The Mexican Buckeye is a beautiful deciduous tree with multiple trunks that displays a profusion of aromatic, light pink or mauve-hued flowers. "It blooms from late spring through summer, and during this time, its leaves turn into a captivating deep bronze hue," says Thomas. "The tree's exquisite blooms also serve as a host for a wide variety of butterflies, enhancing the beauty of your garden."

No matter the season, the white dogwood is ready to put on a show. "In spring, it produces white flowers," says Shah. The blooms, which are a mainstay from March through May, are actually "bracts" or modified leaves featuring small blooms at the center. These are a thick, creamy white with a golden-green bud; pink spots tend to appear on the tips of each petal.

Also referred to as Callistemon trees, bottlebrush trees are characterized by their peculiar and fuzzy bright red flower spikes that resemble, well, a bottlebrush! Thomas says that this eye-catching tree is one of his absolute favorites since it feels uniquely different from other flowering trees and plants. "The leaves of Callistemon rigidus are narrow, lance-shaped, and grow up to 4 inches long. They have a leathery texture and are dark green in color, providing a beautiful contrast to the tree's showy flowers," Thomas says. "The bottlebrush-like flower spikes of Callistemon rigidus are about 3 to 4 inches long, and bloom in shades of pink to red."

For a real garden showstopper, look no further than the gorgeous flowering crabapple. The Royalty variety produces purple-meets-crimson flowers, which are striking all on their own. The addition of a deep, dark foliage adds more richness of color. Sherlock says that the flowers and fruits produced by the tree are very attractive to bees and wildlife. Their size makes them a great focal point of any garden, though they're a particularly great pick for smaller yards.

The seeds of these trees are quite easily located—inside the fruits they produce, of course—but note that they can take about three to five years to produce flowers. It's well worth the wait if you have the patience.

Many peonies can be grown with little to no problems with disease, especially when planted in the correct location. But a new class of peonies—a cross between tree peonies and garden peonies (Paeonia suffruticosa x Paeonia lactiflora)—have superior disease resistance. In spring, the plant re-grows long, woody stems. "At the end of May, large buds open to a bright yellow mass of petals," says Adrienne Roethling.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) has it all—it's heat-, drought-, and disease-resistant, plus it attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. Two varieties that are known for being especially hardy are Pow Wow Wild Berry and Pow Wow White. "They emerge in spring with a rosette of elongated leaves, quickly giving rise to stalks of brilliant pink or pure white daisy-like flowers," says Adrienne Roethling. "The center or cone are cinnamon in color and quite large—a pollinator's delight."

Looking for a summer flowering annual with a long bloom period? Zinnias are just that—and they draw a variety of pollinators. "When flowers are in full bloom, they attract an array of bees, beetles, butterflies, and moths," says Adrienne Roethling. When choosing a variety, opt for disease-resistant profusion zinnias (Zinnia elegans 'Profusion'). "The profusion series is a hybrid with results that include medium sized, colorful blooms on short stems," she says. They are also self-cleaning, meaning there is no deadheading required.

A clump-forming herbaceous perennial, certain varieties of garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) have been cultivated to be mildew-free. One example is Jeana garden phlox. "The individual flowers are smaller than most other garden phlox, but that does not deter butterflies from feeding on its nectar," says Sorensen. This variety is highly coveted for its ecological value and is native to the eastern United States.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 5 feet tall x 4 feet wide
Growing conditions: full sun to part shade; average, well-drained soil

Largeleaf phlox (Phlox amplifolia) is a sun-tolerant plant that's resistant to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that affects many flowers. The native plant produces underground runners that slowly spread to form a large mass. "Blooming in early summer, the airy pink inflorescences are held 1 to 2 feet above the mass of foliage and continue to bloom for about six weeks," says Leirion Sorensen, the gardens manager at Mt. Cuba Center.

Zones: 3 to 8
Size: 44 inches tall x 36 inches wide
Growing conditions: full sun to part shade; loamy, well-drained soil

Portulaca is a pretty choice for a simple, drought-resistant ground cover, producing many 1-inch flowers in shades of yellow, red, pink, orange, and white. It tolerates poor soil and does not want much care, says Awat. Generally speaking, it can grow where most flowers can't, and grows best in hot, dry areas—so if you're in the desert area, it may be the best bet for your garden goals.