Creating a perennial bed – here's how to do it easily

Garten & Pflanzen Gestaltungstipps
Creating a perennial bed – here's how to do it easily


The most important points in brief

  • A perennial border brings vibrant structure to the garden with perennial plants of varying heights and colors and is easy to create if you pay attention to the location, planting time, and space requirements of the perennials.
  • It is particularly recommended to create a perennial border in autumn, or in spring for sensitive species; General rules of thumb regarding plant density and the selection of tried-and-tested perennial classics for different locations can help. For optimal support of plant growth, the use of weatherproof trellises such as the Grosetto plant support from ELEO, which combines functionality and attractive design, is recommended. Creating a Perennial Bed – What You Should Know For many garden owners, a perennial bed is the crowning glory of their green oasis. Year after year, it is a magnificent, colorful sight, delighting with a diversity of plants in different heights and sizes. Creating a perennial bed is easy if you keep a few key points in mind – we answer the most frequently asked questions about planting perennial beds. What exactly are perennials? Perennials are plants that live for more than two years – with multiple stems growing from a single root – that die back in autumn and sprout again in spring. They exhibit a vast variety of colors and shapes. Perennials offer an excellent way to bring color and structure to the garden. They can be used as ground cover, shrubs, or classically as bedding plants and are suitable for various climate and soil conditions. When is the best time to plant a perennial bed? Generally speaking, autumn (October/November) is the ideal time to plant a perennial bed. However, there are some perennial species that prefer planting in spring (February/March). These include: Autumn anemone Monkshood Winter aster Tickseed Torch lily Rock rose Grasses Ferns These species are too sensitive to winter frosts as young plants in autumn – or they are still in the middle of flowering. How big should a perennial bed be? How large a perennial bed should be depends on the size of your garden and, of course, on your personal taste – and last but not least, on the perennials you want to plant. Each plant needs a different amount of space.

    As a rule of thumb, remember: For tall perennials, plant one to two; for medium-height perennials, three to four; and for shorter perennials, five to six plants per square meter. If you are unsure, ask at the nursery where you purchased your perennials. Often, the plant pot/container itself indicates how many plants you should plant per square meter to achieve optimal growth.

    Early perennial bed with ELEO plant support GrosettoFor support during growth, you can use weatherproof metal trellises. Pictured: The ELEO plant support Grosetto in hot-dip galvanised finish. © ELEO Which perennials are the most popular for a perennial border? When it comes to creating your perennial border, anything goes. However, some perennial varieties have become classics because they add beautiful accents to the beds and are easy to care for. Popular perennials include: ... Characteristics Site Requirements Phlox (Phlox) Different varieties. Most common colors: pink, purple, white, and blue. Height up to 100 centimeters. Flowers often in large panicles. Pleasant fragrance. Preferably sunny and airy. The more sun, the more abundant the blooms. Iris Various varieties. Striking sword-shaped flowers (hence the name). Grows up to 120 centimeters tall. Most common colors: Purple, blue, yellow. Preferably sunny location with well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. Coneflower (Rudbeckia) Various varieties. The most popular is the common coneflower with bright yellow flowers. Height: up to 300 centimeters. ... Preferably sunny, but partial shade is also possible. Water moderately, avoid waterlogging. Pampas grass (Cortaderia selloana) Magnificent plumes in cream tones; fast-growing; reaches a height of up to 300 centimeters. Preferably sunny and sheltered from wind; Nutrient-rich, well-drained soil, no waterlogging.

    Colorful, flowering perennial bed with various plants

    © stock.adobe.com, pia-pictures

    How do you arrange perennials correctly in a flower bed?

    Arrange perennials in the flower bed from tallest to shortest. In the back, plant very tall perennials such as grasses, tall coreopsis, or hollyhocks. In the middle, plant slightly shorter perennials – for example, phlox, irises, roses, and bellflowers. The front is reserved for low-growing perennials and ground cover. Lavender, barren strawberry, and candytuft, for example, are suitable here.


    Stable and attractive plant supports

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    Flowering pachysandra from above as ground cover for perennial beds

    Popular ground cover for perennial beds: Pachysandra. © pixabay.com, dference

    What should you plant between the perennials?

    To transform your perennial bed into a seamless plant paradise, you can use ground cover plants that fill the gaps and green the soil of your bed. A popular ground cover is, for example, the evergreen Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra spp.). This low-growing plant belongs to the boxwood family and impresses with its rich green color and delicate white flowers. Caution: Pachysandra contains the steroid alkaloids pachystermin A and pachysamine A, which are toxic if ingested in larger quantities and can cause poisoning. If you prefer more color, a low-growing phlox variety, such as creeping phlox (Phlox 'Creeping Phlox'), is a good choice as ground cover for your perennial bed. It grows up to 20 centimeters tall and comes in various shades like purple or pink.

    Low-growing phlox, purple flowers as ground cover for perennial bedsLow-growing phlox varieties create a colorful sea of ​​flowers on the ground of your perennial bed. © pixabay.com, neelam279 For further reading: How to care for and prune your perennials in autumn is summarized for you in our guide Pruning Perennials in Autumn Cover image © ELEO

Annett Zahn
by Annett Zahn Annett Zahn

Plants and herbs are my passion. From a young age, I was able to build up a wealth of knowledge in this area, which my garden constantly benefits from.

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