Unlike trees and shrubs, which often require a large amount of space, herbaceous plants offer a lot of flexibility for small gardens. This means more opportunities to try new and different plants.

Vines that sound promising this spring include some of the newer selections of the free-flowering clematis that Novalis is promoting as part of its "Plants that Work" program. Among those highlighted are red 'Avant Garde' clematis, with red flowers and pink stamens, and 'Purple Galore' clematis, with purple flowers and yellow stamens, both flowering from midsummer to early fall and reaching 12 to 15 feet. (These will be available at Hastings Nature & Garden Center, 404-869-7447; and Habersham Gardens, 404-873-2484.) Both selections provide summer color and are easy to maintain provided you supply them with a sunny exposure and moist, well-drained soil. If you haven't grown clematis before, try training them up a tree or shrub for a dramatic effect.

Photos by Erica Glasener / Special (ENLARGE)
Red 'Avant Garde' clematis flowers from midsummer to early fall.
(ENLARGE)
Angelica keiskei is a good shade-garden choice with glossy foliage.
(ENLARGE)
Rita's Gold Boston fern
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Among its offerings this spring, McMahan's nursery in Clermont (770-983-3666, www.mcmahans.com) is excited about Baptisia sphaerocarpa, a drought-tolerant species native to Arkansas and Oklahoma. Plant this tough guy in full sun or part shade and watch for the 12- to 15-inch yellow spikes in May to June. For small, shady gardens, it also recommends the toad lily Tricyrtis 'Moonlight Treasure', a hybrid of two dwarf species. In late summer to fall, it produces quarter-size, butter-yellow flowers with silver-spotted, leathery foliage. This beauty grows to 1 foot high and wide.

A plant combination I admired at ItSaul Plants includes an exciting mix of a golden Dianella; a green-and-white variegated selection of Alternanthera called 'Creme de Menthe'; and the new golden Boston fern, Nephrolepis exaltata 'Rita's Gold'. Although this combination is not hardy, it is well worth the many months of colorful foliage it provides for the shade garden. Whether you garden in containers or in the ground, this trio will brighten the woodland or provide a golden contrast to bright orange impatiens. A perennial that would do well with this grouping is Euphorbia robbiae, also known as Mrs. Robb's bonnet, an evergreen that produces pale lime-green flowers in late winter to early spring.

Another winner for shade is Angelica keiskei (available at Ashe-Simpson Garden Center, 770-458-3224), with glossy foliage that puts on a show in winter. Pair this cut leaf with lamium or the bold foliage of cast-iron plant, Rohdea japonica.

The catalogs from Plant Delights and Heronswood nurseries always make me want to try new plants. This year, I am intrigued by a number of different agapanthus that range in color from white to deep violet. One that Heronswood (360-297-4172) recommends as particularly hardy is Agapanthus 'Mood Indigo', with dark violet flowers from mid- to late summer. Plant Delights (919-772-4794) is offering Agapanthus 'White Heaven', with huge heads of white flowers.

ERICA'S PICK

'Rita's Gold' Boston fern

(Shown with Alternanthera 'Creme de Menthe' and Dianella)

Botanical name: Nephrolepis exaltata 'Rita's Gold'

About the plant: Imagine a Boston fern with chartreuse fronds that keeps its golden color throughout the growing season. Fronds reach 18 to 24 inches.

Use in the garden: Brighten up a dark corner with this glowing plant. Combine it with other ferns, variegated plants, orange impatiens or caladiums. Use this fern in containers or in the garden.

Planting and care: This Boston fern selection thrives in full shade but tolerates intermittent sun. Moist, well-drained soil is ideal. Dig it up before frost and overwinter it indoors.

Source: Randolph's Greenhouses, 1690 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301; 731-422-2768; www.randolphsgreenhouses.com.

Erica Glasener is an Atlanta horticulturist and host of HGTV's "A Gardener's Diary." Her column on landscape design appears biweekly. Write to her in care of AJC Home & Garden, P.O. Box 4689, Atlanta, GA 30302. Or e-mail her at ericalittlesproutmedia@yahoo.com.