• Borders
• Beds
• Design Considerations
• Plants to Provide Seasonal Interest
• Perennials with Interesting Foliage
• Perennials with Interesting Forms

One of the most popular uses of perennials is within the herbaceous border, traditionally filled with summer- and early autumn-flowering perennials, banked according to height. Plants may be grouped in large, distinct groups of a single type of plant to create a formal effect, or planted in drifts to create informal swathes of colour that flow into each other.

A whole range of other plants may be used alongside perennials to create a mixed border. The addition of shrubs, bulbs and climbers maximises the chances of creating a planting design with year-long interest, although this can be done with perennials alone (as described below). In a newly-planted border, bulbs and annuals may be used to fill the gaps between perennials; these may gradually be reduced and finally removed as the perennials become established and reach their mature size.

Study, compact perennials may also be used to create island beds, surrounded by lawn or paving and visible from all sides. Island beds can be of any shape to suit your garden style; geometrical, rectangular or circular beds are appropriate for a formal setting, whilst loosely curved shapes are more fitting in an informal design or a garden with undulating ground. Complicated shapes and tight angles should be avoided as they can detract from the planting scheme and can be difficult to maintain.

Raised beds are useful for displaying perennials, as they can provide the gardener an opportunity to grow a wider variety of plants where the soil in the open garden is poor or waterlogged. Their raised height also makes them invaluable for disabled or elderly gardeners.

The shape and size of any border should be in proportion with the rest of the garden; the bigger the garden, the bigger the border or bed should be. In general, beds should be at least 1.5 m (5 ft) wide to create a well balanced scheme with plenty of layers to stir visual interest.

Traditionally, borders are planted with tall plants at the back (or the centre of island beds), graduating to smaller ones at the front. However, placing a few tall plants at the front of the planting can help break up the uniformity and create an excitement to the design.

The greatest impact can be achieved by grouping plants of one type together, rather than planting isolated specimens. To create a natural-looking effect, plant in odd-numbered groups; the smaller the plant, the larger the group should be. Instead of planting in a straight line, aim to group the plants randomly.

When planning a perennial or mixed border, think carefully about the height, colour, texture, form and seasonal interest of the plants and how they will affect your design.

Spring

• Leopard's bane (Doronicum 'Miss Mason') - cheerful, golden-yellow daisy flowers in early spring
• Christmas cowslip (Pulmonaria rubra) - small, pinkish red flowers in winter or earliest spring
• Primrose (Primula vulgaris) - yellow flowers bloom early in the year
• Spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum 'White Nancy') - pretty, white flowers in late spring

Summer

• Peony (Paeonia 'Sarah Bernhardt') - apple blossom pink blooms which flower mid to late season
• Perennial lupin (Lupinus 'Noble Maiden') - hybrid that is available in a range of deifferent colours; flowers in early summer
• Variegated obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana 'Variegata') - plant with pink flowers that bloom from summer to September. The variegated leaves ensure that this plant has interest from spring right through to autumn.
• Coneflower (Rudbeckia 'Herbstsonne') - large yellow blooms that flower in July and August

Autumn

• Coneflower (Rudbeckia Rustic Dwarfs Group) - mustard orange and mahogany daisies that flower through September and into October
• Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum 'Anastasia') - pompom pink flowers that bloom from September and through to December
• Autumn monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii) - slim spikes of hooded, blue flowers. Handle with care - all parts of the plant are poisonous.
• Red-hot-poker (Kniphofia 'Brimstone') - slender, flowering yellow spikes that appear in October

Winter

• New Zealand flax (Phormium 'Bronze Baby') - rich, bronze red, spiky, sword-like leaves
• Corsican hellebore (Helleborus argutifolius) - heavily scented, pale apple green flowers that appear in January
• Black lilyturf (Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens') - striking, purple-black leaves that forms a , grassy clump
• Elephant's ears (Bergenia 'Abendglut') – has dark green leaves that take on a deep wine colour in the winter months. Rose red flowers in spring.

• Rose campion (Lychnis coronaria) - grey, lance-shaped leaves with a woolly texture
• Tickseed (Coreopsis verticillata) - dainty, soft fern-like foliage
• Plantain lily (Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans) - large, blue-grey, corrugated leaves
• Marguerite (Argyranthemum gracile 'Chelsea Girl') - fine, slender grey-green leaves, which look like lengths of hair
• Ice plant (Sedum spectabile) - fleshy, grey-green, waxy leaves
• Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) - rounded, lobed leaves with pleated edges
• Sea holly (Eryngium alpinum) - spiny stems and jagged foliage

• Desert candle (Eremurus stenophyllus) - spikes of orange flowers reaching about 1.5 m (5 ft) in height.
• Chinese rhubarb (Rheum palmatum 'Atrosanguineum') - two-tiered plant, with a horizontal layer of reddish-purple leaves that grows 90cm (3ft) tall, above which are held smoky-pink plumes of tiny flowers.
• Delphinium (Delphinium 'Faust') - A tall (1.7 m - 5.5 ft) and elegant plant with blue flowers and jagged leaves
• Baby's breath (Gypsophila paniculata 'Compacta Plena') - low growing plant producing a foamy array of pink to white flowers.