Midwest

2. ‘Ice Dance’ sedge (Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’)

Zones: 5 to 9

Size: 12 to 15 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

3. Diabolo® ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Monlo’)

Zones: 3 to 7

Size: 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; moist, fertile, slightly acidic, well-drained soil

4. ‘Angelina’ sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’)

Zones: 6 to 9

Size: 4 to 6 inches tall and up to 2 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

5. Dwarf variegated elkhorn cedar (Thujopsis dolobrata ‘Nana Variegata’)

Zones: 5 to 7

Size: 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

6. ‘Pinot Noir’ rose mallow (Hibiscus ‘Pinot Noir’)

Zones: 4 to 9

Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil

7. Oso Easy® Paprika rose (Rosa ‘ChewMayTime’)

Zones: 3 to 9

Size: 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; moist, well-drained soil

8. ‘Rozanne’ hardy geranium (Geranium ‘Rozanne’)

Zones: 5 to 8

Size: 18 inches tall and 2 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

9. ‘Viridis’ cutleaf Japanese maple (Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Viridis’)

Zones: 5 to 8

Size: Up to 6 feet tall and 10 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

10. ‘Karl Foerster’ feather reed grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’)

Zones: 5 to 9

Size: 2 to 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

Photos, except where noted: Bill Johnson;  Michelle Gervais; Kerry Ann Moore; author, courtesy of Bobbie Schwartz