Create a stunning look with this perennial, perfect for the front of your garden.
An attractive variety of plants for at least three seasons is a feature of a well-planned perennial border garden. Creating a dynamic display requires thinking about the shape, size, color, and texture of the leaves. Without a good mix, the garden will look flat and a little boring. But to really emphasize the contrast, it's important to position the selection so that the tall trees are placed at the back and the short trees in front. Think of it like putting together a group photo. To help you find the right plant in front of the stage, these 10 easy-to-care-for perennials will have a variety of textures and colors for all seasons.
Beautiful ground cover
Ground cover crops help ensure that every inch of soil is covered with plants so that fewer weeds can grow. Using native plants for this task is a good way to avoid accidentally planting invasive or invasive ground cover crops. A good choice is foam flower ( Tiarella cordifolia). This perennial plant has colorful leaves and every spring it produces a shower of white flowers that will bring the first pollinators to your garden. Finally, they form non-invasive leaf pads that fill in gaps between other plants in your mixed bed.
Growing Conditions: Part shade to full shade in moist, well-drained soil
Size: 6-12 inches high and 1-2 feet wide
Resistance Zone: 4-9
shadow lovers
Coral bells ( Heuchera) will not only add color to a shady border garden with their leaves, but also structure with their webbing. This shade-loving plant adapts to a wide range of soil types and conditions, with the exception of moist soil. Some types of coral bells can even take sunlight. Small pink, red, or white flowers appear on tall stems in spring and summer, attracting large numbers of pollinators.
Growing Conditions: Part shade to full shade in moist, well-drained soil
Size: 6-12 inches high and 1-2 feet wide
Resistance Zone: 4-9
stars all year round
Hen and chick ( Sempervivum tectorum ) is also known as house leek or simply in the genus Sempervivum . This frost-resistant European groundcover succulent has won the hearts of many gardeners with its adaptability, drought resistance and attractive pink and yellow flowers. Hens and chicks will grow every year and look great all year round, even with moderate care. Be sure to plant it where it can spread slowly and stay intact for years.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part in well-drained soil
Size: 6-12 inches
Resistance Zone: 3-8
deer resistant immortal
Grassy reeds ( Carex) are available in a variety of shapes and colors. For example, the New Zealand hairy sage 'Chocolate Milk' ( C. comanus ) shown here has glossy bronze leaves. The native sage banana produces broad, green leaves. Regardless of the species, deer tend to leave reeds alone. Many reeds, including these two examples, grow in neat clumps and mounds that work well as border plants for your perennial border garden. Some types of sorghum prefer full sun, while others do best in shade, so you can find sorghum suitable for almost any situation.
Growing Conditions: Partially shaded in moist, well-drained soil
Size: 6-12 inches high
Hardiness zones: 3-8, depending on species
Genuine drought tolerant
Rose Verbena ( Glandularia canadensis ) is a beautiful flower that grows in rocky, prairie, and roadside areas where life is harsh and competition is fierce. Its hardiness makes pink verbena a great garden plant that easily tolerates drought and still looks great. Reaching a height of less than two feet, this perennial tends to root where its stems touch the ground where the plant looks bushy. Purple-pink flowers appear in summer.
Growing Conditions: Full sun in well-drained soil
Dimensions: 2 feet high
Frozen Hardness Zone: 5-9
Colorful flowers for shading
Honeysuckle ( Pulmonaria ) makes a great addition to a perennial border garden because its silvery leaves and pink or purple spring flowers provide a burst of color that few plants can. Plus, these beauties are deer and rabbit resistant.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to full shade in moist, well-drained soil
Dimensions: 1 foot high and 1 foot wide
Resistance Zone: 3-9
autumn colors
Native to eastern North America, the hardy geranium (Geranium maculatum ) offers several seasons of interest in the border garden. Their finely textured leaves make an attractive ground cover when planted together. In spring, hardy geraniums produce soft pink to purple flowers that attract pollinators, followed by rainbows of yellow, orange, red, and purple leaves in fall.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part in moderate soil
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall
Resistance Zone: 3-8
dear hummingbird
Columbine (Aquilegia) is a wildflower perennial with delicate looking leaves. Its spring flowers come in a variety of colors from white to pink, red to purple, and are bicolour and attract hummingbirds. Some columbine varieties can grow as tall as three feet, but for something more compact for the front of the garden, try the Earlybird series, which grows up to a foot tall.
Growing Conditions: Partially shaded in moist, well-drained soil
Size: 1-3 feet high and 1-2 feet wide
Resistance Zone: 3-9
pollen magnets
If you're looking for a low maintenance perennial that will attract hordes of pollinators, fennel hyssop ( Agastache foeniculum ) is a must. Fennel hyssop is a relative of mint, but unlike its herbaceous relative, it spreads slowly through underground rhizomes and regenerates gently. In midsummer, the stamens produce tiny, mauve-colored flowers that attract bees, butterflies and even native hummingbirds. Let the stems dry in fall as a bird treat.
Growing Conditions: Full sun in most soil types
Size: 3-4 feet high and 2-3 feet wide
Frozen Hardness Zone: 4-8
Unique focal point
Texture is key to creating a garden of vibrant and impressive appeal, and when it blooms, Prairie Smoke ( Geum triflorum ) is perfect. After flowering, this native perennial plant produces clusters of flower heads that create an almost cloud-like effect when planted in groups. Give them room to spread naturally and their delicate pink flowers will brighten up any sunny border garden.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil
Dimensions: 1.5 feet high and 1 foot wide
Frost Resistance Zones: 3-7
