Common name:Pansy
Botanical name:Viola

Okay, so you might not think of pansies as a low-water plant, but given that they are typically planted in the fall or early spring, they manage on very little supplemental watering, at least until summer. So, used in those seasons, they may be well suited to a water-wise garden. They come in too many colors and combinations to mention. They are all relatively low-growing, and bloom when its cool. A wonderful companion to flowering cabbage and kale. Just don't put them out in the sun in the hot summer months and expect them to thrive.

Common name:Japanese Anemone
Botanical name:Anemone x hybrida

Japanese anemone are a long-lived, fibrous-rooted perennial with lovely single or multi-petaled flowers in late summer to early fall, depending on the cultivar. Its habit is upright, with the flowers appearing on long stems held over the foliage. Foliage is green, a little crinkly, and lobed. Flower colors include white, pink, and rose. Once established, it spreads as long as the roots remain undisturbed. Nice in shady perennial or shrub borders; a lovely cut flower. Grows about 2 to 4 feet tall, and about half as wide (depending on the cultivar) but it will spread with time.

Common name:Dalmatian Bellflower
Botanical name:Campanula portenschlagiana

Dalmatian bellflower is a mat forming perennial, growing about 6 to 12 inches tall, and 1 to 2 feet wide (though in time, it may spread wider). It has finely textured, dark green leaves that are covered by purple-blue, open bell-shaped flowers mid- to late summer. This bellflower tolerates drier soils and more shade than some of the others, and so is a fine addition to shadier, but drier rock gardens, the edges of perennial borders, and parkstrips.

Common name:Golden Creeping Jenny, Moneywort
Botanical name:Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea'

Golden creeping jenny is a trailing groundcover that grows in most situations, but prefers shade and moderate moisture. Its yellow fragrant flowers have 5 rounded petals nestled in the round leaf pairs in May and June. It forms dense mats of golden yellow to chartreuse foliage that can become invasive, but is well suited as a ground cover with larger, woody shrubs. Is attractive in rock walls and cascading out of pots.