This heat-tolerant flowering shrub has a compact growth habit and is water-wise once established. "With Ultra Violet butterfly bush (Buddleia Hybrid 'PDSI-1'), pollinator enthusiasts can incorporate a butterfly bush into tight spaces that previously weren’t accessible," says Janet Sluis, plant expert for the Sunset Plant Collection.

Butterfly Towers Magenta Buddleia  (Buddleia davidii ‘Tobud1305’) is a unique vertical growing butterfly bush variety with vibrant magenta flowers. "This butterfly bush is easy to care for and has an attractive vertical growth habit," says Linda Vater, plant expert for the Southern Living Plant Collection. "It's a perfect silhouette for hedges, screens, or a focal point in an area. The panicles of sweet-smelling blooms also make a lovely cut flower."

Miss Ruby butterfly bush (Buddleia x 'Miss Ruby') has blue-green leaves that give rise to ruby red flowers from the end of May to the first frost. "The ruby red flowers are held on 4- to 6-inch panicles and cover the plants from head to toe," says Adrienne Roethling, garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden.

Variegated plants are a wonderful way to add more interest to your landscape, and Summer Skies butterfly bush (Buddleia x 'Summer Skies') rings true to that statement. The cultivar has subtle green and creamy margined leaves, which stay variegated all summer long. "Lavender blue spikes of flowers await the butterflies all summer," says Roethling.

Part of a series of butterfly bushes with short growing habits, Purple Haze (Buddleia x 'Purple Haze') was one of the first of its kind to hit the market. "Blue-green leaves emerge from bare stems in spring giving rise to pale purple, arching flowers," says Roethling. "This one has more of a loose habit overall."

By early June, large panicles with an arching habit form all over Grand Cascade butterfly bush (Buddleia 'Grand Cascade'). Though the plant can survive with minimal watering once established, during periods of drought it should be watered as it may become prone to spider mites, says Roethling.

Weeping redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a native tree that does very well in eastern North America. "Come early spring, tiny lavender-purple, pea-shaped flowers are borne along the stems," says Adrienne Roethling, the garden director for Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden. 'Ruby Falls' and 'Lavender Twist' are two popular cultivars. This tree does not like wet feet, especially during winter, so make sure you plant it in an area with good drainage.

Weeping higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella ‘Pendula’) is one of the earliest flowering cherries to bloom in spring. "They produce pale pink, rose-like flowers weeks before leaves emerge," says Roethling. "When the leaves do emerge, they are clear green and somewhat elongated and held on arching branches, offering a picturesque canopy for the summer months."

Weeping Nootka cypress (Callitropsis nootkatensis 'Pendula') has beautiful arching branches with scale-like leaves that hang in graceful pendulous sprays. Although it's native to the Pacific coast, it tolerates heat and humidity very well. "The color of the sprays are green but pick up a hint of blue-grey," says Roethling. "It’s one of those plants that needs to stand alone so that one can take in the magnitude of its perfection."

Another beautiful spring bloomer that weeps is the weeping peach tree (Prunus persica ‘Pink Cascade’). "The flowers are double, rose-like blossoms that are bright pink and cover the branches like a blanket," says Roethling. "Shortly after the flowers have finished, the thin, narrow leaves emerge with a copper hue." Despite its name, this tree rarely produces peaches. "They often produce a thick skin, a seed, and nothing in between," says Roethling.