A Serene and Elegant Border Idea for your Garden

Perennial Combinations, Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Spring Borders, Summer Borders

Garden Ideas, Border ideas, Perennial Planting, Perennial combination, Summer Borders, Betula nigra, River Birch, Aquilegia, Columbine, Euphorbia, Iris Siberica, Siberian Iris, Spurge, Astrantia, Masterwort, Cenolophium Denudatum

This naturalistic woodland garden is a ‘vision of romance and elegance’, as described by its designer, Tom Stuart-Smith. It consists of a spectacular grove of Betula nigra (River Birch) with attractive copper bark peeling off in sheets, and graceful and airy perennial plants in soft shades of white, lilac, and lavender. Particularly pretty Iris sibirica ‘Silver Edge’ (Siberian Iris), with their rich violet-blue flowers, edged silver, emerge through a sea of white airy umbels created by Cenolophium denudatum (Baltic Parsley) and Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley).

They are all underplanted with the lavender blooms of Geranium sylvaticum ‘Birch Lilac’ (Wood Cranesbill), white Astrantia major ‘Alba’ (Great Masterwort), and the spurred flowers of Aquilegia Songbird ‘Dove’ (Columbine).

Adding a subtle touch of lime-green to the planting are the incredibly showy clusters of Euphorbia wallichii (Wallich Spurge) and gracefully arching, slender leaves of Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass).

So, get inspired and enjoy the beauty of this low-maintenance combination. Most plants are deer-resistant or drought tolerant!

Garden Information

Hardiness	7 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics	Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden

Plants In This Garden

Betula nigra (River Birch)

Betula nigra (River Birch) is a bushy deciduous tree prized for its incredible peeling bark. Salmon-pink, smooth and shiny at first, the bark flakes and curls in cinnamon-brown to blackish sheets.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	40' - 70' (12.2m - 21.3m)
Spread	40' - 60' (12.2m - 18.3m)

Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood)

Compact, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (Boxwood) is a small, slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, fairly glossy leaves, up to 1 in. long (2 cm). Tough, hardy and easy to grow, this dwarf Boxwood provides color year-round

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm)

Astrantia major 'Alba' (Great Masterwort)

A great choice for shady spots, Astrantia major ‘Alba’ (Great Masterwort) features large clusters of pale greenish-white flowers crowded together in a dome-shaped flowerhead, 1.5 in. wide (4 cm), just like pins on a cushion.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Euphorbia wallichii (Wallich Spurge)

Incredibly showy, fast, and easy to grow, Euphorbia wallichii, commonly called Wallich Spurge, is an upright, bushy, clump-forming perennial which is perfect to brighten any border. It produces exceptionally eye-catching clusters of bright yellow cupped flowers with orange stamens in mid-spring which last for months.

Hardiness	6 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Iris sibirica 'Silver Edge' (Siberian Iris)

Widely popular among gardeners, Iris sibirica ‘Silver Edge’ (Siberian Iris) is a clump-forming perennial with stunning, rich sky-blue flowers, adorned with a distinctive silver edge. Blooming in late spring to early summer, the blossoms are intricately veined with yellow and white at the base of each fall.

Hardiness	3 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Geranium sylvaticum 'Birch Lilac' (Wood Cranesbill)

Ideal for the woodland garden, Geranium sylvaticum ‘Birch Lilac’ (Wood Cranesbill) is an erect herbaceous perennial forming a dense mound of deeply divided green leaves, topped with abundant, saucer-shaped, lilac blossoms adorned with a small white center from late spring to early summer.

Hardiness	2 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Cenolophium denudatum (Baltic Parsley)

Adding a delicate airiness to the summer border, Cenolophium denudatum (Baltic Parsley) is a lovely hardy perennial plant with profuse, flat-topped umbels, 5 in. wide (12 cm), of creamy white flowers, floating atop mounds of dark-green, semi-evergreen fern-like foliage.

Hardiness	6 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Summer (Mid, Late), Fall
Height	3' - 4' (90cm - 120cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass)

Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass) is a very beautiful perennial grass forming a cascading mound of gracefully arching, bright, rich-green leaves that ripple in the slightest breeze. Bringing alive any garden area, its soft foliage provides great fall color when it changes to exquisite copper-orange shades and persists into winter.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley)

Adding a delicate airiness to the landscape, Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley) is a robust short-lived perennial with abundant and elegant, lacy umbels of frothy white flowers floating atop mounds of fresh green, sharply-cut, pinnate leaves. Often turning purple with age, the flowers gracefully mingle with other plants, adding unmatched elegance. Blooming over a long flowering period, from mid-spring until early summer, Anthriscus sylvestris is easy to grow, requires very little care, and is ideal for moist or shaded fertile soils.

Hardiness	7 - 10
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early)
Height	3' - 5' (90cm - 150cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Aquilegia Songbird 'Dove' (Columbine)

Compact with large upward-facing flowers, award-winning Aquilegia Songbird ‘Dove’ is very eye-catching with its long-spurred, pure white flowers, up to 3 in. long (7 cm), rising with natural grace above a lovely fern-like, blue-green foliage.

Hardiness	3 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas

Hakonechloa (Hakone Grass) Buxus (Boxwood) Iris siberica (Siberian Iris) Geranium (Cranesbill) Anthriscus Betula (Birch) Astrantia Aquilegia (Columbine) Euphorbia (Spurge)

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Betula utilis var. jacquemontii (Himalayan Birch)

Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ (Hakone Grass)

Hakonechloa macra ‘Nicolas’ (Hakone Grass)

Geranium sylvaticum ‘Mayflower’ (Wood Cranesbill)

Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’ (Siberian Iris)

Astrantia major ‘Roma’ (Great Masterwort)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.