Rock Candy Ruby gives you upright stems of tubular flowers from late spring into summer, and hummingbirds will find it before you do. It stays compact enough for the front or middle of a border, and the flowers are the reason to buy it.

Plant it in full sun and gritty, fast-draining soil, since drainage is the whole game here and wet clay through a wet Birmingham winter will rot the crown. Skip the compost and rich feeding. After the main flush of bloom, cut the stems back to keep it tidy and encourage a second round.