- Another great border plant, alyssum also adds fragrance to your garden. Available in individual colors of white, purple or rose, try mixing them to make a bicolor border. Use in sun to part sun beds, rock gardens or containers. Tuck some into hanging baskets to have fragrant flowers billowing down the sides.

-Of the two different types of begonias, these have masses of 1 inch blooms available in individual colors of scarlet, rose or white. Plant in part sun to shade in mass plantings or as borders. Also consider using them in containers and baskets. Fibrous begonia are very heat tolerant and can survive drought conditions for short periods. Mature height is 6 to 8 inches.

Coleus

-Coleus is most easily recognized by its colored foliage. Use as accents in beds, containers, and baskets. This mixed selection has reds, pinks, salmons and yellows variegated with green. Plant in partial shade to partial sun. A good companion for impatiens and begonias. Pinching flowers promotes more vegetative growth and branching. Grows to 12 to 14 inches.

Dahlia

-Double blooms of a mix of orange, red, violet, white, and yellow atop of 14 to 16 inch plants with glossy leaves. Dahlia make an impressive display when mass planted in a sunny bed. Containers look splendid with dahlias' bright blooms.

Dianthus

-Lacy serrated petals of a mix of pink, purple, and white solid and bicolor flowers reaching 1.5 inches across make this one of my favorite flowers. Dianthus are always dependable in the sunny garden, with great heat tolerance. This variety grows from 8 to 10 inches. When doing your fall cleanup, leave the dianthus planted, and they may surprise you by over wintering if they get enough snow cover.

Dusty Miller

-Dusty miller's silvery lobed foliage is a great accent for any color of flower. Plant in partial shade to partial sun, combining with plants such as petunia as a great border. Dusty Miller Silverdust are compact bushy plants growing to 8 inches.

Gazania

-Daisy like flowers with a dark center adorn 8 inch plants in a mix of oranges, yellows and pinks. Gazania prefer full sun locations, opening up in the morning when the sun hits them, then closing again at night. Gazania are tolerant of heat and drought and only need watering when dry. Perfect for windy locations.

Impatiens

-The number one annual choice for the shade or part shade. Flowers 1.5 inches across are available in individual colors of orange, red, rose, violet or white as well as a mixed pack. Growing to just 8 to 10 inches, these plants are perfect for a border planting or mass plantings. Combine with tuberous begonia, lobelia and coleus for baskets or containers.

Lobelia

-A classic trailing plant for shade or part shade baskets and containers. Available in blue or rose cascading varieties, mix with impatiens in baskets or containers, or by itself for a beautiful display of dainty flowers.

Marigold

-Bold, beautiful bright colors. A very dependable flower that requires little care, which is why it is found in so many large landscaping plantings. Available individually in yellow, mix, orange or mahogany on 10 inch plants. Use in full to partial sun plantings.

Nicotiana

-Clusters of fragrant flowers in red, rose, white or a mixture of colors on top of 10 inch plants. Space 10 inches apart to create a solid block of colors in full sun to part sun beds. They can also be used in borders.

Pansy

-These happy faces brighten anyone's face as soon as they see them. Tolerant to frost, they can be planted earlier than most annuals, and will continue to bloom well after the fall frosts. Use in sunny to part sun beds, containers and baskets. Great as a border as they grow to only 6 to 7 inches. Available in blue, yellow, pink shades or mixed packs.

Petunia

-One of the most popular bedding plants of all time. Use for mass displays, borders, in baskets, containers, and moss planters. Thriving in full sun, petunias are low maintenance plants requiring just occasional watering. This is one of the reasons they are used extensively in large landscape plantings and parks and commercial plantings. Plants grow 9 to 12 inches. Available in red, blue, white, pink, lilac or mix.

Portulaca

-Always a choice as a heat tolerant annual. Great for borders, planters and containers. They only require watering during extreme dry conditions. Semi double flowers in mixed colors on ground hugging plants.

Salvia

-Spikes of red flowers on compact 12 inch plants. Plant with dusty miller or alyssum as its border in a large bed in sun or part sun. Also suitable as the upright plant of a container with trailers around it. The blue variety is slightly taller than the red at 14 to 18 inches. It performs well in the center of a bed with shorter plants such as dusty miller or petunia around it.

