Nothing starts the explosion of colour in the garden with more impact than vibrant-coloured spring-blooming edging plants. But the excitement isn't restricted only to the first flush of spring bloom. Many edgers that bloom throughout the season are available as are some that provide and maintain interest by way of their variegated or nicely-textured foliage.

Beginning with blue Veronica whitleyi, the earliest spring-blooming edger in my Zone 5 gardens, to Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, the last to exhaust itself in fall, they set off the rest of the gardens to perfection. Consider some of the following perennials as suitable companions for every type of edging plant.

* Watch for the animated hummingbird and butterfly with the plants that attract them. *
The deer icon indicates plants that deer are not usually attracted to.

The best time and method to propagate plants can be found on our image-intensive PROPAGATION page.

To help your plants grow their best, check out our FERTILIZATION page.

To create your own plant partnerships based on tried and true color theory, check out our GARDEN COLOR page.

To see if a particular plant is on this page press Ctrl+F, type in the name, then click the Find button.

NEPETA

This is one of those perfect perennials whose mere presence makes its neighbours seem more vibrant because of its proximity. Perfect with paler shades of pink or yellow, it serves more vivid companions well too. Cutting back hard after the first flush encourages rebloom until fall, making it ideal near later-blooming perennials as well as early ones. What more could you ask of any plant?

Nepeta x faassenii:  Catmint

above left:  over a low edging of red-foliaged Hens and Chicks
above right in front of:  strappy Hemerocallis foliage & a single red Paeonia tenuifolia (early-blooming Fernleaf Peony)
where:  edging for walks, beds, rock walls, as a ground cover, used in drifts
generally with:  brighter-coloured perennials
combined with:  Acanthus mollis, Echinacea purpurea 'Bright Star' or 'Magnus' & Hemerocallis 'Yesterday Memories'
combined with:  Achillea 'Coronation Gold', Lavandula 'Munstead', Lilium, Lythrum, Salvia & Veronica
combined with drought-tolerant plants:  Echinops ritro, Achillea, Papaver orientale, Rudbeckia & Ornamental Grasses
combined with:  Alchemilla mollis &  Stachys byzantina & Stachys 'Helene von Stein' (a huge-leaved form)
combined with:  Geranium endressii 'Wargrave Pink', Salvia nemorosa 'Superba', Campanula, Phlox, Oenothera & Iris
combined with:  Centranthus ruber, Centranthus ruber 'Snowcloud' & Centaurea montana
with:  Phlox subulata (especially pink, but with most other colours as well)
with:;  Veronica spicata
with:  Filipendula vulgaris, Heuchera x brizoides, Hemerocallis spp.
with:  Platycodon grandiflorus (taller forms as well as the 15" dwarf 'Sentimental Blue')
with:  Verbena, Geranium, Paeonia, Coreopsis, Verbascum including V. chaixii
with:  Achillea 'Moonshine', Allium forms, Aquilegia x hybrida, Papaver orientale
with:  Oenothera fruticosa, Oenothera speciosa or Oenothera tetragona 'Youngii'
drifted beside:  Dianthus spp, especially bright pink-coloured forms
drifted beside:  Dianthus x alwoodii, Dianthus caesius (D. gratianopolitanus) including 'Tiny Rubies',
Dianthus 'Brilliant Cascade', Dianthus plumarius (low-growing Cottage Pinks)
with:  Cheiranthus, Lychnis (white forms)
beside:  Arabis caucasica, Artemisia schmidtiana nana 'Silver Mound'
in front of:  Tanacetum coccineum (formerly Chrysanthemum coccineum)
in front of:  Tulipa (pink, pale yellow or crimson), Iris sibirica,
under:  roses (especially white or pink)
taller types with:  Achillea, Oenothera, Eryngium

edging combo with::  Achillea 'Moonshine', Coreopsis 'Moonbeam', Arrhenatherum elatius var. bulbosum
'Variegatum' (cream-striped) & Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet' (non-flowering)
with:  Hemerocallis (a lemony-yellow shade)
with:  Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple', Kniphofia x pfitzeri

