Midwest native coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) bloom throughout
the summer. Plants range in height from 16 inches to 4 feet,
depending on the variety. One of our favorites, 'Kim's Knee-
High', tops out at 16-20 inches, and doesn't flop over in the
wind and rain. Traditional colors are pink-purple and white, but
new cultivars such as 'Tomato Soup' showcase red, yellow and
other bright hues. Evergreen and tough, Lenten rose (Helleboros
orientalis) is a shade-lover that often blooms while the snow is
still on the ground. Flowers come in shades of purple, red,
near-black, white, green, and pink. Plant it near a walkway so
you can enjoy the show in March. Each plant grows about a foot
tall and 18 inches across. Virginia bluebells (Mertensia
virginica), a spring flower, sport pink buds that blossom into
pink-purple blooms. Happy in sun or shade, each plant grows 2
feet high and wide. Bluebells easily reseed themselves, so a
colony can grow larger over the years. Plant Virginia bluebells
behind a summer bloomer to h