Gardeners and fashionistas don't often overlap but they have at least one thing in common: You simply must get something new.

It's human nature to want a few signature plants -- something different, unusual, even unique. Here are six new perennials chosen by Shelley Peterson of Harper's Garden Centre in Ancaster, and Nancy Nelson of Fortinos Garden Centre on Main Street West.

1. Ivory Prince hellebore: Peterson's choice is this new compact variety with ivory-coloured blossoms edged in pale pink. Flowers open in March or April and last a couple of months. She says the plant remains attractive throughout the season with blue-green serrated leaves atop burgundy stems. "It's a very romantic flower," she says. "It looks really good in the front of a woodland garden." It needs partial to full shade, and will grow to about 18 inches.

2. Green Lace primula: I only have a few primula in my garden because they look awful in the heat of the summer. But Peterson says Green Lace is different. First, the flowers are an uncommon chartreuse with a bright yellow eye. Second, the bright foliage stays fresh and crisp. Third (and best), the flowers just keep on coming. It grows six to eight inches tall, and likes part to full shade in damp conditions.

3. Sisyrinchium Devon Skies (common name Blue Eyed Grass): I've never seen anything quite like this lovely plant. It is gorgeous. It's a small (10 inches high and wide) relative of the iris and has the same sort of strappy, upright foliage. Flowers are an eye-catching cornflower blue with sapphire-blue centres. It is a sun-lover, flowering from spring to end of summer, and Peterson says it's great next to a pathway or patio where it can be seen from above. I would plant it in front of small yellow day lilies, such as Stella D'Oro.

4. Peach Flambe heuchera: Nelson's favourite foliage plant has large, ruffled leaves described as peach-coloured but its deep reddish veins make it look almost a raspberry shade in spring. With sun on the leaves, they glow; with the sun behind, they shimmer. This mounding plant, about seven inches high and 14 inches wide at maturity, sends off arching stems of small white flowers. It likes part to full shade, and mainly moist soil with only brief, moderate dryness.

5. Black Lace sambucus: It is one of the most unusual plants in my garden. This ornamental elderberry has deep purple, almost black foliage. Finely cut leaves look a little like some varieties of Japanese maple. But it's hardier, develops large pink flowers and is less expensive. This shrubby perennial hits eight to 10 feet within two or three seasons and can be pruned.

6. Hocus Pocus meadow cranesbill: Nelson (whose garden has been on The Hamilton Spectator Open Garden Week) likes this perennial geranium for its deep bronze, deeply cut foliage. I like the cornflower-blue blossoms. Like all cranesbills, it's a sun lover, six inches high and likes a mid-summer shearing of flowers to produce a fresh flush of colour.

Rob Howard lives and gardens in Hamilton. rhoward@thespec.com.