A beautiful garden border filled with colorful, low growing perennials can really make a landscape pop. Not only do perennials provide long-lasting color and texture, but they require less maintenance than annuals since they come back every year. When choosing plants for a border, it’s important to select short varieties that won’t obstruct views or encroach on walkways.
After reviewing numerous gardening sites and plant dictionaries, I’ve compiled this list of the top 25 low growing perennial border plants to consider for your garden. Whether you want something showy and flowering or stately and foliage focused, there are great options for every gardening zone and style.
Best Low Growing Perennial Border Plants
Creeping Phlox
Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) is a popular low growing perennial that reaches just 6 inches tall but spreads 24 inches wide. In spring it erupts with blankets of pink, purple, white or red flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It does well in full sun with well-drained soil and is hardy in zones 3-9.
Lavender
The intoxicating fragrance of lavender is reason enough to grow it, but it also offers pretty spikes of purple flowers in summer over aromatic silvery foliage. Dwarf English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) only grows 12-18 inches tall and is hardy in zones 5-9 It thrives in full sun and dry, sandy or gravelly alkaline soil.
Dianthus
Commonly called Pinks, the Dianthus genus includes over 300 species of flowering plants ideal for garden borders. Varieties like Maiden Pinks (D. deltoides) and Cheddar Pinks (D. gratianopolitanus) grow just 6-10 inches tall and produce abundant single, double or fringed flowers in shades of white, pink, red or purple from spring to fall. They thrive in full sun and average soil in zones 3-9.
Snow-in-Summer
True to its name, Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) becomes blanketed with masses of small, white flowers in late spring and early summer. The rest of the year, this hardy perennial displays attractive silvery blue-green foliage. It grows just 6-10 inches tall and spreads 24 inches wide in zones 3-7. Snow-in-summer does best in full sun and dry, sandy or gravelly soil.
Blue Fescue
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a clump-forming ornamental grass with stunning steel blue foliage. Growing just 8-12 inches tall it adds great color and texture contrast to garden borders. Reddish-brown plumes appear in summer but are not the main attraction. Blue fescue thrives in zones 4-8 in full sun and average to dry soil.
Garden Thyme
Thyme is a quintessential herb for borders and rock gardens, releasing a lovely scent when brushed against Common garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) grows slowly into a dense mound reaching just 8 inches tall and 12 inches wide. Pink or white flowers appear on short spikes in summer. Thyme is hardy, deer resistant and drought tolerant, thriving in full sun and well-drained soil in zones 5-9
Veronica
Speedwell (Veronica spicata) offers long-lasting color in garden borders, with dense upright spikes of pink, blue or purple flowers rising above glossy foliage from early to midsummer. Plants reach 12-18 inches tall and do best in full sun and moist but well-drained soil. Speedwell is hardy in zones 3-8.
Geranium
Sometimes called cranesbills, Geranium is a large genus of compact, mounding perennials that bloom steadily from spring to fall. They add terrific color on borders, reaching just 12-18 inches tall and wide. Some popular low growing varieties include Rozanne Cranesbill (G. ‘Rozanne’) with violet-blue flowers and Bloody Cranesbill (G. sanguineum) with fuchsia flowers. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Catmint
Nepeta, commonly called catmints, are long blooming perennials that are drought tolerant and resist deer and rabbits. Catmint (Nepeta racemosa) displays masses of blue flower spikes above aromatic gray-green foliage from late spring to fall. It grows just 12-18 inches tall and spreads 24 inches wide. Pruning plants after first flush of flowers encourages reblooming. Thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 3-8.
Sea Thrift
Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima) is a compact, mounding perennial that blooms profusely in spring with round pink or white flower clusters on wiry stems. The rest of the year it forms tidy grass-like mounds of narrow evergreen leaves. Plants grow just 4-6 inches tall and wide, doing best in full sun and very well-drained soil. Tolerates coastal exposure. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Creeping Phlox
For stunning spring displays in garden borders, Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) is hard to beat. This short evergreen perennial forms a mat only 6 inches tall but spreads 24 inches wide. Blankets of pink, purple, blue or white flowers cover the plant in April and May. Creeping phlox grows well in full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. It is drought tolerant when established and attractive to butterflies. Hardy in zones 3-9.
