 It should come as no surprise that the family Papaveraceae contains the 120 or so species of the genus Papaver. While there are some species that prefer alpine regions, most are native to the temperate regions of Eurasia, Europe and North America. These annual, biennial or herbaceous perennial plants are prized for their beautiful crepe paper-like flowers and often their medicinal properties. Records from 5000 BC in Mesopotamia and Egypt indicate that Poppies were already being grown as ornamental plants. In modern times numerous species are considered indispensable to the early summer garden.
Both the botanical and the common names give us valuable information about the origin of the particular species and therefore the type of garden situation that they are likely to prefer. Alpine Poppy, and Iceland Poppy are obviously native to higher elevations and would most likely prefer cooler, well drained locations.
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 There are 71 species within the genus Tradescantia, (family Commelinaceae), all of them native to the American continents. The most garden worthy form loose clumps of grass-like linear foliage and have a tendency towards an informal habit, especially by mid-summer. They can be very floriferous, making them good contenders for use in the border or containers in full sun to partial shade. Spiderworts, as they are commonly known, are very easy to grow and are not fussy as to soil type, actually doing very well in poorer soils and exhibiting soft leggy growth if the area is too rich and nutritious. They are happier in a moist but well drained situation, not being particularly fond of either wet feet nor drought.
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 The genus Epimedium is known to contain at least 60 species (most endemic to Asia) many of which hybridize easily producing numerous cultivars of subtle but unsurpassed beauty. Contained within the family Berberidaceae are some familiar garden stalwarts such as Mahonia, Berberis, and perhaps less familiar but of equal merit, Podophyllum, Jeffersonia and Vancouveria as well as the lovely Epimedium.
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 The genus Iris contains 200-300 species and while there are often significant differences between the species, their stereotypical flowers are instantly recognizable to the majority of people. This vast array of species originate from areas around the northern hemisphere, in habitats ranging from desert, to swamp, to woodland. The family Iridaceae includes 80 genera, the most familiar of which are Gladiolus and Crocus which have similar foliage but different flower forms.
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 Plants of the genus Filipendula are found within the Rosaceae family along with over 150 other genera. There are 12 species currently recognized but only a few are of interest as ornamental perennials. F. rubra and F. purpurea are native to North America and F. ulmaria is native to Europe. Queen of the Prairie is the usual North American common name while the Europeans use Meadowsweet.
These are lovely, easy to grow perennials as long as they are given a moist location in full sun to partial shade. They particularly dislike drying out during the hottest part of the summer. The foliage is generally dark green and deeply lobed with serrate margins and a distinctive fragrance. In medieval times meadowsweet leaves would often be strewn on the floor to freshen the air as they were crushed underfoot.
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