Sue it's a form of Euphorbia. It's a tiny cultivar of Euphorbia leucocephala http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-sheets/in-the-garden/flowering-plants-shrubs/euphorbia-leucocephala/#.VLoKL9KUddw and I think it's known in the trade as "Diamond Frost " or similar They can sucker, and they will die down over winter, when you can cut those canes right back and hopefully your plant will re-shoot in spring. Euphorbias like those have a white, latex-like sap which is an irritant so be careful handling it and keep kids and animals away if poss. Here is a link that might be useful: link

They are copious reseeders and form tuberous roots that overwinter here in zone 9.

Its called salsify. I'm used to the weedy variety with yellow flowers, but if I'm not mistaken the purple flowered variety is cultivated for its edible taproot, but only from first year plants (its biennial so it flowers in the second growing season, and the root is then apparently too tough).

Bill, right after the holidays, these big box stores discount all their holiday plants that most people probably buy for temporary decoration and then throw out. But I can't resist saving them, so I will look for different colors; red, pink, magenta, white. They are really easy. I also keep an eye out for evergreens that they seem to sell as temporary decorations and are ready to give away after the holidays. (I've purchased nice sized laurels, holly bushes, Osmanthus, etc. that end up in the yard..) Regarding the holiday cacti, I hang mine in a strand of Eastern Hemlocks along with other epiphytes (ferns, bromeliads, etc). I leave them out from April through October and this year, they would have sailed through November so far. BTW, if you do leave them out, I learned two years ago can they are readily eaten by DEER, so, I started hanging them higher in the trees, LOL. I did put them recently into my garage/greenhouse (and we get a lot of winter sun). All are covered in buds. Not sure if it's the cooler temps for longer nights, or both, but it always works.