Jacob's Ladder

• Jacob's ladder (Polemonium reptans) is popular in the Northeast for a number of reasons. It has attractive flowers of white, pink, yellow or blue as well as attractive variegated foliage. The small bell-shaped flowers look good in cut flower arrangements, and the plants contrast well with other garden plants such as coral bells. Jacob's ladder begins blooming in April and May in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 9, which means most of the Northeast except for Maine and the coldest regions of New Hampshire. The perennial plant grows 1 to 2 feet tall. It does well in containers, beds or borders. It is also deer-resistant. Jacob's ladder prefers moist, humus-rich soils that drain well.
  
  

Woodland Iris

• The vigorous Woodland iris (I. setosa) doesn't mind the cooler parts of New England and thrives in hardiness zones 3 to 6. The plant grows to 2 feet in height and has dark green, grassy foliage and stalks of blue-violet flowers that bloom in spring. Iris has a reputation for blooming in the month following the last snow. Iris prefers sunny locations and moist, well-drained soils. People often see them growing along shores and in meadows and marshes. In gardens, iris provides an attractive backdrop for lower-growing plants such as creeping phlox.
  
  

Coral Bells

• Coral bells (Heuchera) are hardy plants, although there are some hybrids that are not as tough as the native perennial. Coral bells will grow in shade but prefer a little sunshine in the morning or afternoon. They grow in green clumps of foliage that send up tall spires of bell-shaped flowers. Coral bell plants prefer a heavily composted soil that is moist and rich. They work well in containers and in beds and borders. Coral bells are attractive when grown on slopes. They attract hummingbirds to the garden and can be used for cutting. Plant coral bells in zones 3 to 8.
  
  

Eastern Bluestar

• Bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) has eye-catching powder blue, star-shaped flowers that bloom from mid- to late spring. After the bloom, the foliage stays attractive for the rest of the summer, then turns gold as fall approaches. The plants produce seed pods that you can remove to prevent self-seeding. Bluestar grows in partial shade in zones 4 to 9, although the cultivar "Willowleaf" is appropriate for zone 3 and higher. Bluestar attracts swallowtail butterflies to the garden. Expect plants to achieve 1 to 3 feet in height. Bluestar is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant.