Complete Gardening
Gardening enthusiasts often seek the perfect plants to define and beautify the edges of their garden beds. Low-growing perennials are ideal for this purpose, offering both structure and color without overshadowing taller plants.
These perennials come back year after year, providing a reliable and charming border. Here, we explore 15 essential varieties, each bringing its own unique flair and function to garden edges.
Whether you desire a burst of color or a simple green outline, these perennials promise to transform your garden’s perimeter into a stunning display.
1. Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme is a delightful herb that doubles as a groundcover, providing a soft, fragrant carpet along garden edges. With petite purple flowers that attract pollinators, it’s perfect for sunny spots.
This perennial thrives in well-drained soil, requiring minimal care once established. Its aromatic leaves release a pleasant scent when stepped on, enhancing garden pathways.
Gardeners love its versatility, as Creeping Thyme can also be used in cooking. Its low-growing habit and vibrant blooms make it a charming addition to any garden, blending beauty and practicality.
2. Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass, also known as Hakonechloa, offers a graceful touch to garden edges. Its arching leaves resemble flowing water, creating a sense of movement.
This perennial prefers shaded areas, ideal for adding life to darker garden corners. Its golden-green hue brightens spaces, contrasting beautifully with other plants.
Easy to maintain, Japanese Forest Grass requires little more than occasional watering. Its elegant appearance makes it a favorite among landscapers seeking a serene, natural look. Perfect for softening hard edges, it brings tranquility to any garden.
3. Corsican Mint
Corsican Mint is a tiny powerhouse of fragrance and charm. Its small leaves form a dense mat, ideal for covering garden edges.
In summer, it produces petite lavender flowers, adding a pop of color to its lush green backdrop. This perennial thrives in moist, shaded areas, perfect for filling in gaps between stepping stones or bordering shady paths.
Aside from its aesthetic appeal, Corsican Mint emits a refreshing minty aroma, delighting the senses. Low-growing and spreading easily, it’s a versatile choice for creating a lush, aromatic border.
4. Snow-in-Summer
Snow-in-Summer, or Cerastium tomentosum, is a stunning perennial that dazzles with its silver foliage and white flowers. Blooming in late spring, it creates a striking contrast along garden borders.
This hardy plant thrives in full sun, well-suited for dry, rocky areas where other plants might struggle. Once established, it requires minimal watering, making it a low-maintenance choice.
Snow-in-Summer’s rapid spread ensures full coverage, transforming bare spaces into lush, silver-green carpets. Ideal for sunny garden edges, it offers both beauty and resilience.
5. Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s Ear is beloved for its soft, velvety leaves that invite touch. Its silvery foliage adds texture and contrast to garden edges.
This drought-tolerant perennial thrives in full sun, requiring little water once established. Its low-growing nature makes it a perfect border plant, complementing colorful blooms.
Gardeners appreciate its ability to deter pests, providing a natural protective barrier. Lamb’s Ear’s unique texture and striking appearance make it a standout choice for adding depth and interest to garden perimeters.
6. Dwarf Mondo Grass
Dwarf Mondo Grass is a go-to choice for tidy, low-maintenance garden edges. Its deep green, grass-like leaves create a uniform appearance that’s both elegant and understated.
This perennial thrives in partial to full shade, making it ideal for areas where sunlight is limited. It requires minimal care, with occasional watering and trimming.
Popular in formal gardens, Dwarf Mondo Grass forms neat borders that define pathways and garden beds. Its compact growth habit ensures a clean, polished look, adding order and sophistication to any landscape.
7. Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff brings a touch of woodland magic to garden edges. Known for its whorls of star-shaped leaves and tiny white flowers, it creates a soft, lush carpet.
This perennial prefers shady, moist conditions, thriving under trees where other plants might falter. Its delicate flowers bloom in late spring, adding a subtle fragrance to the air.
Gardeners favor Sweet Woodruff for its ability to suppress weeds, making it a practical as well as beautiful choice. Ideal for naturalistic gardens, it adds a serene, fairy-tale quality to shaded borders.
