Geranium pratense 'Midnight Reiter' (Meadow cranesbill)

A hardworking, compact perennial, ‘Etain’ violet blooms intermittently throughout spring, summer, and fall. It forms wellbehaved clumps, unlike other violets that are usually spreading ground covers. Like all violets, ‘Etain’ enjoys regular fertilizing, steady watering, and frequent deadheading. The attractive, fleshy, bright green foliage needs protection from slugs and can be cut back if it gets too leggy.

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Heucheras have undergone a breeding revolution in the last decade, with dozens of new cultivars appearing in many combinations of foliage color. While all are pleasing foliage plants, the lighter-colored varieties, with leaves in the amber-to-gold range, seem better adapted to shade. The most popular of these shade-loving varieties is Dolce® Key Lime Pie, with bright gold–chartreuse leaves. This evergreen gem prefers excellent drainage and will light up a dark, shady area.

Clematis integrifolia is no longer only blue. This selection produces progeny with pink, white, and lavender blooms from midspring until late summer. The flowers are followed by attractive seed heads in fall. It has a compact, herbaceous form and grows to just 10 to 14 inches tall.

Dianthus 'Bath's Pink' is a stunning, wide-spreading ground cover with grassy, blue-green foliage and pink flowers. Use it to edge a bed or grow it in your rock garden for a splash of cool color. To keep its blooms going, be sure to deadhead.