TALINUM

These easy-to-grow perennials are prized for their attractive, delicate flowers. They're not particular about soil, but they do require good drainage.

• Native from Missouri and Arkansas south to Mexico.
• In the wild, forms large colonies in rocky soils.
• Very narrow, succulent leaves to 2 inches long form basal foliage clumps to 1 feet wide.
• Open clusters of pink to red, five-petaled flowers appear atop 8 inches-tall leafless stems.
• Flowers open in morning, close by midafternoon.
• Perfect for a rock garden.

• Tender perennial, native from southern U.S. to Central America.
• A true Southern passalong plant, rarely purchased at garden centers but frequently showing up as an unannounced but welcome guest in gardens.
• Forms a low, 1- to 2 feet-wide rosette of oval, pointed, bright green leaves to 3 inches long.
• In summer, thin stalks to 2 feet tall carry large clusters of tiny pink flowers; these are followed by beadlike yellow seedpods that mature to a rich burgundy-red.
• Good in containers or at the front of the border.
• Reseeds readily.
• Limon has chartreuse foliage.
• Variegatum has grayish green leaves with white margins.