near:  Tanacetum coccineum (rose or crimson shades)
combined with:  Tulipa (yellow or lavender), Iris x germanica (violet or purple intermediates) & Allium aflatunense
with:  roses, hybrid tea roses

beside:  Rosa 'Pearl Drift'
in front of:  Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety'
combined with:  Phlomis russeliana (and other pale yellow flowers), Alchemilla mollis, Rosa 'Graham Thomas' (golden)

with:  Allium christophii & Salvia x superba 'East Friesland'
combined with:  Phlox paniculata 'Miss Lingard' or 'Rosalinde' or its cousin Calamintha nepetoides
behind:  Tulipa, to cover up their dying foliage

synonym:  'Souvenir d'André Chaudron' in Europe
drifted beside:  Achillea 'Moonshine'
with;  Achillea millefolium 'Terra Cotta' & Caryopteris 'Worcester Gold' (for a spectacular effect)

OENOTHERA

There are many members of the Sundrops family of perennials that grace the middle sections of a garden. Fortunately there is one form, the Missouri Evening Primrose, that provides a wonderful accent at garden edges. Here its huge, clear yellow, 5" wide blooms first appear in late spring. If it can spill over a rock edge, the plant can be assured of the excellent drainage it requires to thrive.

Oenothera macrocarpa:  Ozark Sundrops

formerly:  Oenothera missouriensis
where:  front border position, rock gardens, meadow gardens
with:  Nepeta x faassenii, Iris x germanica, Phlox, Geranium, Achillea
beside:  Campanula carpatica, Dianthus, Hemerocallis, Lychnis chalcedonica, Stokesia laevis
in front of:  Eryngium

formerly:  Oenothera missouriensis 'Green Court'
for partnership ideas follow the link to Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

now reclassified as:  Oenothera macrocarpa - see above

PHLOX

These edgers are wonderful for spilling over rock edges and come in an amazing array of colours for combining with many other perennials, bulbs and grasses. Just picture the following combinations, pick your favourites and go out to the garden to recreate any of the following scenes that are sure to invite comment from visitors to your garden.

Phlox subulata: Moss Phlox, Creeping Phlox

with grasses:  Carex glauca
with other perennials:  Dianthus spp., Euphorbia myrsinites
with other spring bloomers:  Iberis sempervirens

with:  Sedum, Penstemon, Nepeta x faassenii, Yucca
with early spring bloomers:  Arabis caucasica, Aurinia saxatilis
with perennials:  Anemone pulsatilla (now Pulsatilla vulgaris)
with bulbs:  Narcissus jonquilla, Endymion hispanicus, Tulipa (pink or dark purple)
in front of other bulbs:  Tulipa (try pink shades or a white form)
in front of perennials:  Sedum spectabile

combined with other white bulbs:  Tulipa or Hyacinthus
beside:  Iris (apricot dwarf)
in front of other bulbs:  Tulipa (yellow lily-Flowered), Allium 'Purple Sensation'

seen in the photo above cascading over a rock edge
with bulbs:  Convallaria majalis
combined with:  Tulipa (buttery or peach), Dicentra spectabilis (white) & Iris (creamy to orange early Bearded)

seen above doing what it does best - hug and cascade over a rock edge, flaunting its bright early spring colour
near bulbs:  Narcissus jonquilla, Tulipa kaufmanniana or clusiana, Endymion hispanicus
near perennials:  Arabis, Iberis, Pulsatilla vulgaris, Nepeta x faassenii
beside:  Dianthus caesius, Lavandula 'Hidcote Blue'
in front of bulbs:  Tulipa (pink, short white, crimson and/or dark purple)
with:  hybrid Tulipa, early Narcissus
in front of perennials:  Sedum spectabile, Iris sibirica (a blue form such as 'Orville Fay')
combined with:  Tulipa (white), Iris (sky blue Intermediate), Narcissus poeticus (white), Tulipa (dark plum) &
Dicentra spectabilis

