Armeria maritima, a lovely plant seldom seen in gardens, with low, grassy leaves and clusters of brilliant pink or white blooms in late spring and early summer. For added interest, use Rubrifolia with burgundy leaves.
Barren strawberries (Waldsteinia fragarioides) grow thick, spreading strawberry-like leaves in eastern North America. In April, they produce little yellow blooms and inedible fruit.
Basket-of-Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) thrives in many locations, including paving stones, gravel roads, rocky outcroppings, and retaining walls. This prolific blooming attracts butterflies and bees with enormous flower clusters in April and May.
The brilliant crimson autumn foliage gives bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum) its name. Many types bloom blue and purple in May and June, then sometimes throughout the season.
Brass buttons (Leptinella squalida) is a warm-weather evergreen groundcover plant with fern-like leaves and yellowish blooms. Platt s Black has black foliage that stand out against lighter plants
Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis), a shade-tolerant native groundcover, with tiny white blooms in spring and brilliant red fruits in October. Autumn leaves become festive bronzy-purple.
Plant evergreen Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) in water gardens or ponds for luxuriant fronds. Woodland or cottage gardens benefit from these lovely ferns