Edging plants are used to define garden beds, walkways, or borders, creating a neat and attractive appearance. When selecting edging plants, consider factors like height, growth habit, maintenance requirements, and overall aesthetic. Here are some popular plants for edging:
Boxwood (Buxus spp.): Boxwood is a classic choice for formal gardens due to its dense, evergreen foliage and ability to be shaped into precise hedges or borders.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.): This fragrant, flowering perennial adds a touch of color and attracts pollinators. Its mounded growth habit makes it suitable for edging.
Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys): This low-growing, evergreen perennial with small, glossy leaves can be clipped into a neat hedge and is ideal for defining garden borders.
Liriope (Liriope muscari): Also known as Lilyturf or Monkey Grass, Liriope forms neat, grass-like clumps and produces spikes of purple or white flowers, making it a popular edging choice.
Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus): This aromatic, evergreen perennial has silvery-gray foliage and yellow flowers, creating a striking border along paths or garden beds.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum): This low-growing, fragrant groundcover produces small, colorful flowers and can tolerate light foot traffic, making it suitable for edging pathways or patios.
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima): This low-growing annual produces masses of tiny, fragrant flowers and can create a soft, billowing effect along garden edges.
Heuchera (Heuchera spp.): Also known as Coral Bells, Heuchera is valued for its colorful foliage and can create a vibrant, low-maintenance edging along garden beds or walkways.
Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus ‘Nanus’): This evergreen, grass-like plant forms dense clumps, making it suitable for defining garden borders or creating a living edge along pathways.
Society Garlic (Tulbaghia violacea): With its clumping growth habit, strap-like leaves, and clusters of violet flowers, society garlic adds a touch of color and texture to garden edges.
When planting edging plants, consider their mature size, sun and water requirements, and whether they are evergreen or deciduous. Space the plants according to their growth habits to create a continuous, attractive border. Regular maintenance, such as pruning, trimming, or weeding, will ensure that your edging plants stay neat and well-defined.
