With plants as a border, you give your garden a clearly defined structure in a natural interpretation. A wide range of tried and tested species and varieties meet 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
Dying shoots and boxwood moths have toppled the boxwood from its throne as a classic bed border. In order to still frame ornamental and vegetable beds evergreen, the following small shrubs have emerged:
Barberry 'Nana'(Berberis buxifolia)
With its bushy, hemispherical habit, the barberry 'Nana' is a feast for the eyes that impressively highlights every flower and vegetable patch. Pointed spines and densely branched growth make the evergreen border of the bed a natural bulwark against uninvited cats and dogs. Gardeners do not need to fear confrontation with the scratchy shoots, because the mini barberry requires neither pruning nor time-consuming maintenance work.
- Height: 40 to 50 cm
- Special feature: orange-yellow flowers from May to June
Holly 'Heckenzwerg'(Ilex aquifolium)
The thorn-reinforced holly comes with all the attributes that we would like from the ideal boxwood alternative. The native deciduous wood is characterized by compact growth, robust cut tolerance and reliable winter hardiness.
- Height: 10 to 30 cm
- Special feature: evergreen with small teeth on the leaf margins
Rhododendron Bloombux(Rhododendron micranthum)
The innovative new breed is at the beginning of a great career as a splendid alternative to boxwood. Bloombux inspires with small, pointed leaves that are reminiscent of the foliage of Buxus. In June, the piece of jewelry puts on a delicate pink flower dress, the one
- Height: 50 to 60 cm
- Special feature: evergreen and lime tolerant
Tip: Rhododendron 'Bloombux' proves its cut tolerance convincingly if you pick up the scissors at the right time. The best cut date is after the early summer flowering period. The opulent bed border is suitable for every creative shape, from hemispherical to square or even in waves.
'Cavatine' shadow bells(Pieris japonica)
If you look out for a shade-friendly bed border, please direct your attention to the shadow bell. The pretty dwarf shrub grows 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.
- Height: 40 to 50 cm
- Special feature: favors a sheltered location
Holy herb, olive herb (Santolina rosmarinifolia)
The aromatic dwarf shrub is an insider tip among home gardeners for imaginative bedding in sunny locations. From June to August, yellow flower heads rise above the lush green leaves and shine in competition with the summer sun. The uncomplicated cut tolerance allows a comprehensive shape cut in spring, followed by a light maintenance cut in summer to attract a second flowering cycle.
- Height: 30 to 50 cm
- Special feature: In rough locations, light winter protection is recommended
Lavender heather 'Curly Red'(Leucothoe axillaris)
With its bizarrely twisted, evergreen ornamental leaves, lavender heather makes the box tree as a borderline into oblivion. The fresh green foliage color of summer takes on a reddish hue in autumn. Without a visible transition, the spiral leaves turn back into promising green in spring. The eye-catching play of colors is complemented by dainty, white flowers from May to June.
- Height: 30 to 45 cm
- Special feature: Thrives in sunny, partially shaded and shady locations
Perennials
The most important criterion for a perennial as a border is a compact, clumpy growth without runners. Furthermore, the plants should be equipped with a dense root ball so that framed ornamental and vegetable plants do not spread underground into neighboring beds and paths. The following perennials also score with their neat foliage and colorful flowers:
Carnation 'Dusseldorf Pride'(Armeria maritima)
With spherical flower heads from May to September, carnations brag as a bed border, underlined by dense, grass-like leaves. There is no getting through here for perennials, flowers and vegetables to the nose. Their penchant for sunny, sandy, poor locations makes the carnation the ideal edging plant for the heather and rock garden.
- Height: 30 to 40 cm
- Special feature: evergreen to evergreen and reliably hardy
Pearl basket(Anaphalis triplinervis)
Pearl baskets ennoble every garden as a distinctive border with a special charm. The white cup-shaped flowers shine from July to October above the silver-gray, lanceolate foliage. In addition to the subtle play of colors, a hemispherical, clump-like growth qualifies the undemanding perennial as a perfect border for every natural garden.
- Height: 30 to 40 cm
- Special feature: well suited for dry bouquets
Porcelain flowers(Saxifraga urbium)
A combination of delicate flowers and dense rosettes of leaves that thrive evergreen is characteristic of the valuable perennial. The dark red stems, on which the red and white flower panicles appear in May, catch the eye. These properties make the porcelain flower a sought-after border for the farm and natural garden.
- Height: 10 to 30 cm
- Special feature: serves as a bed boundary for partially shaded to shady locations
Herbs
Since the Middle Ages, home gardeners have relied on the many benefits of herbs as border borders. With their 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 maintenance effort to a minimum. Last but not least, ecologically oriented gardeners know the pest repellent effect
of different kinds to appreciate. The following premium herbs act as a 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 low growth and dense branching. Where the two splendid specimens stand out as edging plants, cunning aphids have bad cards. Care is limited to watering in summer drought and pruning in early spring.
- Height: 40 to 50 cm
- Special feature: summery remounting stimulates a beautiful re-flowering
Tip: Mediterranean herbs, such as lavender, show their most beautiful side as border borders if supplementary nutrient supply is dispensed with. Do not work any humus into the soil when planting. Do not give 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 feet of perennials, flowers and vegetables with a spherical habit as a low border. The oval leaves are evergreen, which provides decorative accents in the dreary winter. From July to September purple flowers rise above the pretty foliage, busily swarmed by bees, bumblebees and butterflies.
- Height: 5 to 10 cm
- Special feature: repels aphids
sage(Salvia)
In the form of flower sage (Salvia nemorosa) and spice sage (Salvia officinalis), the popular herbal plant likes to bring itself into play as an idyllic or spicy border. If you primarily value a colorful border, we would like to recommend the variety 'Ostfriesland' to you. For a rich herb harvest, we recommend the tried and tested 'Tricolor' variety, whose tasty leaves are drawn in green, white and violet-gray.
- Height: 30 to 40 cm
- Special feature: keeps snails and caterpillars away as a border
chives(Allium schoenoprasum)
Chives provide convincing evidence that a simple herb is perfect as a natural border. Planted close together, the herb plants form a neat frame for the bed with summer flowers as the highlight. The kitchen is happy about the daily supply of fresh chives, which give cold and warm dishes a delicious note.
- Height: 20 to 25 cm
- Special feature: protects plants susceptible to powdery mildew from infection as a border
