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JOE SWIFT

The 9 best plants to fill a garden border

Every garden needs these essential front-of-border fillers. These are Joe Swift’s favourites for the job

The Times

I’ve been on site all week, on a design job planting up a large garden. It’s looking rather good, if I do say so myself. Fortunately, about half the garden is in full sun and half is in dappled and full shade, which means I can garden in the sunny areas in the morning when it’s cooler and then move into the respite of the shade later.

I’ve designed this garden with quite a few paths leading round and through, and some large beds set into gravel areas (with edging, so not technically a gravel garden). There are a lot of edges overall — some between paths and beds, some between lawn and beds and some between paving and, yup, more beds. The movement throughout the space makes the garden very three-dimensional: just how I like it.

I’m not a traditionalist with regards to hierarchy of plants, with the shortest at the front and tallest at the back. I like to mix it up and bring taller, less blocky plants to the foreground to create depth of field and movement, but there needs to be what we call “front-of-border plants” to break those clean lines low down.

Garden pond with Persicaria bistorta Superba.
For a looser, informal look, choose edging plants with blocks of offset on each side
ALAMY

Every garden, however small, has transitions that look better softened. In my design, with so many edges, I require plenty that will do well in their respective aspect (full sun, full shade and dappled shade), and some of those in both sun and shade to help link the areas together.

The way you plant these edging plants is key. Do you want a full line of the same plant to edge a path? Edging a meandering path will draw you along, even speed you up, whereas a straight path edged on both sides with the same variety will create that formal look. For a looser, informal look, perhaps choose a few varieties with blocks of offset on each side (so the same variety, but not set out directly opposite each other). This will bounce the eye along nicely at a leisurely pace.

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Ah, the choice is yours. This is where the fun and creativity comes in, turning what is boringly named a “front-of-border” spiller into more of a thriller.

Know your soil type to get the most out of your plants

Joe’s top 9 front-of-border fillers

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' lining a garden path next to a greenhouse.
Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’
GARDEN DESIGN / GRAHAM LLOYD-BRUNT

Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ (catmint)

A great perennial plant, with olive green, aromatic foliage and lilac-blue flowers. Flowers for a long period and can be clipped back after first flush to keep it tidy, after which it’ll flower again. Yes, cats do love to roll around on it. N. ‘Junior Walker’ is shorter at 40cm x 40cm. Needs full sun and does well on poor, well-drained soils. Height 60cm x spread 50cm.

Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Storm Cloud' flowers.
Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’
.CROCUS.CO.UK

Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’ (amsonia)

A fabulous and underrated plant with airy, open, willowy stems, which produces clusters of starry, light blue flowers in early summer. Has a great buttery yellow autumn colour and long purple seed pods too. Doddle to look after once established. Height 1m x spread 60cm.

Evergreen gamander blooming behind a woven wood fence.
Teucrium x lucidrys (hedge germander)
ALAMY

Teucrium x lucidrys (hedge germander)

A compact plant with small, evergreen, aromatic leaves carrying small pink flowers in high summer. Clips well (in spring and after flowering, trim it back if required). Great for coastal gardens too. Height and spread 30cm.

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Close-up of Jekka's Thyme flowers.
Thymus ‘Jekka’ (thyme)
ALAMY

Thymus ‘Jekka’ (thyme)

There are many thymes to choose from — some carpet (such as T. serpyllum), while others get a little taller and woodier. This one was introduced by the herb guru Jekka McVicar and is a great and delicious form, with pinky-white flowers in summer. Needs plenty of sun and good drainage. Height 10cm x spread 30cm.

Hardy Geranium clarkei "Kashmir White" flowers.
Geranium clarkei ‘Kashmir white’
ALAMY

Geranium clarkei ‘Kashmir white’

Most hardy geraniums are fabulous for sun or shade and there is a huge range to choose from. This is one perhaps for the larger scheme, where you need a big spreader. Pure white, open flowers with a delicate purple vein that looks perfect against the finely cut leaves. Very long flowering. Height 45cm x spread 1m.

Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' in bloom.
Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’(tickseed)
ALAMY

Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’ (tickseed)

Looking for a light touch? I love this airy perennial plant with small, pale yellow, daisy-like flowers from June onwards. Works well with grasses. Does best in full sun, but also thrives in light shade given good drainage. Height 45cm x spread 50cm.

Close-up of two Viola labradorica flowers.
Viola labradorica (labrador violet)
ALAMY

Viola labradorica (labrador violet)

A bit of a self-seeder, but we like a bit of that sometimes. Low, spreading mounds or purple-green leaves (often evergreen in mild areas) with violet-blue flowers in spring and early summer. Perfect for a woodland garden. Height 10cm x spread 20cm.

Amphibious bistort (Persicaria affinis 'Superba') in bloom.
Bistorta affinis ‘Superba’
ALAMY

Bistorta affinis ‘Superba’ (East Indian knotweed)

Tough as hell and can cope with pretty deep shade. Forms a semi-evergreen mat with pink flowers that turn red as they mature. I use it a lot in quantity to soften edges and suppress weeds. Height 25cm x spread 50cm.

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Hakonechloa macra, Japanese forest grass, growing near rocks and water.
Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest grass)
ALAMY

Hakonechloa macra (Japanese forest grass)

A lovely, dark green grass with floppy (but wonderfully obedient, well-combed) leaves. Light green flowers float gently over the foliage, which takes on coppery tones in autumn. Good in shade but needs moisture in the soil to thrive. Yes, there are yellow and variegated varieties, but I like the straight green the best — soothing on a hot day. Height 35cm x spread 40cm.

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