Perennial borders - the basics

Perennial Borders - the Basics

In this lesson we'll look in more detail at some of my go-to border plants and how I use these plants to create maximum interest, as well as provision for pollinators.

Two of my stalwart plants:

• Salvia caradonna – beautiful sage with rich purple flower spikes that bees love. I deadhead as the spikes fade to prolong flowering
• Verbena bonariensis – tall perennial adored by bees and butterflies. May self-seed to give you free plants.

Tall perennials don't always need to be planted at the back of the border.

• Tall, airy perennials with bare stems, such as Verbena bonariensis, can be planted at the front to create a veil effect through which to look at the other plants behind.

Seed heads can give garden architecture

Remember to keep some seedheads.

• Alliums are great for this, with robust seedheads giving architectural interest and structure.

Take inspiration from natural forms

I take inspiration from natural forms found in the wild to create a relaxed, romantic feel.

• E.g. Anthemis has a daisy shape and is great for creating a light feel.
• I contrast this with the flat flowerheads of Achillea, which has flat white flowerheads with nuances of cow parsley.
• Planting these among roses and other flowering shrubs creates a light froth of flower and texture.

Irises are good for the front of the border as they love to bake in sunshine. Their upright spear-like leaves give great structure in the planting even after flowering has finished.

Euphorbia

There are lots of varieties of euphorbia, and these are great for giving permanent evergreen structure.

• E.g. Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii has fabulous greyish leaves that give structure all year round, plus lime-green flowers in spring.
• Keep euphorbias away from paths and wear gloves to handle them as the milky sap can cause skin irritation.

Using geraniums and 'red hot pokers' for long-lasting colour

Hardy geraniums are one of my border essentials.

• Cultivars such as 'Patricia' give height and a rounded shape just from two or three plants.
• I put them at the front and dot them further back to repeat the colour, and cut it back once it's finished flowering.

Red hot pokers then continue the colour with their bright orange vertical spikes.

• The pink and orange pop and create uplifting colour interest, especially in late summer as other colours fade.

Weeds can sometimes be your friend

While watching your border you'll want to pull out pernicious weeds such as bindweed, but some weeds can actually be beautiful.

• For example, rosebay willowherb has magenta-pink flowers that pollinators love and picks up the pink of the geranium.
• Keep an eye and you can pull it up after it's finished flowering to prevent seeding.

Be aware of pollinators!

Echinops is another plant bees absolutely love, with its blue globe flowers.

• The round form looks great with the red hot pokers.
• This was here already and I left it in when I saw how good it is for bees.

Stick to your palette

There are thousands of perennials to choose from, which can be overwhelming.

• Visit garden centres for inspiration.
• Have a look at friends' gardens.
• Look up perennials.

Note down everything that you like and then reduce it down to the things you really love and will grow well in the conditions you have – right plant, right place is key.

• Less is more to get rhythm through the borders.
• Choose maybe seven perennials for each border that will give interest throughout the seasons, repeat those and add some flowering shrubs for structure.

Plant Directory

Achillea species and cultivars

Common yarrow

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Asteraceae

Allium species and cultivars

Onions, garlic and ornamental onions

Bulbous hardy perennials

Amaryllidaceae

Anthemis species and cultivars

Chamomile or marguerite

Mostly hardy perennials, some are annuals

Asteraceae

Anthriscus sylvestris

Cow parsley

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Apiaceae

Berberis species and cultivars

Barberry

Hardy deciduous and evergreen shrubs

Berberidaceae

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Rosebay willowherb

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Onagraceae

Echinops species and cultivars

Globe thistles

Mostly hardy herbaceous perennials; some are annuals or biennials

Asteraceae

Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii

Mediterranean spurge

Hardy or half-hardy evergreen subshrub

Euphorbiaceae

Geranium species and cultivars

Cranesbills

Hardy perennials

Geraniaceae

Geranium 'Anne Polkard'

Cranesbill 'Anne Polkard'

Hardy perennial

Geraniaceae

Geranium 'Patricia'

Cranesbill 'Patricia'

Hardy perennial

Geraniaceae

Iris species and cultivars

Irises

Deciduous hardy perennials from bulbs or rhizomes

Iridaceae

Kniphofia species and cultivars

Red hot pokers

Hardy evergreen or herbaceous perennials

Asphodelaceae

Physocarpus opulifolius cultivars

Ninebark

Hardy deciduous shrubs

Rosaceae

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Balkan clary

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Lamiaceae

Salvia nemorosa 'Ostfriesland'

Balkan clary

Hardy herbaceous perennial

Lamiaceae

Verbena bonariensis

Purple top

Herbaceous hardy perennial

Verbenaceae