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Every garden must have an iris. Our splendid Sibirica iris grows up to four feet tall with 50-plus blooms at maturity. If that's too tall, consider the little pumilus varieties. Pictured is Iris pumilus 'Navy Doll.'

Zone: 3

Location: Sun, Partial Sun/Shade

Height: 8 inches

Price: $9.25

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This Ligularia offers something new and a bit different. Thick, deep green leaves grow on purple petioles. Undulating leaf margins reveal the glossy, burgundy undersides. The blooms are similar to other yellow daisy-like Ligularias but the foliage is awesome. We'll still have our four or five other varieties if you are just getting started with these wonderful plants. Prices vary.

Zone: 3

Location:Sun or Shade

Height: 2 feet

Price: $10.50

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The first time I laid eyes on this beauty was in Enkoping, Sweden, at the public gardens inspired by Piet Oudolf. Piet is probably the most outstanding designer today. Later, I saw an entire field of these at one of the wholesale nurseries. It was late August and they were in full bloom still and with no mildew. Obtaining plants from foreign countries isn't easy, and I thought I wouldn't be able to share but my Amsterdam friends are doing the go-between thing. We've been working with them for about 10 years now.

Zone: 3

Location: Sun

Height: 24 inches

Price: $10.50

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We'll have at least 15 varieties of this old-fashioned, romantic, easy-to-grow and extremely hardy beauties this season. With more than 3,000 in our fields, we won't be running out of this one anymore. Of course, we'll have all the popular standbys, but also some of the more unusual varieties. Pictured is the Japanese 'Nippon Beauty.' See our Paeonia page with full instructions and all the varieties offered, plus an update on the state of Alaska, Division of Agriculture, peony project.

Zone: 3

Location: Sun

Height: 30-40 inches

Price: $16.50

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Yes, I admit the name had some influence on my choice. This new series has the key advantages of earlier bloom times, more blooms and a compact uniform habit. Outstanding dark violet-purple flowers. We'll have our standby Penstemon that naturalize nicely and another new one from Terra Nova Nurseries, 'Dark Towers.'

Zone: 3

Location: Sun

Height: 8-12"

Price: $9.25

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Occupying the No. 1 position on our Top 20 year after year we finally gave Primula its own page on our web site. In the past I've been limited to what I could propagate from my own seedlings or plants, as I knew of no wholesale primula growers. That's changed as a result of my overseas travels this fall. No more stingy, only 10 or 12 of anything unusual. There will still be some "rare" varieties that will be limited but I'm sure hoping now we'll be able to share our enthusiasm for the wonderful world of Primula. Pictured is one of the Wanda cultivars in our gardens. It's a winner for Alaskans. Super easy to grow and spreads quite respectfully.

Zone: 3

Location: Sun, Partial Sun/Shade

Height: 3 inches

Price: $8.25

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Another favorite of Piet Oudolf selected for its superior flowers and upright, bushy habit. The tall spikes of intense blue violet flowers are complimented by the low clumping, grey-green foliage.

Zone: 3

Location: Sun

Height: 25 inches

Price: $8.25

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Rock gardens are becoming more and more favorites of Alaskans. They look great the first day you plant them! And with the hypertufa craze upon us, we're very pleased to offer four new sempervivum. Pictured is 'Sanford Hybrid.'

Zone: 3

Location: Sun

Height: Mere inches

Price: $5.00