#Border #Plants #Pro #Landscapers #Create #Perfect #Garden #Edges
My most recent garden makeover was in spring 2023, when I decided to tackle the messy edges around my flower beds that had been bothering me for months. At the time, I was one of those gardeners who thought any plant would work along a border, and it felt like I was constantly replanting things that just didn’t fit right.
The beauty of border plants is that they can show you different sides of your garden no matter how you arrange them. From the low-growing groundcovers that spill over walkways to the tall grasses that create natural screens, the colorful perennials that bloom all season long, and the evergreen shrubs that look good even in winter, the right border plants never disappoint.
So, what are the best border plants for garden edges? I reached out to my local nursery expert and threw in a bit of my own trial-and-error experience to help you narrow down this ever-growing list.
Boxwood
Boxwood works perfectly as a border plant because of its dense, compact growth and small evergreen leaves that stay green year-round. This hardy perennial shrub doesn’t produce showy flowers, but its neat foliage makes up for it. Popular varieties include ‘Green Velvet’ with bright green leaves, ‘Winter Gem’ with darker green foliage, and ‘Green Mountain’ which grows taller with dense branching. Boxwood handles drought well once established and prefers partial shade to full sun. It’s quite heat tolerant and deer resistant too. Hardy in zones 4-9. Regular pruning keeps it looking tidy along garden edges.
Lavender
Lavender brings fragrant beauty to garden borders with its aromatic gray-green foliage and sweet-scented flower spikes. This hardy perennial blooms from late spring through summer in zones 5-9, though some varieties handle zone 4 with protection. The needle-like leaves release their signature scent when brushed against, making it perfect for walkway edges. Lavender thrives in full sun and well-draining soil, showing good drought tolerance once established. It handles heat well but struggles in humid climates. Look for ‘Hidcote’ with deep purple flowers, ‘Munstead’ offering lighter purple blooms, and ‘Phenomenal’ with violet-blue spikes and superior cold hardiness.
Catmint
Catmint makes a perfect border perennial that comes back year after year in zones 3-8. This aromatic plant produces spikes of purple, blue, or white flowers from late spring through fall if you deadhead regularly. The gray-green foliage has a pleasant scent that deer and rabbits avoid, making it naturally resistant to pests. Catmint thrives in full sun and handles heat and drought well once established. It works great in dry climates and poor soils where other plants struggle. Look for ‘Walker’s Low’ with lavender-blue flowers, ‘Six Hills Giant’ with deep purple blooms, and ‘White Wonder’ featuring white flowers and silvery foliage.
Hosta
Hosta makes an excellent choice for shady garden borders with its broad, textured leaves that come in many patterns. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 3-9 and produces tall spikes of white or purple flowers in mid to late summer. The foliage ranges from solid green to blue-green, with many varieties featuring cream or yellow edges. Popular cultivars include ‘Patriot’ with its green leaves and white margins, ‘Blue Angel’ with large blue-green foliage, and ‘Gold Standard’ which has golden centers with green edges. Hostas prefer consistent moisture and shade to partial shade. They’re resistant to most pests except slugs and handle cold winters well but struggle in extreme heat.
Astilbe
Astilbe brings feathery plumes of flowers to shaded garden borders from late spring through midsummer. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 3-8 and prefers cool, moist conditions with partial to full shade. The fern-like foliage ranges from bright green to bronze-red depending on the variety. ‘Fanal’ produces deep red blooms with dark foliage, while ‘Deutschland’ offers pure white flowers above green leaves. ‘Peach Blossom’ displays soft pink plumes. Astilbe struggles in hot, dry climates and needs consistent moisture to prevent leaf scorch. Deer and rabbit resistant, making it perfect for naturalized borders where other plants might get nibbled.