Rock Cress
Rock cress (Arabis caucasica) is a tidy mounding evergreen perennial that blooms profusely in spring. Plants form a dense mound of gray-green leaves, bearing masses of fragrant white, pink or purple four-petaled flowers on stems rising 6-12 inches tall. Shear plants after blooming to encourage compact growth. Thrives in full sun to light shade and well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Basket of Gold
Few plants can match Basket of Gold (Aurinia saxatilis) for intense color impact in spring. Plants erupt with dense clusters of bright golden flowers that absolutely glow in sunlight. The rest of the year, they form compact mats of gray-green foliage 6-10 inches tall. Basket of Gold does best in full sun and average to dry well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 4-8.
Coreopsis
Tickseeds provide fabulous color in garden borders from early summer into fall. Coreopsis verticillata is a short variety growing just 12-18 inches tall and wide. Abundant small yellow daisy-like flowers appear on slender stems above lacy green foliage from early summer until frost. Prune spent blooms to promote reblooming. Does well in average garden soil and full sun. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Artemisia
Valued for their attractive silver foliage, Artemisia makes great filler plants for garden borders. Varieties like ‘Powis Castle’ form dense mounds of fine, fern-like silver foliage that provide contrast to colorful bloomers. Plants grow 2-3 feet tall and wide. Artemisia does best in full sun and dry to average soil that drains well. Cut back in spring to maintain compact growth habit. Hardy in zones 5-9.
Sedum
Sedum, also called stonecrop, are succulent perennials grown as much for their attractive foliage as flowers. Shorter varieties like Dragon’s Blood Stonecrop (Sedum spurium) display colorful red leaves and pink flower umbels on mounds just 4-6 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide. Sedums are drought tolerant, deer resistant and thrive in full sun and dry, poor soil. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Lavender Cotton
Grown as much for its foliage as flowers, Lavender Cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus) offers beautiful soft, finely divided silver leaves that release a piney aroma when brushed against. Small yellow button-like flowers appear in summer. Plants form rounded mounds 12-18 inches tall and wide. Does best in full sun and very well-drained alkaline soil. Hardy in zones 5-9.
Thrift
Thrift or Sea Pink (Armeria maritima) is a compact, mound-forming perennial that blooms profusely in spring with round pink or white flower clusters on wiry stems. The rest of the year it forms tidy grass-like mounds of narrow evergreen leaves just 4-6 inches tall and wide. Sea Thrift does best in full sun and very well-drained neutral to alkaline soil. Tolerant of coastal exposure. Zones 4-9.
Columbine
Columbines provide graceful color in shady garden borders and naturalize easily. Dwarf varieties like Little Lanterns (Aquilegia canadensis) display masses of red and yellow bicolor blooms on plants just 6-12 inches tall and wide. Columbines do best in morning sun and afternoon shade. They prefer evenly moist, well-drained soil and are hardy in zones 3-9.
Lavender
The intoxicating fragrance of lavender is reason enough to grow it, but it also offers pretty spikes of purple flowers in summer over aromatic silvery foliage. Dwarf English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) only grows 12-18 inches tall and is hardy in zones 5-9. It thrives in full sun and dry, sandy or gravelly alkaline soil. Avoid excessive fertilization.
Dianthus
Also called Pinks, Dianthus offers profuse single, double, or fringed flowers in white, pink, red or purple all spring and summer. Short varieties like Maiden Pinks (D. deltoides) and Cheddar Pinks (D. gratianopolitanus) grow just 6-10 inches tall. Dianthus needs full sun and well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Deadhead to promote reblooming. Hardy in zones 2-10.
Snow-in-Summer
Aptly named, Snow-in-Summer (Cerastium tomentosum) becomes smothered with masses of small white flowers in late spring and early summer. The rest of the year, this hardy perennial displays attractive silvery blue-green foliage on mounds 6-8 inches tall. It does best in full sun and dry, sandy or gravelly soil. Snow-in-summer is hardy, drought tolerant, and spreads easily. Zones 3-7.
Creeping Jenny
For a fast-growing, colorful groundcover, Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) can’t be beat. This short perennial grows just 2-4 inches tall but spreads quickly to an indefinite width. Cup-shaped yellow flowers appear in summer. Creeping Jenny thrives in zones 4-9 in part shade to full sun and moist soil. It will spread aggressively in ideal conditions.
Blue Fescue
Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) is a clump-forming ornamental grass with eye-catching steel blue foliage. This low maintenance grass only reaches 8-12 inches tall and can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. Reddish-brown plumes appear in summer but the soft blue foliage is the main attraction. For best color, plant blue fescue in full sun. It is drought tolerant once established. Hardy in zones 4-8.
So in summary, some of the best low growing perennial plants for garden borders include Lavender, Creeping Phlox, Dianthus, Catmint, sedums, thyme, speedwell, basket of gold, lavender cotton and columbine. Look for varieties suitable for your specific hardiness zone. Perennials add long-lasting beauty, color and texture to gardens with less upkeep required compared to annuals.
Can I Use Low Growing Plants in Shade?
Yes, many low growing plants prefer shaded conditions.
For areas with full to partial shade, such as gardens that are east-facing, consider plants like Heuchera, which has colorful foliage and can brighten up dark spots, or Hakonechloa macra (Japanese Forest Grass) for its graceful, flowing foliage that adds texture.
These plants are ideal for adding interest to shaded areas of your garden where sunlight is limited.
For more shade garden ideas check out my guide The 10 Best Flowering Vines for Shade.
Choose the Right Plants
- Drought Tolerant Varieties: Opt for plants that can withstand dry conditions, like Sedum or Lavender, to reduce the need for frequent watering. For more ways to sustainably save water, check out my guide Water Butts: Sustainable Water Storage for Your Garden.
- Perennials Over Annuals: Choose perennials since they don’t require replanting every year. Plants like Nepeta, Dianthus, and Heuchera come back year after year with minimal intervention.
- Native Plants: Native species are adapted to local conditions and usually require less care than non-natives. Theyre also better for local wildlife.
- Good Drainage: Ensure your border has well-drained soil to prevent root rot and other diseases. Amend the soil with organic matter to improve its structure and nutrient content.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around your plants. Mulch conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down. Check out my guide The Best Alternatives to Traditional Mulch for Your Garden.
66 Low Growing Perennial Plants For Garden Edges, Borders and Walkways | Low Growing Perennials
FAQ
What are the best low growing plants for borders?
Low growing perennials are the perfect choice for your garden border. Helping to create a degree of symmetry along garden paths or fences. Low growing perennials are shorter plants that simply grow closer to the ground. Varieties of low growing plants include Hosta, Heuchera, Iberis, and Vinca minor.
What are low growing perennials for the front of the house?
- Shasta daisies
- Japanese painted fern
- Lilyturfs (Liriope)
- Sedum
- Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa)
- Dianthus
- Garlic chives
What is a good border perennial plant?
A good choice is foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia). This perennial has colorful leaves and each spring, it produces a flurry of white flowers that’ll bring early pollinators to your garden. Eventually, they’ll form a non-invasive cushion of leaves that fill in gaps between other plants in your mixed border.
What plants are good for border edging?
- Parsley is a great border choice
- Nepeta ‘Dawn to Dusk’ is great for edging
- Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle) works as an edging or a stand alone specimen
- Dianthus are tough little rebloomers
- Salvia verticillata and Digitalis ‘Husker’s Red’ for a great combination
What is a low growing border plant?
Low-growing border plants can transform and shape a once flat and meek design. Short flowers can be used to fill in spaces between taller plants, creating a fuller-looking, continuous garden design without gaps. Many small flower perennials also work well when planted in mass, creating a colorful aesthetic of blooms that can take over a large area.
What is a low-growing perennial flower?
Low-growing perennial flowers are a gardener’s key to creating a picturesque garden, adding dimension and layers to the landscape design. These small perennials add interest, definition, and beauty to garden borders, walkways, and paths. Low-growing border plants can transform and shape a once flat and meek design.
Are low-growing perennials good for small spaces?
Low-growing perennials are the perfect solution for compact gardens, patios, or borders, offering vibrant colors and textures while staying neat and manageable. These plants bring year-round charm without overwhelming their surroundings. In this guide, we’ll introduce 14 stunning perennials that thrive in small spaces.
Are short perennials a good choice for your garden?
When it comes to adding color and dimension to your garden, short perennials are the way to go. Low-growing flowers are perfect for creating an exciting and layered look in your garden. Exactly what you need to draw your eye through your garden and give every flower a chance to shine.
What is a short perennial plant?
With a wide range of colors and blooming seasons, there is sure to be a short perennial plant that meets you needs. Low growing perennial plants add dimension and layers to your landscape. These short perennials are perfect for borders, walkways and edges.
What plants grow well in small spaces?
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia aurea) This low-growing perennial creates a beautiful carpet of golden foliage reaching only 2-4 inches in height. It spreads gently to fill small spaces while remaining manageable. The plant provides excellent ground coverage with minimal maintenance. 14. Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata)