Mexican Heather, or False Heather, is a small, low-maintenance, multi-stemmed plant native to Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. Its origin in warm climates allows it to thrive in heat.

Sea holly, a low-maintenance perennial in the carrot family, grows in stiff, erect clumps 1- to 3-ft. tall and 1- to 2-ft. wide. Its unusual, spiky flower heads resemble a thistle.

Plant sea holly in full sun and well-drained sandy or loamy soil. The more sun this plant receives, the more intensely colored the blue flowers will be.

Ajuga is a rapidly growing broadleaf, evergreen to semi-evergreen, perennial ground cover in the mint family. Its compact, dense mat of gray-silver, green, purple-lavender, or bronze leaves has beautiful small clusters of pink, blue, purple-lavender, or white 4- to 6-in. erect flower spikes in mid to late spring. Its flowers attract bumblebees, hummingbirds, and songbirds.

Rattlesnake Master is a native herbaceous perennial in the carrot family. The common name may refer to previous traditional medicinal use by Native Americans, although not necessarily for rattlesnake bites. Native Americans used the leaves to weave baskets and sandals. This plant was selected as the 2016 NC Wildflower of the Year.

Persian Shield is grown for its showy foliage -- deep purple, lilac and green overlaid with silvery highlights on older leaves, creating an unusual metallic or iridescent sheen on the upper surface. The lower leaf surface is a solid purple-maroon.

Known as Coastal Witch-alder or Dwarf Fothergilla, this plant has three seasons of interest: white, bottle brush-like flowers in spring; leathery blue-green leaves in summer; and a kaleidoscope of gold/yellow, orange, and red/burgundy foliage in fall.

Glossy abelia is a medium-sized, round, dense, multistemmed shrub in the honeysuckle family. It has arching branches and small, glossy, dark green leaves with tinges of red. The flowers are clusters of small white-to-pink bell-shaped, fragrant blooms from late spring to fall. The shrub has a moderate growth rate and, depending on the cultivar, grows from 2- to 8-ft. tall and 3- to 6-ft. wide.

The familiar pot-grown holiday amaryllis can be planted in the garden where they are impressive when grown in clumps of 10 plants or more of the same color. Use them as a foundation planting against nearby evergreen shrubbery. Amaryllis can survive the winter outdoors in zones 7 and 8 if mulched 2- or 3-in. deep. (Plants are injured at temperatures below 35 degrees F.)

This plant in the amaranth family -- with its glossy, bright red, green, white to variegated leaves -- rarely blooms in cultivation and is grown for its showy foliage. It can be grown as both an annual and as a houseplant.

In the garden, this plant requires moist though well-drained soil and full sun for the best color. It grows 12- to 18-in. tall and 12- to 36-in. wide. Pinching back is recommended to maintain shape and to promote bushier foliage, and removing buds concentrates the plant's energy in producing its colorful foliage.

Curlyleaf Yucca is a perennial broadleaf, clumping evergreen shrub native to the Southeastern US. It grows 3- to 8-ft. tall and 3- to 5-ft. wide. A 5- to 6-ft. tall panicle of showy, long-lasting, waxy, creamy-white, bell -shaped flowers appears in late spring to early summer. Hummingbirds, moths, small mammals, and songbirds are attracted to the plant, but it is pollinated by specialized moths called yucca moths.