Coral Bells
Coral bells are tough perennials that work perfectly along garden edges with their colorful foliage and airy flower spikes. The leaves come in shades ranging from lime green to deep burgundy, with many showing silver markings or purple undersides. Small bell-shaped flowers appear on tall stems from late spring through summer in colors like white, pink, or red. These plants prefer partial shade and well-draining soil, though they tolerate full sun in cooler climates. They’re deer resistant and handle drought once established. Hardy in zones 4-9. Look for: ‘Palace Purple’ with dark burgundy leaves, ‘Lime Rickey’ with chartreuse foliage, and ‘Fire Chief’ featuring red-orange leaves.
Japanese Pachysandra
Japanese pachysandra makes an excellent groundcover for shaded garden borders where other plants struggle. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 4-8 and keeps its glossy green leaves year-round. The plant produces small white flower spikes in late spring, though most gardeners grow it for the foliage. It spreads slowly but steadily, forming a thick carpet that crowds out weeds. Prefers consistent moisture and partial to full shade – too much sun will scorch the leaves. Heat tolerance is moderate, making it ideal for cooler climates. Look for: ‘Green Carpet,’ ‘Silver Edge,’ and the standard species with its classic dark green foliage.
Liriope
Liriope makes an excellent border choice with its grass-like foliage that stays green year-round in most climates. This tough perennial produces small purple or white flower spikes in late summer that add nice texture to garden edges. The narrow leaves create clean lines and work well in both sun and partial shade, though it prefers some afternoon shade in hot areas. It handles drought once established but looks better with regular water. Hardy in zones 6-10 and tolerates heat well in southern gardens. Deer and rabbit resistant too. Look for: ‘Big Blue’ with purple flowers, ‘Variegata’ with cream-striped leaves, and ‘Royal Purple’ with deep purple blooms.
Lamb’s Ear
Lamb’s ear makes a perfect border plant with its thick, fuzzy silver-gray leaves that feel exactly like a lamb’s ear when you touch them. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 4-8 and produces tall spikes of small purple flowers in early summer, though many gardeners prefer the foliage over the blooms. The plant handles drought well once established and actually prefers dry conditions over wet soil. It grows best in full sun but tolerates partial shade. Lamb’s ear resists deer and rabbits thanks to its woolly texture. Popular varieties include ‘Silver Carpet’ with non-flowering silver leaves, ‘Big Ears’ featuring extra-large foliage, and ‘Cotton Boll’ with white woolly flower spikes.
Ajuga
Ajuga reptans spreads quickly to form a thick carpet along garden borders, making it perfect for edging. This hardy perennial thrives in zones 3-9 and keeps its colorful leaves looking good through winter in most areas. Purple-blue flower spikes appear in late spring to early summer, standing tall above the foliage. The plant handles both sun and shade well, though it prefers consistent moisture over dry conditions. It’s quite tough and resists most pests and diseases. Popular varieties include ‘Bronze Beauty’ with bronze-purple leaves, ‘Chocolate Chip’ featuring small dark leaves, and ‘Burgundy Glow’ showing cream, pink and green foliage.
Sweet Alyssum
Sweet alyssum forms low mats of tiny flowers that bloom from spring through fall in most climates. This annual thrives in cool weather and may slow down during hot summers, but picks up again when temperatures drop. The small, fragrant blooms come in white, pink, purple, or yellow depending on the variety. Gray-green foliage stays compact at just 4-6 inches tall. Prefers full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. Tolerates drought once established but benefits from regular watering. Hardy as an annual in all zones. Look for: ‘Snow Princess’ (white), ‘Purple Stream’ (purple), and ‘Wonderland Rose’ (pink).
Begonia
Begonias bring cheerful blooms to shaded garden borders from late spring through fall. These tender perennials are typically grown as annuals in most climates, hardy only in zones 9-11. The flowers come in shades of pink, red, white, orange, and yellow, sitting atop green or bronze foliage that adds nice texture to border plantings. They prefer partial to full shade and consistent moisture, though they don’t tolerate waterlogged soil. Begonias struggle in extreme heat but thrive in cooler, humid conditions. Look for: ‘Dragon Wing’ with red blooms, ‘Bada Bing’ series in mixed colors, and ‘Big’ series with large flowers.