for partnership ideas follow the link to Red Perennials & Their Companions

with:  Convallaria majalis

synonym:  'Emerald Blue'; pale lilac-blue (silvery lilac) excellent foliage
with early bloomers:  Aurinia saxatilis, Arabis, Convallaria majalis
with:  Sedum, Penstemon, Yucca,
in front of:  Tulipa (any colour from strong orange to pale pink)

with:  Aurinia saxatilis, Sedum, Arabis, Penstemon, Yucca

for partnership ideas follow the link to Pink Perennials & Their Companions - 2

SEDUM

Flowering much earlier than taller relatives, the low-growing forms of Stonecrop generally produce a ground-covering mat of foliage and starry flowers in a range of colours depending on variety. Some even have variegated foliage to provide additional impact once the blooms have faded away. It seems that only the Border Varieties attract butterflies.

Sedum:  low forms

beside:  Dianthus

with:  yellow flag Iris

combined with:  Dianthus knappii & Euphorbia myrsinites

synonym:  Sedum cauticola 'Robustum'
where:  as low edger around a bed
over:  Allium christophii
beside:  Helictotrichon sempervirens
under:  white Cleome, tall Ornamental Grasses
with:  Campanula (taller varieties), Stachys byzantina

beside:  Salvia argentia, Salvia officinalis 'Purpurascens', Ocimum basilicum 'Dark Opal'
in front of:  Allium tuberosum
with:  autumn Crocus
with:  Heuchera micrantha 'Palace Purple', Iris pallida 'Variegata', Stachys byzantina
combined with:  Pennisetum alopecuroides & Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm'

for partnership ideas follow the link to Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnerhip ideas follow the link to Yellow Perennials & Their Companions - 2

star-shaped two-tone flowers seen above with a fluffy Filipendula bloom flopped forward on top
for partnership ideas follow the link to Red Perennials & Their Companions

THYMUS

Many creeping forms make an excellent drought-tolerant groundcover while taller, bushier forms can be used as a low hedge. All make wonderful edging plants with flowers of various colours and some provide variegated foliage for additional interest once the bloom is finished.

Thymus:  Thyme

where:  between flagstones, as a ground cover in hot, dry sites, as edging for informal paths
with:  Allium, including A. schoenoprasum
with:  Dianthus, Sedum, Sempervivum, Helianthemum nummularium, Lavandula
underplanted with hardy bulbs:  Allium, Muscari, Crocus, Narcissus (small forms)
with:  Phlox (low-growing, sun-loving forms)
in front of:  Euphorbia epithymoides

with:  Dianthus deltoides 'Zing'
combined with:  Campanula carpatica 'China Doll' (azure-blue), Potentilla 'Miss Willmot' & Sedum 'Dragon's Blood'

with:  Stachys 'Helen von Stein'

for textural contrast with:  Lavandula

echo with:  Scilla scilloides of a similar shade

combined with:  Sedum (yellow) & Arenaria verna

with:  Thymus serphyllum 'Album'
with:  Yucca filamentosa
combined with:  Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Tiny Rubies', Dianthus deltoides 'Albus', Veronica 'Crater Lake Blue',
Artemisia 'Silver Brocade' & Geranium sanguineum

VERONICA

While many of the taller forms of Speedwell are well known and commonly used in mid to rear border situations, some lovely types are of a short stature perfect for border edges. Provide the well-drained conditions they require and try to avoid watering the foliage where possible and they will amply reward you with spikes of variously-coloured, long-blooming flowers.

