Useful Border Plant

[plocket]

What is your most useful border plant? For me it's probably heucheras - because they are evergreen and have pretty frothy flowers.

[sweetleaf]

Sedums!...... they arent evergreen but they are so reliable, nothing seems to discourage them and they are great providers for nectar loving insects. They are too easy to propagate though, Ive run out of people to give them to.
I love Japanese anemones too, so delicate looking but tough as old boots. ;D

[plocket]

I keep trying to get rid of my Japanese Anemones because they just take over - they would work in a larger garden though. I can't say I'm the greatest fan of sedums but I agree that they are useful.

[4pygmies]

Prolly Bronze Fennel if I had to choose...I love it and it goes with anything (has to in my garden). Every year I make a note to myself to grow Japanese anenomes but every year I forget..... I love OxEye Daisies, Cerinthes and most of the daisy type flowers really..I'm also appreciating Dahlias more and more. I used to hate them, too blowsy but as I get older I like that! Actually it's impossible to choose just one.

[The witch]

Yes I must agree - Japanese anenomes they flower when most needed, too. ;D

[plocket]

Oh I love bronze fennel too but it self-seeds like nobody's business ;D

[sweetleaf]

I have some bronze fennel seeds I got on seed swop, when should I sow them?

[plocket]

Oooh er... probably in a month or so - I've had mine in the ground for a while so they just do their own thing. Have you got lots coz you could try doing some now in a pot, and then some in a month or so if the first lot don't germinate! ;D

[cheerypeabrain]

Annuals it's got to be cosmos...they rise gracefully above the other plants and flowered from June to December! (strange year really wasn't it?)...oooh oooh and heliotrope soooo fragrant!

Perennials...probably climbers...the passiflora always gives a lovely show and looks exotic and gorgeous...I can't get on with honeysuckles for some reason...although I love them....and I absolutely have to have lavender in my garden... ;D

[piggingardener]

I'm a clematis fan, I forgot to tell you Plocket, I miscounted, I actally have 40! I like heucheras too and evergreens like fatsia japonica.

[plocket]

Ah but I don't count clematis as border plants so I haven't mentioned them - but they are my fave plant in the garden! ;D So you like faties hey? I can't say that I particularly like them I'm afraid Piggin!

[maggyd]

I love penstemons and lavender and I know its an old favourate but you can,t beat geraniums

[plocket]

Lavender keels over in my so Maggyd but I agree that it's a useful and lovely plant. I've never grown penstemons though. Geraniums are fab but I think I lost a couple this winter. There's still plenty of time for them to come though.

[sweetleaf]

My Geraniums didnt die back this year wierd isnt it? I have been digging a few out here and there so they dont becone the only plant left in the garden
Penstemons are easy,peasy, I have one called Devils blood, at least that was the name given to me, but I cant find it on google

[plocket]

Some of mine died back and some didn't. Unfortunately I had a rather lovely dark purple leaved one (Purple Reiter?) but I forgot to protect it over winter so I think it's a gonner

[sweetleaf]

Unless the soil was very, very wet I would be surprised if it is, have faith Plocket, they are very tough.

[plocket]

I've got clay soil!!! ;D

[sweetleaf]

sorry Plocket, I know just how to say the wrong thing dont I ?

[plocket]

Hey it's fine - I've got quite a few hardy geraniums and they are fine, but Midnight Reiter is a particularly tender one so I should have remembered and protected it. Ah well - I'll know if I get another one ;D