 4 (Darwin Hybrid) tulip, known as the 'longest term perennial' tulip group. 'Red Impressions' blooms in midspring and does best in full sun.

Virginia spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) produces purple blossoms in the late spring to early summer. Reaching up to 3 feet tall, it likes average to moist soil and part sun. Native to eastern North America, it is a nectar source for butterflies and has special value to native and bumble bees. In my zone 7a garden, it is mildly aggressive and its deep roots make it a chore to dig up.

Red Creeping Thyme (Thymus praecox 'Coccineus Group') creates an attractive groundcover mat, perfect for herb gardens or rock gardens. Its pink summer-time blooms attract bees. Thyme is also a useful companion plant, attracting hover-flies, mini-wasps, and tachinid flies. These beneficial insects feed on a variety of common garden pests. Red Creeping Thyme does well in medium to dry soil in full sun.

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) has value to the garden as a companion plant, reportedly attracting ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic mini-wasps, and tachinid flies, and helping to repel Japanese beetles, striped cucumber beetle, squash bugs, ants, and flies. It has a long history of use as a medicinal herb and as an insect repellant. Unfortunately, Tansy is an aggressive seeder that has become invasive in many areas.

Signet Marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia) 'Lemon Gem' grows easily from seed and produces abundant bright yellow, small blossoms all season long. The leaves are fine-textured, almost fern-like. Like most Marigolds, it is a useful companion plant in the garden, helping to repel tomato hookworm, asparagus beetle, and some nematodes. 'Lemon Gem' does well in full sun.

Texas Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) produces small yellow blossoms in mid to late summer. It has considerable use in the garden as a companion plant, helping to repel aphids, whiteflies, cabbage maggot, corn earworm, Mexican bean beetle, rabbits, some nematodes, and plum curculio. Native to Mexico and Central America, Tagetes lucida can be used as a tarragon substitute in cooking, and is used as a medicinal tea in in Mexico and Central America.

Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) 'Yankee Doodle' produces a profusion of vivid magenta, fragrant blossoms in the late spring. Flowers best each year if the blossoms are deadheaded immediately after fading. Syringa vulgaris is a larval host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the Spicebush Swallowtail butterflies. Prefers cooler summers, and in my Zone 7a garden it is prone to powdery mildew in the late summer.

Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) 'October Skies' is a low-growing aster with light blue lavender blossoms that appear in late summer to early fall. 'October Skies' spreads out rather than growing tall. It is a nectar source for butterflies and has special value to native bees. Aromatic aster also supports conservation biological control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden. The seedheads may be enjoyed by birds.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) 'Purple Dome' produces deep purple blossoms in the late summer and fall till frost. Native to North America, it is a larval host plant for the Pearl Crescent and Gorgone Checkerspot Butterflies. It is a key nectar source for Monarch, Common Buckeye, and other butterflies, a preferred nectar plant for late season butterflies and moths, and is a Monarch Way Station plant. It also has special value to native bees, including small carpenter, leafcutter, longhorned, cuckoo, and green sweat bees, as well as to bumble and honey bees. Certain mining bees have evolved as specialists of this plant. New England Aster also attracts beneficial insects to the garden, such as bee flies, syrphid flies, and soldier beetles. Birds also enjoy the seedheads.

Stokes' Aster (Stokesia laevis) 'Honeysong Purple' produces intense lavender-blue blooms in mid to late summer and into the early fall. Stokes' Aster is a good source of nectar for late season pollinators, and attracts butterflies and bees. A native of the southeastern United States, it has special value to native bees. 'Honeysong Purple' does well in full sun with well-drained soil.

This nonblooming cultivar has attractive, silvery green leaves that are soft and velvety to the touch. Grows best in full sun in organically rich soil. Sends out runners and spreads in optimum growing conditions. Last summer, it took over half of the bed it was in! Foliage provides interesting texture and color contrast. This cultivar remains quite short and works as a groundcover.

Japanese Spirea (Spiraea japonica) 'Little Princess' produces tons of delicate pale pink blossoms in the late spring and early summer. With deadheading, it will continue to produce blossoms throughout the summer. When in bloom, it is a pollinator magnet, attracting both bees and butterflies. 'Little Princess' does best in full sun. Foliage turns reddish in autumn.