A perennial border requires a great deal of thought and planning. Plants are chosen for attractive color, period of bloom and height. A large border planting usually has low growing perennials in the front with several sections of taller perennials behind them. A small planting may have room for only low growing perennial plants if the planting is to seem appropriate for the site. These low growing perennials range in height from 8 to 60 cm and provide some ideas for a low perennial border. All of these plants have been grown at the Agriculture Research Station in Fredericton, but may not be hardy in all New Brunswick locations.
- Achillea ageratifolia
(Yarrow) has silver gray finely cut foliage. These 10-15 cm plants produce small white flowers in May and June.
(Bugleweed) produces 30 cm spikes of blue flowers in June. Cultivar "Pink Spires" tends to have evergreen foliage.
(Rockcress) A profusion of white flowers from April to June and attractive foliage make these 20 cm plants a good selection for any rock garden. These plants require dividing every second year to avoid dead patches in the center of the clump.
(Sea pink, Thrift) have 20 cm tall mounds of grass-like evergreen foliage and globular blooms of white, red or purple are evident from mid-May to mid-June.
(Bellflower) White, blue, purple or yellow bell shaped flowers give a showy bloom in July and August on this 15-45 cm tall plant.
(Rose delight, Mountain bluet) Large delicate flowers of rosy lilac or cornflower blue are produced throughout the summer. These attractive plants grow to 60 cm tall.
(Snow-in-Summer) This 15 cm tall plant has distinctive silvery foliage and masses of small white flowers in June. Because of its rapidly spreading growth it should be severely trimmed after flowering.
(Painted daisy, Pyrethrum) In June and July these 30-60 cm plants produce red or pink daisylike blooms which make good cut flowers. Promote second bloom by cutting stems to the ground after first flowering.
(Blanketflower) is one of the easiest perennials to grow, this 30-60cm plant develops handsome red or yellow flower heads and will bloom all season if dead blooms are removed.
(Cranesbill) Large purple-blue flowers in striking 40 cm clusters and ornamental foliage make this a very popular plant. These 25 cm plants bloom from June to July.
(Plaintain lily) are plants usually chosen for their distinctive foliage but they also produce small lily-like blooms in July. The plants range in height from 30-90 cm.
(Candytuft) have neat evergreen hummocks of dark green foliage and masses of white flowers which form a 50 cm mound. Bloom period is in July.
(Evening primrose) makes a colorful filler plant with its cup shaped lemon-yellow flowers on 60 cm tall stems in bloom from June to Aug.
(Moss Phlox) develops a thick green mat, 15 cm high covered with red, pink, white or lilac blooms from May to June. It makes an excellent edging or ground cover.
(Showy Stonecrop) From August to frost the rosy pink flower clusters of this fleshy leaved 45 cm tall plant are visible.
(Hens and Chickens) is often planted as a companion for sedums. Foliage forms and colors differ with the species and the 30 cm midsummer flower colors vary.
(Speedwell) From June to early August the 45-60 cm showy royal blue spikes of this plant are visible.
(Violet) are colourful low growing plants ranging from 8-25 cm tall. V. cornuta have the longest bloom period, from May to September while the fragrant V. ordorata blooms only in May and June.
1988
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