Perennial beds do not have to be created anew every year, as the plants will sprout again by themselves in the spring. It is all the more important to plan the perennial bed correctly. Here you will find a selection of the most beautiful perennials as well as great ideas and instructions on how to create an attractive perennial bed step by step.

Beautiful carpets of flowers can be created with ground covers

What are perennials?

Perennials are perennial, non-woody plants that overwinter in the ground with the help of rhizomes, tubers or bulbs and sprout again in spring. They can be cultivated in beds but also in pots, even if they may need winter protection as pot plants, as the roots are exposed to more cold here.
Perennials are not always flowers. There are also vegetables, vines, ferns, rose plants and even pond plants that are perennials. The growth height varies greatly, even if they rarely exceed one meter, since perennials, as I said, do not become woody. In winter, the outer parts of the leaves usually die off, although there are some evergreen perennials.

The most beautiful perennials for your perennial border

When choosing perennials for your perennial bed, you should not only keep an eye on aesthetic aspects such as flower color and growth height, you should also pay particular attention to the location requirements of the perennials. Not all perennials do well in full midday sun. If you plant shade-loving perennials in the sun, you will only get a few flowers. Only those who take into account the location requirements of their plants will be able to enjoy lush flowers.
Most perennials are available in different colors, often also in different growth forms, i.e. as carpet plants or tall perennials such as the astilbe or the bellflower. The main perennial families are:

  • lavender
  • aster
  • bluebell
  • cranesbill
  • anemone
  • thyme
  • astilbe
  • speedwell
  • nettles
  • sage
  • coneflower
  • hosts
  • phlox
  • peony
  • cloves
  • lilies
  • delphinium
  • yarrow
  • houseleek
  • mint and peppermint
  • Sedum species
  • ornamental onion
  • blue pillow
  • Veronica

The most beautiful design ideas for perennial beds

When designing a perennial bed, there are many different aspects to consider. Here are a few ideas to think about when planning:

  • The bed border: A perennial bed should be separated from the garden with stones, wood or border plants.
  • the growth height of the perennials: taller perennials should be planted in the middle, small perennials and groundcover rather at the edge.
  • Decorative elements: Large stones, decorative planters, water elements or even antique devices such as wheelbarrows or the like can turn a perennial bed into an extraordinary garden spectacle.

You can find out more about planning your perennial bed here.

Color combinations for the perennial bed

Some gardeners like it colorful

When it comes to the color design of perennial beds, tastes differ: some like it colorful, others like it sunny yellow and still others like it elegant white. Color combinations such as blue-white or violet-white or even red, orange and yellow are particularly attractive.
When choosing, also pay attention to the flowering period. Do you want all the perennials to bloom at the same time and turn your perennial bed into an impressive sea of flowers, or do you prefer something blooming all year round?

Perennials with purple or pink flowers

  • Balkan strawbill
  • Blue Pillow 'Blue Tit'
  • Blood Cranesbill
  • Real thyme
  • Autumn Anemone 'Rose Shell'
  • hedgehog leek
  • Carthusian carnation
  • Moroccan mint
  • Peony 'Sarah Bernhard'
  • Magnificent Cranesbill 'Vital'
  • Sage 'Caradonna'
  • Coneflower 'Magnus'
  • star bulb leek
  • Carpet Bellflower 'Birch'
  • Carpet Spiers
  • Thyme 'Coccineus'
  • many varieties of lavender
  • dwarf hosta
  • Dwarf Cranesbill 'Ballerina'

Perennials with white flowers

Example perennials with white flowers:

  • Aster 'Snow Flurry'
  • Balcony Cranesbill 'White-Ness'
  • Blue cushion 'Fiona'
  • Blue Cushion 'Winterling'
  • wood anemone
  • Chinese anemone
  • Prize of Honor 'Snow Giantess'
  • Stuffed Yarrow 'The Pearl'
  • heath carnation 'Albus'
  • Autumn anemone 'Honorine Jobert'
  • Lavender 'Hidcote White'
  • Lavender 'Nana Alba'
  • peppermint
  • Peony 'Festiva Maxima'
  • Sage 'Adrian'
  • Coneflower 'Alba'
  • Carpet Phlox 'MaiSNOW'
  • Thyme 'Albus'
  • forest anemone
  • Forest bellflower 'Alba'
  • White Blood Cranesbill 'Album'

Yellow perennials create a warm, glowing garden bed

Perennials with yellow or orange flowers

  • Akelia 'Yellow Queen'
  • Fat leaf 'Weihenstephaner Gold'
  • Yellow Cowslip
  • Yellow mock coneflower
  • gold hair raster
  • stonecrop
  • Sun bride 'Waltraud'
  • Sun Hat 'Tiki Torch'
  • Daylily 'Stella de Oro'
  • Carpet Yarrow 'Aurea'
  • Tibetan bell primrose
  • tripmadame
  • many girly eye varieties
  • water iris
  • Winter Aster 'Citronella'

Create a perennial bed step by step

1. Planning

Before you get to work, you should plan your perennial bed. To do this, measure your perennial bed and draw a rough sketch. Think about which flower color(s) should dominate and look at perennials on the internet or in garden shops. Write down the names and flower color of the ones you like and then arrange them on your sketch. When arranging, consider the growth height of the individual plants. Note the planting distance! After you have placed your plants on the paper, you can better estimate how many perennials you need. Also plan space for any decorative elements.

2. Stake and prepare ground

Then mark out the perennial bed in your garden. Dig up the soil thoroughly and remove roots, stones and weeds. If the soil is poor, it can make sense to put some compost under the ground.

3. Plant perennials

Now put your perennials. Work your way from the inside out. Finally, water your plants.

4. Set decorative elements

Now it's time to place your decorative elements. If you have made a mistake with the space, it is still possible to relocate and reorganize individual plants.
To protect against drying out and weeds for a nicer look, you can finally cover the soil with mulch, (239.00€) pebbles or similar.

5. Bed border

Last but not least, the bed border is set, which visually delimits your perennial bed and prevents, for example, ground cover from spreading onto the lawn.

Category:

Garden design