Tagetes patula

Family name: Asteraceae

Common name: french marigold

Origin: Mexico, Guatemala

Habit: chic, neat, little growth habit

Flowers: yellow, orange, red and bicolor, showy and fragrant flowers

Water use: medium

Soil: well-drained

Other feature: it needs low-maintenance, attracts butterflies and bees and hummingbirds. Watch for spider mites

It is suitable for beds, containers, edging. 

Exposure: sun

Agapanthus africanus

Family name: Amaryllidaceae

Common name: African lily

More info: It is an arching plant with evergreen leaves. 

The flowers are blue/white and showy.

The plant has medium water use and the soil should be well drained. 

Landscape uses include pots and containers.

Exposure: Sun, Semi-shade.

Phormium tenax

Family name: Xanthorrhoeaceae

Common name: New Zealand flax

More info: It is not a hardy plant, It has a rarely red and showy flower. It is a great architectural plant. Watch for mealybugs and slugs. Leaf spot may damage the foliage. 

Leaf: colorful evergreen leaves

Water use: medium

Landscape uses: sink pots to the rim in garden areas. It is suitable for pots, containers, patios and decks.

Habit: erect clumps

Lobelia erinus

Family name: Campanulaceae

Common name: lobelia

Habit: dense, spreading

Leaf: laterally symmetrical leaves, cut in half,  

Flower: blue to violet with yellow to white throat, showy

Landscape uses: edging plant, hanging baskets, containers, window boxes, baskets, rock gardens, butterfly gardens, 

It needs low-maintenance, there is no serious insect or disease problems. Dies back in usually the most serious problem for this plant

It can tolerate deer and it is annual plant 

Exposure: sun, semi-shade

Soil: well-drained

Water use: medium

Rhodochiton atrosanguineus

Family name: Plantaginaceae
Common name: purple bell vine
Habit: climbing
Flowers: long stalks, 5 petals, bell-shaped flower
Soil: well-drained, acidic, alkaline, neutral, moist, light
Landscape uses: wall-side borders city and courtyard gardens patio and container plants
Limitation: DO not plant it until after danger of frost has past protect from strong wind
It is half hardy perennial which prefers light, well-drained soil, cold sensitive
Hard zone: 10-11

Lathyrus odoratus

Family name: Fabaceae

Common name: sweet pea

Habit: spreading, climbing form

Flowers: fragrant, showy, pink

Water use: medium

Soil: well-drained

It has green fruit, legume annual plant, there is no serious insect r disease problems. Watch for snails and slugs

Landscape uses: urban agriculture, summer interest, border or cotton borders, sprawl along the ground or twine on support structures, containers

Echinacea purpurea

Family name: Asteraceae

common name: purple coneflower

Flowers: purplish pink, showy, good cut

Water use: dry to medium

Landscape uses: excellent, long-blooming flower for massing in the border, meadow, native plant garden, naturalized area, wildflower garden or part shade area of woodland garden

It attracts birds and butterflies, it needs low-maintenance, needs good drainage

Exposure: sun, semi-shade

Problems: Japanese beetle and leaf spot are occasional problems