What plants to plant in my borders? (UK)?

Can anybody tell me the best plants to plant in the borders of my garden. I want something that will come back every year, perhaps flower every spring or summer, need little maintenance and do not spread too much. The borders are east facing and have the sun till about 13.00 - 14.00hrs. Thanks!

What plants to plant in my borders? (UK)?
Lavenders are great plants, come in range of colours and types, and are reliable. They are also not invasive, though easy on care needs - just trim them every spring. Look out for Hidcote lavender - a beautiful blue flowered type, as well as the French lavenders, such as Kew.



Otherwise, I'd mix the heights of plants, as well as add varied types of foliage, and colours, to increase the interest and spectacle of your borders.



Phormiums, or New Zealand Flax, are spear leaved shrubs, from green, through red to purple, some of them with mottled variegated leaves. These add some drama to the border, and are good in full sun/part shade, as you have. Can grow to 6' high, though there are some dwarfer types.



Add some climbers, if you have walls or fences, to increase the growing area, and shield boring boundaries. Honeysuckles are great, and most have a strong scent too. Just need some trellis, or can be fixed on with garden wire etc. for support. To add winter interest, winter Jasmine, or Jasminum nudiflorum, as bright yellow flowers, when nothing much else is growing, yet alone flowering. Can be grown on a fence, or just allowed to build a mound, and trail. These are good in shady areas, so your borders are perfect, with just some sun till early afternoon.



Heucheras are great in part sun/shade areas, they are flowering perennials, with a huge range of leaf colours - their main attraction, as well as summer flowers. http://plants.thompson-morgan.com/produc...



Foxgloves are great - normally tall upto around 6' high. They readily set seeds after flowering, so allowing you to continue with more, even after the main plant finishes. They flower the following year.



For the front of the border area, pinks are attractive, come in a huge range of colours, many of them patterned flowers, and have a strong scent. Good for cut vase flowers, for indoors.



Cotinus, or smoke bush, is a good deciduous shrub, especially nice if you have a purple or red leaved variety. More grown for foliage than flowers. Height to 8' or so, eventually, so more for the back of the border.



I've not included too many types of plants here, not knowing how large your borders are. These are fairly simple, really low maintenance plants that give good results. Just plan how you can blend them in, I love cottage style gardens, where there is no regimentation, and have the varied heights, leaf types, and colours, as well as some scented flowers for added interest.



Hope this helps. Message me if you'd like some more plant ideas, I've got many many more. Good luck! Rob
Reply:Hi:

There are many different flowers that would work on the east side. They would be getting morning sun and a little afternoon. There are many perennial flowers that would come back every year. You could also do some dwarf evergreen shrubs, as the dwarfs make a great border. Mondo grass or Liriope are also wonderful for borders and will do well in sun and shade.



Another idea is to do a combination of dwarf evergreen and perennials for a border. This would add more color to the border. The UK is similar to zones seven and eight in the United States. I will link you to the gallery of plants section of my website. There is a page on perennial flowers and a page on annual flowers. There are also many different small shrubs you could use. I will also link you to the site map, as this page has everything that is on the website. The Variety of more plants section also has more plants for you to see, and you may find some options there. Browse through the site map as there are many articles, tips and techniques that may be helpful to you. Good luck to you and if you need any further suggestions, please feel free to contact me. Have a great day!

Kimberly



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