Complete Gardening
Discover the top 10 perennials perfect for creating neat garden edges while bursting with summer colors.
These selections offer diverse aesthetics, resilience, and unique features that can transform your garden into a stunning landscape.
1. Salvia (Salvia nemorosa)
Imagine deep purple spikes standing tall like sentinels in your garden. Salvia nemorosa offers more than just striking color. Its upright growth forms crisp, architectural lines that define garden edges beautifully. Besides its visual appeal, it’s drought-tolerant and a favorite among pollinators. Bees and butterflies frequently visit, adding life to your landscape. Whether you’re seeking structure or wildlife, Salvia delivers both in abundance, thriving without fuss in sunny spots.
2. Coreopsis (Tickseed)
Coreopsis, with its cheerful yellow blooms, acts like sunshine captured in a flower. Its mounding habit creates soft, tidy edges that beckon admiration. A long-blooming season means your garden stays vibrant without constant maintenance. These self-cleaning plants require minimal deadheading, allowing you to enjoy their beauty with ease. Coreopsis is not only eye-catching but also practical, making it a gardener’s ally for sustained color.
3. Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
Step into a Mediterranean haven with Lavender’s aromatic presence. Its neat, fragrant borders not only define paths but also offer a sensory escape. Perfect for hot, dry climates, Lavender’s resistance to deer and attraction to pollinators make it a versatile garden choice. The silvery foliage and purple-blue flowers create a timeless look, evoking relaxation and elegance. Enjoy summer-long fragrances and visual charm with Lavender’s effortless grace.
4. Nepeta (Catmint)
Soft purples cascade over garden edges with Nepeta, offering much more than color. Its aromatic foliage and continuous blooms make it a garden staple. The rounded mounds naturally shape borders, providing a gentle transition between plants. Loved by cats and pollinators alike, Nepeta is a charismatic addition to any garden. Whether gracing a cottage or modern landscape, it delivers texture and fragrance aplenty.
5. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Heuchera, with its striking foliage, transforms garden edges into artistic palettes. Burgundy, lime, and bronze leaves catch the eye, while airy flowers add a delicate touch. Perfect for shaded paths or beds, its compact habit ensures tidiness. Beyond aesthetics, Heuchera is evergreen in mild climates, providing year-round interest. This perennial’s resilience and charm make it a favorite for creating lush, textured borders with ease.
6. Dianthus (Pinks)
Dianthus, known for fringed petals, invites nostalgia with its sweet scent. Forming short, tidy mats, it’s ideal for front-of-border use. These reblooming varieties offer a palette of pinks, reds, and whites, ensuring continuous appeal. The gentle fragrance wafts through warm breezes, enhancing garden serenity. Easy to grow and manage, Dianthus brings charm and simplicity, adding a touch of romance to your outdoor space.
7. Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Daylilies offer a dazzling display, with each bloom lasting a day before new ones take their place. Their grassy foliage and clumping habit provide definition to garden beds. With a color range from yellow to deep red, these perennials suit any theme. Enjoy a vibrant spectacle as they bloom in succession, bringing a dynamic element to your landscape. Daylilies excel in combining beauty and ease of care, making them a garden favorite.
8. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Cranesbill)
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ stands out with its long blooming period, providing color from summer to fall. Its bright violet-blue flowers bring joy and vibrancy. This perennial’s gently mounded growth creates soft, inviting borders. Resistant to pests and diseases, it’s low maintenance and highly rewarding. Whether in containers or landscape beds, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ adds a touch of elegance and resilience to any garden setting.
9. Sedum (Stonecrop)
Low and spreading, Sedum is a perfect choice for neat, drought-tolerant borders. Its succulent foliage and pink, red, or yellow flowers add texture and color. Sedum thrives in poor soil, making it ideal for rock gardens and sunny spots. This perennial’s fall interest extends its appeal beyond summer, providing a garden highlight as the seasons change. Uncomplicated and attractive, Sedum is a versatile addition to various garden styles.
10. Hosta (for shade gardens)
Broad, lush leaves define the Hosta, making it a staple for shaded gardens. Its variegated foliage naturally frames paths, while subtle flower spikes add vertical interest. Offering texture and contrast, Hostas excel in creating tranquil, lush environments. In addition to their beauty, they are resilient and adaptable, thriving where few others can. Whether lining paths or filling shady corners, Hostas enhance garden serenity and depth.