Snapdragon

-Here's a plant that Grandma always grew. Always dependable with little care, and great for cut flowers. This variety grows to 10 inches and is suitable for sunny borders and mass plantings. Snapdragons are available in yellow, red, rose or mixed packs.

Statice

-A great dried flower selection. Plant a row in your garden or in a sunny flower bed for fresh or dried flower arranging. Harvest flowers after morning dew has dried and hang upside down. Available in mixed colored packs.

Verbena

-Verbena has clusters of flowers growing on top of 10 to 12 inch plants. A heat tolerant plant that is outstanding in sunny beds. It also performs well in baskets and containers. Deadhead regularly to promote continuous flowers. Available in mixed packs.

Vinca

-Tolerant of heat, vinca produces huge 2 inch blooms on 14 inch plants that have glossy leaves. Place on mass in sunny beds or in containers for a continuous show all summer. Available in mixed packs only.

Viola

-Resembling miniature pansies, violas bloom early in spring to late in fall. I remember seeing violas blooming last Halloween. Short compact 6 inch plant have an abundance of flowers all season. They prefer sunny locations, looking great as borders, mass plantings, baskets and containers. Available in blue or yellow.

Abutilon

Also known as flowering maple, abutilon produces hibiscus like flowers on 14 to 18 inch plants. They can be used for containers or indoors as a flowering plant with a range of flower colors including apricot, pink, coral, yellow, red and white. Plant in full sun to partial shade.

Tuberous Begonia

Tuberous begonia flowers can reach 3 to 4 inches across. Their large blooms are much showier than the fibrous begonias, coming in red, yellow, orange, pink, salmon or white. Use tuberous begonia in shaded to partly shaded beds, planters, containers and baskets. Mix with impatiens and coleus for an outstanding basket. Blooms appear in pairs. Pinch out the smaller, single bloom so that your double bloom lasts longer. Grows to 10 inches in height.

Dragon Wing Begonia

Heat tolerant dragon wings adapt easily to pots, baskets, and beds alike. The bell like blooms continue throughout the summer with minimal care in full shade to filtered sun locations. Choose from red, or pink flowers.

Datura

Upward facing white flowers give this plant the name Angel's Trumpet. Plant in full sun in beds or containers. Grows to 36 inches. Plant is toxic if eaten.

Draceana

Commonly called spikes, this grass like plant has frequently used in baskets and containers to add height and formality. Its use should not be limited to this however. Use it in beds as well to add different height levels to your garden. Draceana do equally well form shade to full sun.

Geranium

Always reliable for a huge display of color, geraniums are versatile for beds, planters, containers and baskets in full sun. Geraniums from cuttings are more shatter resistant and tolerant of harsh weather than their seed grown predecessor. Grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Choose from red, salmon, pink, white or violet.

Double Impatiens

Excellent for baskets, beds, window boxes, mixed containers and on their own in pots in shade to part shade. Miniature rose like flowers completely cover 10 to 12 inch plants. Colors could be either red, white, orange or salmon. Sold as mixed, so your color will be a surprise, sometimes with two in one pot.

New Guinea Impatiens

These New Guinea Impatiens grow to 12 inches with huge vibrant flowers. Plant in shade or morning sun with afternoon shade in beds, baskets or containers. Available in purple, red or pink.

Purple Majesty Ornamental Millet

This is a corn like plant with purple foliage and flowers. Purple Majesty is ideal in the middle or back of beds, growing to 5 feet tall with 12 to 14 inch flowers resembling cattails. The purple color of the foliage intensifies as it is moved from the greenhouse to full sun. This is an All American Selection that is a must for gardeners wanting something new.

Bacopa

A cascade of snowy white or blue flowers spill over the sides of a bacopa basket. Either alone or in combination, bacopa never quits. Plant in part sun to full sun, being sure to never let in dry out.

Brachycome

Miniature daisy like flowers on fine feathery foliage. The lavender flowers are suited for baskets, containers and rock gardens receiving full sun. They grow to a height of 6 inches.

