Definitely Crape myrtles. They bloom around here from about late July into October. Their leaves also color unbelievably in the Fall (bright orange, yellow, and red--all on the same plant). I have the lavender/magenta variety and in the Spring will be planting the red "Dynamite" variety.

You've given me a great opportunity to talk about my favorite Penstemon by far, and I've tried quite a few Penstemon. Penstemon 'Sour Grapes' has a large fairly dark reddish purple flower, more red than purple, with a splash of white in its throat. It's not as showy as many with their large white throat patches like Bev Jensen, for example, but I like it much better. I tire of those with big patches of white. It is also not a color that you might instantly fall in love with, but, amazingly, I haven't found a color yet that it doesn't go with. From the pure reds and yellows and pinks and purples to the autumnal colors of Heleniums, it doesn't seem to matter. It has very attractive deep burgundy red stems and medium to deep green leaves. It gets a little over 2' tall and maintains a more narrow habit than is typical. It has other great garden attributes: It keeps to itself by being rigidly upright and it puts its growing efforts into making flowers, not growing an excess of foliage.. No lax stems that root as they touch ground or octopus arms that overwhelm its neighbors. Nor does it expand rapidly at its base. It seems to live for a long time. Does it have any problems? Only one: finding it! There are at least three Penstemons named Sour Grapes in commerce. One is a pale white with pink edges. Another is a Blue Violet. I've never grown the pale one, but the red Violet one is an octopus sort of Penstemon, a type that I've grown to loathe. I got this wrong Sour Grapes in error. I used to readily find Sour Grapes at my local nurseries. Some six or seven years ago, when it was out of stock at my usual nursery, I ordered it. It came in in 4" pots and I planted them out, but when it bloomed it was obviously not "my" Sour Grapes. I later discovered it came from Monrovia. Perhaps a big grower like Monrovia has overwhelmed the market? I don't know. All I know is that I've struggled to find more. I did this summer order from the one on line resource I could find that advertised Sour Grapes and I ordered one, and though it has yet to bloom, it is clearly one of the octopus sorts and not "my" Sour Grapes. I did finally find it at a nursery that doesn't do mail order and made the three hour round trip drive to buy all nine they had in 4" pots. I now feel safe that I won't ever run out of them again. It would be a terrible shame if this great Penstemon were lost to commerce and I wish I knew what to do about it.

Mindy, it's very interesting that someone has incorporated this into a garden. In my experience, it's more of an annoying weed, usually along the edge of the woods, that hides and grabs you when you least expect, lol. It either hides in the spring, lowdown and inconspicuously, and tears at your ankles and calves as you walk, or worse, hides amongst the weeds and bites your hands when you pull a bunch of said weeds. Or, it grows to monstrous proportions and reaches out to snag your hair as you walk by, entangling you in it's vicious grip. Okay, I'm exaggerating - a touch! - but you get the idea. So I find it quite interesting to see it as part of a garden. Just goes to show I need to think outside the box more (to use an expression I don't care for much, but which really says it all!) :) Dee

Aztreelvr mentioned it above, but I want to reiterate that the Coral Fountain (Russelia equisetiformis) would work perfectly for you from what I can tell of your desires. It is perennial, and is very hardy. It doesn't take much water, and it is only a bush size. Mine is only 3 years old, and it blooms year round, throwing up pretty red flowers all over the bush (although more in the spring & summer)- the hummers love it! The only down side is that it spreads rather easily...branches can take root when they touch the ground. But, it's not that big of a chore to pull any seedlings that have started every couple of months (I give them to friends, and they have them in their gardens now!). That's my suggestion! Good luck! Tristan