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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

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.

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
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Betula nigra (River Birch) N/A Buy Plants
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood) N/A Buy Plants
Astrantia major 'Alba' (Great Masterwort) N/A Buy Plants
Euphorbia wallichii (Wallich Spurge) N/A Buy Plants
Iris sibirica 'Silver Edge' (Siberian Iris) N/A Buy Plants
Geranium sylvaticum 'Birch Lilac' (Wood Cranesbill) N/A Buy Plants
Cenolophium denudatum (Baltic Parsley) N/A Buy Plants
Hakonechloa macra (Hakone Grass) N/A Buy Plants
Anthriscus sylvestris (Cow Parsley) N/A Buy Plants
Aquilegia Songbird 'Dove' (Columbine) N/A Buy Plants

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