Impatiens
Impatiens are tender annuals that bloom continuously from late spring until the first frost. These cheerful flowers thrive in partial to full shade, making them perfect for borders under trees or on the north side of buildings. They prefer consistently moist, well-draining soil and struggle in hot, dry conditions. The flowers come in shades of pink, white, red, orange, and purple, with bright green foliage that stays neat all season. Hardy only in zones 10-11, they’re grown as annuals elsewhere. Heat-sensitive and require regular watering. Look for: ‘Super Elfin’ series, ‘Accent’ series, and ‘New Guinea’ varieties with larger blooms.
Coleus
Coleus brings bold foliage colors to shaded garden borders with leaves in combinations of red, purple, green, yellow, and burgundy. This tender annual thrives in warm weather but struggles when temperatures drop below 50°F. The plant performs best in partial shade with consistent moisture, though it can handle some morning sun in cooler climates. Small flower spikes appear in late summer, but most gardeners pinch them off to keep the focus on the colorful leaves. Hardy only in zones 10-11, but grown as an annual elsewhere. Look for: ‘Wizard Mix’ with compact growth, ‘Kong’ series featuring large leaves, and ‘Rainbow’ varieties offering multiple color combinations.
Caladium
Caladiums bring tropical flair to garden borders with their heart-shaped leaves in bold patterns and colors. This annual thrives in warm weather and can’t tolerate frost, making it perfect for zones 9-11 or as a seasonal addition in cooler areas. The colorful foliage appears in late spring and lasts until the first frost. Popular varieties include ‘White Queen’ with white leaves and green veins, ‘Red Flash’ featuring red centers with green edges, and ‘Pink Beauty’ showing pink and green combinations. These plants prefer partial shade and consistent moisture, struggling in direct sun and dry conditions. Heat-loving but needs protection from intense afternoon sun.
Dusty Miller
Dusty Miller brings soft, silvery-gray foliage to garden borders with its fuzzy, deeply-cut leaves that look almost white in bright sunlight. This annual thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, making it perfect for hot, dry conditions. The plant rarely flowers, but gardeners grow it for the striking foliage that creates nice contrast against green plants. Most varieties reach 6-12 inches tall and spread about the same width. Heat and drought resistant once established. Works well in zones 7-10 as a perennial, but grown as an annual elsewhere. Look for: ‘Silver Dust’ with finely cut leaves, ‘Cirrus’ with broader foliage, and ‘New Look’ featuring compact growth.
Did You Know This Fact?
The Dusty Miller plant gets its name from its silvery-gray leaves that look like they’ve been dusted with flour, which old-time millers would have covered in from head to toe. This fuzzy-leafed beauty is actually native to the Mediterranean but has become a garden favorite worldwide because it can handle both scorching heat and surprisingly cold temperatures.
Ornamental Grass
Ornamental grasses make excellent border plants with their graceful movement and year-round interest. These hardy perennials thrive in zones 3-9 and bloom from late summer through fall with feathery plumes in cream, pink, or burgundy. The foliage ranges from green to blue-gray to burgundy, creating nice texture along garden edges. Most varieties handle drought well once established and prefer full sun. They’re deer resistant and tolerate heat better than many perennials. Popular choices include fountain grass with its bottlebrush blooms, feather reed grass with upright golden plumes, and Japanese forest grass with cascading chartreuse leaves.
Sedum
Sedum makes an excellent choice for sunny garden borders with its thick, fleshy leaves and easy-going nature. This hardy perennial comes in many forms – some varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ have blue-green foliage that turns reddish in fall, while ‘Dragon’s Blood’ offers red-tinged leaves year-round. Most sedums bloom from late summer through fall with clusters of small flowers in pink, red, or yellow. These drought-tolerant plants thrive in poor, well-draining soil and handle heat exceptionally well. They’re also deer resistant, making them perfect for low-maintenance borders. Hardy in zones 3-9. Look for: ‘Autumn Joy,’ ‘Dragon’s Blood,’ and ‘Angelina.’