Veronica allionii:  Alpine Speedwell, violet-blue, 6"x12"

where:  edger in full sun to part shade, rock gardens

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

formerly:  Veronica latifolia, Veronica teucrium
this includes the cultivars:  'Crater Lake Blue & 'Trehane'
to go with:  spring & early summer blooming Euphorbia
with:  Heuchera

also see:  Veronica teucrium 'Shirley Blue' below
combined with:  Iris x germanica (blue) & Tanacetum coccineum
combined with:  Iris x germanica (yellow & cream) & Paeonia (a single white)
combined with:  pink Heuchera, white Dianthus, blue Iris x germanica, all near Chrysanthemum coccineum
with:  hot crimson Dianthus deltoides
beside:  pink Gypsophila repens 'Rosea'

above with:  Hosta and Aruncus in shade

for partnership ideas follow the link to Pink Perennials & Their Companions - 2

where:  rock gardens, walls, as edger

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

this includes the cultivars:  'Heavenly Blue' & 'Mrs. Holt'
where:  walls, rocks gardens, as edger

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

synonym:  Veronica latifolia, Veronica austriaca spp. teucrium
this includes the cultivars:  'Crater Lake Blue & 'Trehane'
to go with:  spring & early summer blooming Euphorbia
with:  Heuchera

also see:  Veronica austriaca spp. teucrium 'Shirley Blue' above
sometimes referred to as:  V. austriaca, V. prostrata, V. teucrium dubia, V. rupestris or V. latifolia

for partnership ideas follow the link to Purple Perennials & Their Companions - 2

All of our own Gardens By The Bay pages can be accessed by clicking on the links below.

HOME

GARDEN POETRY  |  GARDEN POETRY MUSE

GEORGIAN BAY VIEW

BOTANICAL LATIN - BASICS

COLOR THEORY

THE GARDENS

CORNER GARDEN CONSTRUCTION  |  CORNER GARDEN PLANTING  |  LONG GARDEN

EAST GARDEN  |  HOSTA GARDEN  |  NORTH GARDEN  |  WINTER GARDENS

PLANT PARTNERSHIPS

BLUE PERENNIALS    Aconitum - Geranium  |  Iris - Vinca

BULBS    Allium - Hyacinthus  |  Narcissus only  |  Tulipa only  |  Minor Bulbs

BUTTERFLY MAGNETS    Anaphalis - Hemerocallis  |  Liatris - Veronicastrum
DAYLILIES      Spider & Unusual Form

EDGERS    Arabis - Iris  |  Nepeta - Veronica

FOLIAGE PERENNIALS     Alchemilla - Tanacetum

HOSTA    Hosta - all

HUMMINGBIRD-FRIENDLY PERENNIALS    Alcea - Salvia

ORANGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Tulipa

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES    Acorus - Imperata |  Miscanthus - Spodiopogon

PINK PERENNIALS    Achillea - Lilium  |  Lychnis - Veronica

PURPLE PERENNIALS    Aconitum - Liatris  |  Polemonium - Veronica

RED PERENNIALS    Achillea - Veronica

SHADE PERENNIALS    Aegopodium - Erythronium  |  Ferns - Polemonium  |  Polygonatum - Vinca

SILVER FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Cerastium    |    Cornus - Limonium    |    Lunaria - Veronica

SIMPLY SPECIAL PERENNIALS    Acanthus - Saxifraga

WHITE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Iris  |  Kalimeris - Yucca

YELLOW PERENNIALS    Achillea - Hypericum  |  Inula - Verbascum

VARIEGATED-FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Acorus - Erythronium  |  Hakonechloa - Lysimachia  |  Miscanthus - Yucca

PLANT PROFILES

Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies'  |  Geranium  |  Geum coccineum  |  Kerria japonica  |  Knautia macedonica

Paeonia tenuifolia  |  Papaver somniferum  |  Rudbeckia  |  Salvia 'East Friesland'

Trollius  |  Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'

PROPAGATION

DIVISION - SPRING ONLY  |   DIVISION - FALL ONLY  |   DIVISION - SPRING OR FALL  |   DO NOT DIVIDE

FERTILIZATION

BULBS  |   ORNAMENTAL GRASSES  |   PERENNIALS  |   SHRUBS  |   VINES

LINKS

GARDENS  |   LOCAL GARDENS  |   BOTANICAL TERMINOLOGY

GARDENING BOOKS  |   NON-GARDENING

HOME