Table of contents
- Small evergreen shrubs
- perennials
- Herbs
With plants as a bed border, you give your garden a clearly defined structure in a natural interpretation. A wide range of tried-and-tested types and varieties meets the high demands that home gardeners place on easy-care bed borders. Immerse yourself in a selection of suitable small shrubs, perennials and herbs that give your beds a picturesque setting with an architectural component.
Small evergreen shrubs
Shoot death and box tree moths have overthrown the box tree as a classic bed border. In order to frame ornamental and vegetable beds with evergreens, the following small shrubs have emerged:
Barberry 'Nana'(Berberis buxifolia)
With its bushy, hemispherical habit, the barberry 'Nana' is a feast for the eyes, which impressively sets the scene for every flower and vegetable bed. Sharp spikes and densely branched growth make the evergreen border a natural bulwark against uninvited cats and dogs. Gardeners do not need to fear confrontations with the scratchy shoots, because the mini barberry requires neither pruning nor time-consuming care work.
- growth height: 40 to 50 cm
- Special feature: orange-yellow flowers from May to June
Holly 'Heckenzwerg'(Ilex aquifolium)
Thorny holly comes with all the attributes we want in the ideal boxwood alternative. Squat growth, robust cut tolerance and reliable winter hardiness characterize the domestic deciduous tree.
- growth height: 10 to 30 cm
- Special feature: evergreen with small teeth on the leaf edges
Rhododendron Bloombux(Rhododendron micranthum)
The innovative new breed is at the beginning of a great career as a magnificent alternative to boxwood. Bloombux inspires with small, pointed leaves that are reminiscent of the foliage of Buxus. In June, the piece of jewelery puts on a delicate pink blossom dress, from which a seductive scent emanates. In contrast to majestic rhododendrons, the dwarf variety tolerates pruning very well.
- growth height: 50 to 60 cm
- Special feature: evergreen and lime tolerant
Tip:
Rhododendron 'Bloombux' convincingly demonstrates its suitability for pruning if you reach for the scissors at the right time. The best time to cut is after the early summer flowering period. The opulent bed edging is suitable for any creative topiary, from hemispherical to square or even in waves.
Shadowbell 'Cavatine'(Pieris japonica)
Keep an eye out for a bed border that tolerates shade, please direct your attention to the shadow bell. The pretty dwarf shrub is evergreen, compact and rounded in shape. From March to April, elegant overhanging panicles of flowers appear, which do not care about the lack of light at the location. A slight pruning after the flowering period cleans up withered panicles and guarantees a well-groomed appearance for the rest of the season.
- growth height: 40 to 50 cm
- Special feature: prefers a sheltered location
Holy herb, olive herb (Santolina rosmarinifolia)
The aromatic, fragrant dwarf shrub is an insider tip among home gardeners for imaginatively edging beds in sunny locations. From June to August, yellow flower heads rise above the lush green leaves and compete with the summer sun. The uncomplicated cut compatibility allows a comprehensive topiary in spring, followed by a light maintenance cut in summer to lure out a second bloom.
- growth height: 30 to 50 cm
- Special feature: light winter protection recommended in rough areas
Lavender Heather 'Curly Red'(Leucothoe axillaris)
With bizarrely twisted, evergreen ornamental leaves, lavender heather makes the boxwood fall into oblivion as a border for beds. The fresh green foliage color of summer takes on a reddish hue in fall. Without any visible transition, the spiraling leaves turn back into a promising green in spring. The striking play of colors is complemented by dainty, white flowers from May to June.
- growth height: 30 to 45 cm
- Special feature: thrives in sunny, semi-shady and shady locations
perennials
The most important criterion for a perennial as a bed border is compact, clumpy growth without runners. Furthermore, the plants should be equipped with a dense root ball so that bordered ornamental and vegetable plants do not spread underground into neighboring beds and paths. The following perennials also score points with their decorative foliage and colorful flowers:
Thrift 'Düsseldorfer Stolz'(Armeria maritima)
With spherical flower heads from May to September, thrifts boast as a bed border, accompanied by dense, grass-like leaves. There is no getting through here for perennials, flowers and vegetable plants. Its soft spot for sunny, sandy, lean locations makes the thrift the ideal edging plant for heather and rock gardens.
- growth height: 30 to 40 cm
- Special feature: semi-evergreen to evergreen and reliably hardy
pearl basket(Anaphalis triplinervis)
Pearl baskets ennoble every garden as a distinctive bed border with a special charm. The white capsicum flowers shine above the silver-grey, lanceolate foliage from July to October. In addition to the subtle play of colors, a hemispherical, clump-like growth qualifies the undemanding perennial as the perfect border for any natural garden.
- growth height: 30 to 40 cm
- Special feature: well suited for drying bouquets
porcelain flowers(Saxifraga urbium)
A combination of filigree, beautiful flowers and dense leaf rosettes, which thrive in evergreens, is characteristic of the valuable perennial. The dark red stalks, on which the red and white flower panicles appear in May, catch the eye. These properties make the porcelain flower a coveted bed edging for cottage and natural gardens.
- growth height: 10 to 30 cm
- Special feature: serves as a border for half-shady to shady locations
Herbs
Ever since the Middle Ages, home gardeners have relied on the many benefits of herbs to border their beds. With dense growth and a spicy scent, herbal plants ensure order and effectively curb the urge to spread of the enclosed plants. A good-natured cut tolerance reduces the care effort to a minimum. Last but not least, ecologically oriented gardeners appreciate the pest-repellent effect of various species. The following premium herbs act as border and biological plant protection at the same time:
Lavender 'Blue Cushion' and 'Cedar Blue'(Lavendula angustifolia)
In the Mediterranean garden and in the authentic cottage garden, lavender has cult status as a bed border. The focus is on the two varieties 'Blue Cushion' and 'Cedar Blue', which impress with their short growth and dense branching. Where the two magnificent specimens set the scene as border plants, cunning aphids have a bad hand. Care is limited to watering during summer drought and pruning in early spring.
- growth height: 40 to 50 cm
- Special feature: Summery pruning encourages a beautiful second bloom
Tip:
Mediterranean herbs, such as lavender, show their best side as a bed border if there is no supplementary nutrient supply. When planting, do not incorporate humus into the soil. Do not apply mineral or organic fertilizers such as blue grain, compost or horn shavings.
Thyme 'Compactus'(thymus vulgaris)
The thyme variety was discovered in a Dutch monastery garden, where it lay at the foot of perennials, flowers and vegetables with a spherical habit as a low border for beds. The oval leaves are evergreen, which provides decorative accents in the dreary winter. From July to September, violet flowers rise above the pretty foliage, busily swarmed by bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
- growth height: 5 to 10 cm
- Special feature: repels aphids
sage(salvia)
In the form of blossom sage (Salvia nemorosa) and spice sage (Salvia officinalis), the popular herbal plant is often used as an idyllic or spicy bed border. If you primarily value a colorful border, we would like to recommend the 'Ostfriesland' variety. For a rich herb harvest, we recommend the proven variety 'Tricolor', whose tasty leaves are colored green, white and violet-grey.
- growth height: 30 to 40 cm
- Special feature: keeps snails and caterpillars away as a bed border
chives(Allium schoenoprasum)
Chives provide convincing proof that a simple kitchen herb is perfect as a natural border for beds. Planted close together, the herbal plants form a decorative frame for the bed with summer blooms as the highlight. The kitchen is happy about the daily replenishment of fresh stalks of chives, which give cold and warm dishes a delicious touch.
- growth height: 20 to 25 cm
- Special feature: protects plants susceptible to powdery mildew from infection as a bed boundary
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