A cushion of white arabis flowers, a rounded tuft of blue fescue, dark leaves rimmed in white: edging plants draw the line between path and flowerbed, and keep grass from creeping into the planting. Choose evergreen, dense and compact kinds, sized to what grows behind them, and upkeep almost disappears.
For any type of exposure, this selection of edge plants will excel as a garden border!
Borders (or edges, it’s the same thing) define a flowerbed or a pathway. They separate it from the rest of the garden. This boundary keeps grass and other material from encroaching on landscaping.
As for the pathway, borders keep plants from taking it over.
Maintenance becomes easier, and it looks stylish, too!
Which plants to choose?
For plants to serve their border purpose effectively, they need to meet certain criteria. Evergreen foliage ensures they structure your flowerbed all year round. Plants with a dense and compact stature will double as a short physical barrier.
Height depends on your garden’s needs. If you’re sporting small perennials up front, best go for plants no taller than 12 inches (30cm). On the flip side, if your green ensemble has shrubs, grasses, and tall perennials, a 20-inch (50cm) high border will do great.
Six edging plants compared at a glance
The plants below cover sun, shade and colour, so you can match an edge to the exposure it will actually get. Flowering times are given by season, and foliage is what does most of the work.
Six edging plants compared at a glance
Plant
Exposure
Flowering period
Main appeal
Arabis caucasia
Sun, partial shade
Early to late spring
Green cushion covered in simple white flowers; hardy and maintenance-free
Ficinia truncata ‘Ice Crystal’
Sun
Early summer
Dark green linear leaves edged in white; decorative clumps all year
Ophiopogon japonicus
Shade, partial shade
Midsummer to late summer
Tufted dark to black foliage; no maintenance required
Heuchera
Shade, partial shade
Late spring to midsummer
Round, jagged leaves from green through purple, red, orange and yellow
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
Sun
Early to midsummer
Blue-tinted foliage forming a perfect rounded cushion
Lemon thyme (Thymus citriodorus)
Sun
Early to late summer
Only 6 inches (15cm) high, golden leaves with a lemony scent and taste
Each entry is detailed in the sections that follow.
Main appeal: this thyme variety stands approximately 6 inches (15cm) high and showcases small golden oval leaves
Exposure: sun
Soil: neutral to limey, well-draining, and can handle dry and even poor conditions
Cherry on top? Its leaves pack a lemony scent and taste.
Materials for borders
Plants and materials can be mixed along an edge
Tired of plants for your borders? Opt for natural materials you find on nature walks.
How about choosing a tree with striking bark, like birch?
Split a branch into pieces of equal height.
Next, simply plant them around your garden bed, and voilà! A border appears.
Some get creative and use colorful glass bottles. Why not repurpose a pallet into a sharp wooden border? Pavers, pebbles, metal strips, corten steel… Numerous solutions exist to mix plants and materials.
