One of the most beautiful elements of garden design is a colorful flower border with a good selection of plants. Perennials are ideal for this, of which there are countless types and flowers in thousands of color combinations.

Phlox must not be missing in the perennial storage bed

Perennial plants reduce the amount of work

Perennials are at least biennial plants without wood. Most species grow herbaceously and die down to the ground in autumn. In spring, however, new shoots sprout from the roots, which are thus safely protected from frost, and the plant blooms again in all its beauty. However, some perennial species are also evergreen and cover the ground with their shades of green in winter. These include, for example, the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) and other types of Hellebore (Helleborus). In some locations it does flower around Christmas time, but in most environments and in heavy soil the flowers will not appear until spring. But no matter which perennial plant you choose, it will significantly reduce the workload in the flower bed because you don't have to replant or sow it every year like annual summer flowers.

Perennial borders or mixed beds?

A real perennial border contains only perennial perennials - but no shrubs, bulbous plants or other types of plants. This type of border is very laborious and plants that die before others even bloom leave unsightly gaps. For this reason, this bed shape has fallen out of fashion today. In a mixed border, on the other hand, there are many perennials, but in association with shrubs, summer flowers, bulbous plants and possibly even attractive vegetables. Shrubs with ornamental foliage fill in gaps during the growing season, and when the perennials die back in autumn, evergreens and bulb flowers continue to provide color and an interesting focal point.

The most beautiful perennials for perennial flower beds

Typical of traditional herbaceous borders are the tall white daisies, the pale mauve scabious with their profusion of tiny flowers, and the delightfully fragrant phlox with its heavy umbels of pink and orange flowers. All these perennials get along well with other flowers and bloom for a very long time. Daylilies and African lilies have ribbon-shaped leaves that create a good contrast. The sheaf (Achillea) bears feathery leaves and tiny daisy-shaped flower discs. 'Gold Plate' is a popular tall variety with impressive bright yellow flowers. This genus goes well with many other perennials such as astilbe, cranesbill or lady's mantle.

tips

Self-seeding plants also fit well in a perennial flower bed. The low-growing lady's mantle sows freely and is therefore best suited to the edge of the bed.

Category:

Vegetable garden