
- a dense, shrubby groundcover,
- opposite, ovate leaves,
and
- blue flowers with five petals fused partway into a distinctive "propellor" shape.

Apocynaceae
Vinca major
Periwinkle

- a low, creeping groundcover with opposite, elliptical leaves,
and
- blue flowers with 5 petals fused into a distinctive "propeller" shape.

Apocynaceae
Vinca minor
Dwarf Periwinkle

- a low evergreen herb,
- leaf margins that can be entire or coarsely toothed,
and
- flowers with four petals that can be lilac to reddish-purple.

Brassicaceae
Aubrieta deltoidea
Common Aubrieta

- erect stems with narrow, gray-green leaves,
and
- clusters of mauve flowers with the standard floral structure of the mustard family.

Brassicaceae
Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'
Bowles Mauve Wallflower

- narrow leaves that are shiny, dark, and thick,
- numerous white (or purple) flowers in clusters at the top of tall stems,
and
- flowers that have two small petals and two opposite larger ones.

Brassicaceae
Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen Candytuft

- a low branching and trailing plant, growing up to 1 foot tall,
and
- tiny, white or purple, four-petaled flowers crowded in clusters.

Brassicaceae
Lobularia maritima
Sweet Alyssum

- a mass of green stems up to 3 feet high,
- alternate pinnately-compound leaves,
- terminal leaflets that are so deeply lobed as to look like three separate leaflets,
- large, terminal flower buds in early spring,
and
- large, showy, fragrant flowers in late spring.

Paeoniaceae
Paeonia lactiflora
Herbaceous Peony

- grows slowly to 3-5 feet tall
- large flowers, 10-12 inches across, appear in spring
- large leaves of 3-5 leaflets

Paeoniaceae
Paeonia suffruticosa
Tree Peony

- rounded or spreading large shrub or small tree
- dark green leaves up to 3 inches long
- flowers from spring into early summer

Papaveraceae
Dendromecon harfordii
Island Bush Poppy

- bright orange flowers with four petals,
and
- a sea of soft, finely divided gray-green foliage.

Papaveraceae
Eschscholzia californica
California Poppy

- brightly colored flowers with crumpled petals and many stamens,
- visible hairs on the flower stalks and buds,
and
- a rosette of blue-green leaves with irregular lobes.

Papaveraceae
Papaver nudicaule
Iceland Poppy

- stiff, horizontal branches in a herringbone pattern
- deciduous
- small bright green leaves turn orange and red before falling
- attractive groundcover if given enough room; do not prune

Rosaceae
Cotoneaster horizontalis
Rock Cotoneaster

- strongly resembles strawberry (Fragaria vesca) but the flowers are yellow and the fruit is held upright
- bright green leaves with 3 leaflets
- yellow half-inch flowers are followed by red, tasteless half-inch fruit
- a simple groundcover that doesn't need much care but can be invasive

Rosaceae
Duchesnea indica
Indian Mock Strawberry

- deep pink buds open to single white flowers
- fragrant and very profuse blooms
- small yellow fruit

Rosaceae
Malus floribunda
Japanese Flowering Crabapple

- fast-growing flowering tree
- single rose-red flowers
- large orange-red fruit can be used for jelly

Rosaceae
Malus 'Hopa'
Hopa Crabapple

- a common low-maintenance landscaping bush or small tree
- leaves are elliptical to oval, up to 5 inches long, and dark red when new
- has flat clusters of small white flowers in the spring

Rosaceae
Photinia x fraseri 'Birmingham'
Birmingham Photinia

- a small tree with erect branches and dark-brown glossy bark
- leaves are shiny green, ovate acuminate, and very noticeably serrate (hence the specific epithet)
- flowers make a big display in the spring with 3-5 one-inch flowers in a cluster

Rosaceae
Prunus serrulata
Japanese Flowering Cherry

- a vigorous evergreen climber,
- long, spreading stems with very few thorns,
- pinnately-compound leaves with 3 or 5 glossy, leathery leaflets,
and
- large clusters of small yellow or white flowers.

Rosaceae
Rosa banksiae
Lady Banks' Rose

- a shrub that grows 5-6 feet tall with arching branches,
- many double white flowers,
and
- diamond-shaped blue-green leaves up to 3 inches long.

Rosaceae
Spiraea cantoniensis
Double Bridal Wreath