Euonymus fortunei 'Emerald 'n' Gold' (Wintercreeper)

The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 97 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, vines, shrubs, and small trees, belonging to the order Celastrales. The great majority of the genera are tropical, with only Celastrus (the staff vines), Euonymus (the spindles), and Maytenus widespread in temperate climates, and Parnassia (bog-stars) found in alpine and arctic climates.

Of the 97 currently recognized genera of the family Celastraceae, 19 are native to Madagascar and these include at least 57 currently recognized species. Six of these 19 genera (Brexiella, Evonymopsis, Hartogiopsis, Polycardia, Ptelidium, and Salvadoropsis) are endemic to Madagascar.

• A full sun to full shade lover, this plant is easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Grow in full sun if your soil is moisture retentive. Tolerates a wide range of soils excluding boggy and wet soils.
• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• Watch for Euonymus scale, anthracnose, crown gall, leaf spot, mildew, and aphids.
• Extremely versatile, Euonymus fortunei may be used as a trailing ground cover, a low hedge, as an edging plant along paths, massed on slopes to control erosion, or as a foundation plant. With support, it will climb vigorously and is ideally trained against a shady wall.
• All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested.

Salvia nemorosa 'May Night'

May Night Salvia is a valued high performer in the garden. An upright clumping herbaceous perennial, May night has vibrant violet-purple flower spikes above clumps of soft green leaves. Extend flowering, and promote re-blooming by deadheading. Its showy flowers and fragrant nectar attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This showy perennial is excellent for mixed borders, perennial beds, and patio containers. Great for cut flowers. Heat and drought-resistant. Deer and rabbit resistant.

Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Northern Lights’

This colorful selection of Hair Grass forms a well-behaved clump of narrow leaves, strongly striped with creamy white and green, blushed with pink in the spring. Plants fit well into borders as an edging, in the rock garden, or in mixed containers. Rarely flowers. In warm summer regions, this grows best in partial shade. Clumps may be easily divided in spring or early autumn. Remove any all-green portions of the plants as soon as noticed, since these are more vigorous and will eventually take over the entire clump. Evergreen.

Mentha requienii

Mentha requienii, commonly called Corsican mint or creeping mint, is a miniature mat-forming plant that typically grows to only 1/2" to 1" tall but spreads by thread-like stems which creep along the ground rooting as they go 12" wide or more to form a dense flat diminutive ground cover. It is particularly effective as an aromatic filler growing around stepping stones where light foot traffic will release a pleasing mint/sage aroma. Leaves are evergreen in mild winter climates but not in St. Louis. This mint is native to the Islands of Corsica, Sardinia, and Montecristo. Tiny round green leaves (to 1/8" across) have a strong aroma when bruised. Leaves are the source of the flavoring in creme-de-menthe. Tiny minute lilac flowers bloom from the leaf axils in summer (late June -August). Flowers are so small they are often not seen.

Taxus x media hillii

Hill's Yew will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. However, you may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.

Maianthemum racemosum (False Spikenard)

Maianthemum racemosum (False Spikenard) is a great-looking perennial in the garden with its graceful, slightly arching stems featuring narrow, ovate, pointed, mid-green leaves with strong parallel veins running up to the tip. Rich with a rose fragrance, plume-like clusters of small, white flowers appear in mid to late spring. They give way to showy, ruby red berries in late summer, often persisting into fall unless earlier consumed by wildlife. The foliage of this North American native turns a lovely yellow in fall. It resembles that of the true Solomon's seals (Polygonatum spp.), but the latter has pendulous, axillary, bell-like flowers.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• This clump-forming perennial grows up to 1-3 ft. high (30-90 cm) and slowly spreads by thick rhizomes, often forming large colonies in the wild.
• Performs best in part shade, in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Rich, moist, humusy soils are preferred. Intolerant of heat and humidity.
• Easy to grow, False Spikenard is a welcomed addition to shady borders, cottage gardens, woodland gardens, naturalized areas or in moist areas near streams or ponds. Most effective when planted in groups of six or more.
• No serious pest or disease issues.
• Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame in autumn. Propagate by division of rhizomes in spring.
• Native to North America.