Question
QUESTION: Tom
I live in Western Canada zone 2-very dry and clay soil. Not a great climate for growing. THe local chain store offer all kinds of great stuff but I have been told most of it wont make it.
Can you suggest some colorfull perrennials or shrubs? I would plant them next to the house with a southern exposure in windy conditions.
Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Bud,
Thanx for your question.  In order to answer your question the best I can, can you tell me what part of Canada in which you are located?
thx,
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Tom
I am in Saskatoon, Sask.

Answer
Hi Bud,
Thanx for the additional information.  Here is a list of hardy plants for Zone 2.

Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris)
Columbine, Western (Aquilegia formosa)
Columbine, European (Aquilegia vulgaris)
Columbine, hybrids (Aquilegia)
Hyacinth, grape (Muscari armeniacum)
Monkshood (Aconitum x cammarum 'Bicolor')
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora)
Phlox, summer (Phlox paniculata)
Poppy, Himalayan (Meconopsis sp.)
Poppy, Oriental (Papaver orientale)
Snow-in-summer (Cerastium)
Sundew, round-leafed (Drosera rotundifolia)
Thrift, moss pink, creeping phlox (Phlox subulata)
Windflower (Anemone)

The hardiest to me for a dry prairie climate (I live in Kansas) would be the columbines, poppies, peonies, phlox an dthrift.  Monkshood like richer soil but it's great in shady areas.

Rosa rugosa or any of the wild roses, honeysuckle and bittersweet (for fall color).  Rudbeckias (black-eyed Susan's), crane's bill (hardy geranium), daylilies, rhododendron (but read the labels and make sure they are guaranteed for your area, there are new cultivars for colder zones but some nurseries will sell anything.)  Bleeding heart (dicentra).  Hollyhock, Canadian wild ginger, lady's slipper, Delphinium, Iceland poppy (really a biennial), Goldenrod, Shasta daisy, hosta, yarrow, Asiatic lily, lily-of-the-valley, Siberian iris, coral bells, trollius.  Shrubs?  Golden forsythia, Vernal witchhazel (love witchhazel!), French pussywillow, Northern Lights Azalea (be sure to check the tags.  There are azaleas rated for cold zones now but like I said, some nurseries will sell anything...).  Below is a link where you can see a number of different flowering and fruiting shrubs that are great for Zone 2.

http://www.naturehills.com/catalog/Bushes_and_Shrubs.aspx?zone=2

The southern exposure is much preferable to a nothern or western.  I hope this helps.
Tom