How to Design an English Perennial Border

Planting en Masse for a Succession of Color with Herbaceous Plants

Jul 29, 2009

The old perennial borders of England are the result of ideas passed down from one head gardener to another. And those garden lessons can be recreated across the pond.

The traditional English perennial border is usually filled with more than just perennials. It is a mix of perennials, shrubs, roses and herbs, also known as the herbaceous border or mixed border. The main appeal of a perennial border is in the achievement of a succession of color over a long wide expanse of space and with plants planted en masse. If the gardener is in the midst of designing her own perennial border, there are a few things to consider before she takes up her spade.

Width of the Border

Learn as much about each plant as possible beforehand. Learn what the plant's ultimate height will be, as well as its width and flowering characteristics. Decide on the width of the border. Four feet wide is easy and will allow for approximately four rows of plants. Most perennials need a 12” to 18” of space around them, so it's up to the gardener and the plant's needs. Some gardeners don't like to see the soil below the foliage, so four rows is perfect in a four foot width border. If the gardener adds roses or flowering shrubs to the mix, she may want an even wider border. Roses don't like to be crowded.

The rows of plants should be asymmetrical, rather than planted as the gardener would plant a row of carrots in the vegetable garden. A natural looking border is much more appealing to the eye.

Succession of Color

The best and most rewarding perennial borders are always colorful, even toward the end of summer. Gardeners choose plants that will flower at different times, so there is a succession of color. Early spring brings the colorful bulbs. Late spring brings the pinks, mauves and whites fading into a colorful mix by mid-summer. August and September bring the hot colors of red, orange and deep purples.

Choose more than one of each variety for the best show. This is known as planting en mass. Three pink delphiniums planted together is much more effective than one plant that will simply be lost in the chaos of other single plants around them.

Interest in Leaves

Add some plants that only offer interest in their leaves. There are numerous Hosta varieties that would work well in a border. Greenery softens the scene, breaks up the monotony, adds interest and is a place for the gardener's eyes to rest, especially in spring when everything in the garden is flowering with such urgency.

The Half-Pyramid

Plant the taller flowers at the back of the border. Think of it as a half-pyramid, so that there is a graduation in height from the back of the border to the front. This ensures every plant is visible.

Any gardener can design a perennial border. And if she has made an error in placement, she can move the plants in early spring or late fall. Don't be afraid to dig out a plant that's just not cutting it. The goal is to have a perfect succession of color through three seasons. Over the years, it will grow and evolve with the gardener's help.

Creating a Victorian Flower Garden, Stefan Buczacki, Widenfeld and Nicholson, 1988

The copyright of the article How to Design an English Perennial Border in Flower Gardens is owned by Lorraine Syratt. Permission to republish How to Design an English Perennial Border in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.