8. Bearberry
Bearberry, or Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, is a resilient groundcover known for its glossy leaves and bright red berries. Perfect for sunny, rocky areas, it adds vitality to garden edges.
This hardy perennial thrives in well-drained soil, requiring little water once established. Its evergreen foliage provides year-round interest, turning a striking red in fall.
Bearberry’s berries attract wildlife, making it a popular choice for natural gardens. Its ability to thrive in challenging conditions and its vibrant appearance make it a valuable addition to any garden edge.
9. Ajuga
Ajuga, also known as Bugleweed, adds a splash of color to garden edges with its vivid blue flower spikes and glossy leaves.
This fast-growing perennial is perfect for quickly filling in gaps, thriving in both sun and partial shade. Its dense foliage helps suppress weeds, offering practicality alongside beauty.
Ajuga’s adaptability and striking appearance make it a popular choice for gardeners seeking low-maintenance yet eye-catching borders. Whether used to edge paths or as a groundcover, it brings vibrancy and visual interest to any landscape.
10. Hellebore
Hellebores, often called Lenten Roses, enchant with their early spring blooms in shades of white, pink, and purple.
These perennials prefer shady spots, making them perfect for adding color to garden edges under trees. Their leathery leaves provide texture even when not in bloom.
Gardeners appreciate Hellebores for their long-lasting flowers and deer-resistant nature. Ideal for woodland gardens, they bring elegance and a touch of mystery to shaded borders. Their ability to bloom when few others do makes them a garden favorite.
11. Mazus
Mazus is a charming groundcover that forms a dense mat of greenery, adorned with small purple flowers in spring and summer.
This perennial thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas, making it versatile for various garden edges. Its rapid growth and spreading nature help cover bare spots quickly.
Gardeners appreciate Mazus for its resilience and low-maintenance needs. Whether as a border for paths or filler between stepping stones, it adds a touch of whimsy and color, bringing vibrancy to any landscape.
12. Heuchera
Heuchera, or Coral Bells, captivates with its colorful foliage that ranges from deep red to vibrant green.
This perennial thrives in well-drained soil, preferring partial shade to full sun. Its delicate flowers on tall stalks add an airy touch to garden edges.
Gardeners love Heuchera for its ability to add visual interest throughout the year. Its varied leaf colors create stunning contrasts, making it a versatile choice for borders. Easy to maintain and striking in appearance, it’s a staple in ornamental gardens.
13. Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny, or Lysimachia nummularia, is known for its vibrant yellow-green foliage that spills over garden edges in a cheerful cascade.
This hardy perennial thrives in moist, sunny conditions, making it perfect for areas near water features. Its low-growing habit and resilience to foot traffic make it ideal for paths and borders.
Gardeners appreciate Creeping Jenny for its ability to brighten up spaces. Whether used as a groundcover or to soften stone edges, it brings a splash of color and a sense of movement to any garden landscape.
14. Phlox subulata
Phlox subulata, also known as Moss Phlox, paints garden edges with a vibrant carpet of pink flowers in spring.
This low-growing perennial thrives in sunny, well-drained spots, making it ideal for rock gardens and borders. Its dense foliage forms a mat that suppresses weeds and adds texture year-round.
Gardeners love its burst of color and ability to attract butterflies. Easy to care for and visually stunning, Phlox subulata is a beloved choice for adding a cheerful touch to any garden perimeter.
15. Sedum
Sedum, commonly known as Stonecrop, is a rugged perennial with fleshy leaves and clusters of pink flowers.
This drought-tolerant plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it ideal for rock gardens and sunny borders. Its low-maintenance nature appeals to busy gardeners.
Sedum’s ability to store water in its leaves ensures survival in harsh conditions, while its vibrant blooms attract pollinators. Perfect for adding a splash of color and texture, Sedum’s versatility makes it a garden staple, enhancing any edge with beauty and resilience.