Calibrachoa

Resembling miniature petunias, Calibrachoa look stunning in combinations or by themselves for containers and baskets. Plant in full to partial sun, keep evenly moist and enjoy the blooms all summer. They are self cleaning and generally maintenance free. Available in five colors to co-ordinate with any color palette, blue, pink, red, orange, yellow and white.

English Ivy

An evergreen foliage used to trail out or baskets and containers, or to climb up trellises. This versatile vine can be used in the sun or shade and is the perfect accent plant for any location.

Helichrysum

A silver or lemon color filler with soft velvety leaves. Plant in sun to part sun and pinch as required to maintain shape. Use in combinations as a contrast foliage plant to any color

Orchid Frost Lamium

Lamium can be used in combination planters for sun to partial shade. The green edged silver foliage bears pink blooms. They are deer resistant making them essential for planters frequented by our friends in nature.

Lamiastrum

Lamiastrum Jade Frost can be used in combination planters for shade to partial shade. The long trailing green edged silver foliage bears yellow blooms. They are deer resistant making them essential for planters frequented by our friends in nature. Jade Frost looks fabulous in baskets and patio containers to soften the edges.

Lobelia Waterfall

Cascading blue flowers perfect for containers and baskets. Plants do equally well in full sun to part sun locations. This low maintenance lobelia is heat tolerant and will bloom all summer long.  A must for blue lovers as it is a true blue flower.

Lotus

Soft silvery foliage of lotus makes it a perfect accent for any basket or container. It sometimes gets red parrot beak like flowers along its stems, especially in early and late summer when nights are cooler. Plant in full sun.

Lysimachia Goldilocks

The round golden leaves combine beautifully with purples and dark flowers. Use in sun or shade locations in baskets and containers to fall over the sides.

Nemesia

An upright plant growing 10 to 12 inches that combines well with trailing plants such as Calibrachoa and verbena. The fragrant flowers have yellow eyes and bloom all season with deadheading in blue and white.

Petunia wave

These low growing petunias reach only 6 inches in height, but spread to 3 to 4 feet. Flowers form along the entire length of the stem making them ideal for baskets or containers. Consider using them in beds as exciting brilliant groundcovers at the base of trees or as borders. Plant in full sun. Available in purple, misty lilac, blue, red, salmon, pink and white.

Scaevola

The purple fan flower from Australia. It can be used as a ground cover or a container and basket plant. Scaevola thrives in full sun. the unique shape of the flower is always an attention getter.

Swedish ivy

As an accent plant Swedish ivy works well in any color combination. Its white and green foliage is semi upright, arching upwards as it spills out of a container. This plant grows best in full sun locations, combining well with verbenas and geraniums.

Sweet Potato Vine

A fast growing vine for mixed baskets and containers in sun to partial sun. Available in three colors, blackie, tricolor and lime, any combination will benefit from one of the choices. Pinch the vines to encourage branching, and the sweet potato vine will give colors to pots even when some flowers have taken a rest in the midsummer heat or at the end of the summer.

Thunbergia

These climbing plants pop open in colors of yellow, buff and orange with black eyes. They will climb up hanging basket chains and trellises, as well as spill out of the sides of the containers. Use in full sun and partial shade for best display of color.

Torenia

A heat tolerant plant that thrives in shade and partial shade. Available in three colors, blue, white or pink. Combine torenia with other shade lovers like New Guinea impatiens, or plant it on it's own.

Verbena

Verbena can be used both as a container and basket plant as well as a groundcover. Their lacy leaves show off the clusters of brilliant raspberry, plum, pink, or red flowers. Use in combination with other flowers, or just as beautiful on their own.

Angelonia

Orchid like flowers on 18 inch plants. Angelonia thrives in heat and is tolerant of both very wet to very dry soil. Plant angelonia in full sun and it will reward you with abundant purple flowers that attract butterflies to your garden and containers. It is easy to maintain, with no deadheading required. Angelonia is great when combined with basket stuffers blue wave petunias and misty lilac wave petunias in this container

Butterfly Argyranthemum

Butterfly Argyranthemum add intense yellow color in any arrangement or bed. It grows to a height of 14" in full sun locations. Deadhead the flowers to promote more blooms, and it will continue flowering until frost. Try these yellow flowers with red Calibrachoa or blue Calibrachoa and Lysimachia all found in the basket stuffer section.

