Border stars

Create impressive borders by using hard-working plants that flower over a long period, have striking foliage or perform in more than one season, says Hazel Sillver

- Hazel Sillver

IN A small garden, plants have to work to earn their place. By selecting the perennials and shrubs that offer more than their money’s worth, a border will look great for months, no matter the size. For instance, perennials that bloom over a long period and attract butterflies easily outshine those that only flower for a few weeks and don’t offer nectar. Likewise, shrubs that look good in more than one season – for example, via summer flowers and autumn berries – outdo those that only perform once a year. These stalwart border gems can be planted now, as long as the ground isn’t frozen, for a dazzlingly long display next year.

Non-stop bloomers

Opt for non-stop bloomers over quick bursts of colour. Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ gets going in May and produces orange flowers into August; likewise, Knautia macedonica and Potentilla ‘Gibson’s Scarlet’ flower all summer. Late-bloomers include Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ and Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’, which bloom from mid-summer to mid-autumn. Also invaluable are the flowering plants that add structure and layers, such as Verbena bonariensis and sea holly, which have an architectural shape and an airy ‘see-through’ quality.