Cherry Argyranthemum

Cherry daisy flowers with a yellow center make a perfect focal point for containers. Growing to 18 inches, these sun lovers bloom until the first frost and attract butterflies all summer.

White Argyranthemum

There is nothing like white daisies in a summer garden. Use in full sun beds or containers and combine the 18 inch plants with any color, or keep it fresh in combination with white wave petunias and white nemesia from the basket stuffers. As with most daisy like flowers, butterflies are attracted to them, so make sure you deadhead to keep new flowers coming.

Canna

Ideal for beds or in the centre of large containers, cannas add a bit of the tropics to your garden. The red variety grows 30 to 36 inches. The more compact yellow grow 24 to 36 inches. Often seen in full to partial sun formal beds in parks and boulevards, try them in the centre of a container surrounded by geraniums and vines spilling over the sides.

Kong Coleus

A vibrant plant with leaves that reach up to 12" in length. Plant in Shade or morning sun only as stronger light can fade color. Use in shady corners of beds or mix with other shade lovers in containers. Leaf centres vary from bright rose to red and scarlet.

Pineapple Coleus

A stunning combination of lime green, yellow and red foliage on top of this 12 - 18 inch plant. Use for sun to shade plantings in beds or as a height plant in containers. Pinch blooms as they appear to keep foliage looking its best.

Red Ruffles Coleus

Red rose leaves with burgundy accents combine well with pinks and yellows, either flowers or other foliage plants, for striking containers. Use this 12 to 16 inch plant in the back or centre of your pot and place it in sun to part sun for best results.

Rustic Orange Coleus

Different hues of oranges and salmon orange with yellow green margins make this a unique thriller plant for containers. Reaching a height of 12 to 16 inches, combine with other sun to shade flowers for rave reviews.

Euphorbia

Tiny white flowers cover this annual all summer long.  This plant is heat tolerant and self cleaning and will rapidly become one of your favorites.  Use it alone or in combination for baskets and containers, or try it in a bed.  Euphorbia grows 12 to 18 inches high.

Fuchsia

Heat and sun tolerant fuchsia that grow up to 20 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The small blooms hang in clusters to add variety to planters and window boxes and are attractive to hummingbirds. Plant in part shade. Available in red and white and red and blue flowers. They may require daily watering depending on conditions. Fuchsia do not like to dry out.

Lantana

Clusters of flowers form on these heat tolerant sun lovers. Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the fragrant bushes, but deer avoid them, perfect for at the cabin or in the back yard. Red flowers fade to orange and then yellow on 42 inch plants. After the first bloom, prune the plants to shape and encourage more bloom. The yellow flowered lantana are more mounding and grow to 14 inches. Rose lantana grows to 20 inches, and it's flowers fade to light yellow in the centre.

Perilla

A completely versatile plant, perilla thrives in conditions from full shade to full sun. The coleus like purple leaves are both heat and cold tolerant, and combine beautifully with geraniums and New Guinea Impatiens alike. These plants grow up to 36 inches, so be sure to put shorter plants in front.

Quartz Creek Juncus

This grass has stiff upright foliage that grows to 15 to 24 inches in full sun. Use in beds or containers where heat and drought tolerance is needed. Plant in full to partial sun.

Isolepis Live Wire

Flowers on the ends of the fine foliage resemble fiber optics.  Use in combination planters to have soft green leaves cascade over the sides, or on its own. Live Wire prefers shade, but will do well in sun if given enough moisture. It grows 8 to 12 inches tall.

Pennisetum Rubrum

This grass adds movement to your containers and the purple blooms catch the breeze and sway atop of burgundy foliage. Use in the landscape or in combination planters with sweet potato vine, Lysimachia and blue nemesia. This fountain grass is also used for fresh and dried arrangements.

Eragrostis Wind Dancer

Use in large containers or the landscape to enjoy the blue green leaves of Wind Dancer.  Airy plumes appear in July, with the leaves maturing to tan in autumn.  Leave in the garden over winter to enjoy the character of the plumes when the snow flies.  It grow to 36 to 48 inches and prefers full sun.