An Eye-Catching Border with Allium, Salvia and Lavender

Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Summer Borders

Dramatic and versatile, perennial Salvias are wonderful plants to enjoy over a long season of interest. Blooming in shades of blue, violet, pink or white, they usually peak in late spring or early summer but may continue to produce new blooms through summer and in fall. Fragrant, they are combined with other aromatic plants in this mixed border, including Allium senescens (Germain Garlic), Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ and Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’. They are underplanted by the adorable, low-growing Campanula poscharskyana (Serbian Bellflower).

Relatively low-maintenance, this fragrant planting is perfect for sunny borders. Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds, most plants are deer, rabbit and drought tolerant.

Garden Information

Hardiness	6 - 8
Heat Zones	8
Climate Zones	4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Maintenance	Low
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Deer, Rabbit
Attracts	Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage

Plants In This Garden

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Sage)

Multiple award-winner, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is a favorite of many gardeners for its unique, glowing dark purple stems and stunning, vertical spikes of rich, violet-blue flowers appearing in late spring or early summer

Hardiness	4 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy

Salvia nemorosa 'Amethyst' (Sage)

Ready to please the gardener, award-winner Sage ‘Amethyst’ (Salvia nemorosa) is a favorite of many for its unique, glowing purple stems and stunning spikes of rich, lavender-pink flowers, appearing in early summer and lasting throughout the summer. Raised by world-acclaimed designer Piet Oudolf, Salvia ‘Amethyst’ is considered the best pink flowered variety of Salvia

Hardiness	5 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy

Salvia x sylvestris 'Snow Hill' ('Schneehugel' Sage)

A superb white-flowering perennial, Salvia x sylvestris ‘Snow Hill’ or ‘Schneehugel’ features vertical, tightly packed flower spikes of pure white flowers, appearing in early summer and lasting throughout the summer

Hardiness	3 - 8
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy

Campanula poscharskyana (Serbian Bellflower)

Campanula portenschlagiana (Serbian Bellflower) is a low-growing, sprawling perennial forming mounds of flaring, star-shaped, pale violet-blue flowers, 1 in. across (2 cm). Blooming freely from late spring to early summer, masses of flowers are borne on spreading stems above a foliage of rounded, mid-green leaves. Semi-evergreen to evergreen in warm winter climates

Hardiness	3 - 9
Plant type	Perennials
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	4" - 6" (10cm - 15cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Characteristics	Showy, Evergreen, Semi-Evergreen

Allium senescens (German Garlic)

Allium senescens (German Garlic) is a bulbous herbaceous perennial that forms a tuft of twisted, grassy-looking, green leaves and produces up to 30 fragrant round balls of soft pink-lilac flowers atop upright stems in mid to late summer. Lasting for several weeks, they attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Hardiness	4 - 10
Plant type	Bulbs
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Mid, Late)
Height	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Spread	6" - 1' (15cm - 30cm)
Characteristics	Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy

Artemisia 'Powis Castle'

Good-looking, drought tolerant and fragrant, award-winner Artemisia ‘Powis Castle’ is a bushy sub-shrub, which is highly valued for its fernlike, silvery-white foliage, that easily blends with any flower bulbs and other perennial plants. Yellow flowers appear in late summer or early fall, but they are not spectacular and are best cut off to keep the foliage at its best.

Hardiness	6 - 9
Plant type	Shrubs
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm)
Characteristics	Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Evergreen

Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso' (Lavender)

With one of the strongest fragrances among Lavenders, Lavandula x intermedia ‘Grosso’ is a vigorous grower which produces exceptionally large and rich, deep violet flower spikes up to 6 in. long (15 cm), hence its common name of ‘Fat Lavender’!

Hardiness	5 - 8
Plant type	Herbs, Shrubs
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Summer (Mid, Late)
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Characteristics	Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy, Evergreen

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas

Campanula (Bellflower) Salvia (Sage) Artemisia Lavandula (Lavender) Allium

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Campanula portenschlagiana (Dalmatian Bellflower)

Salvia nemorosa ‘Ostfriesland’ (Sage)

Allium schoenoprasum (Chives)

Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’ (Wood Sage)

Learn About These Genera

Hardy Perennial Salvias (Sage)

Fotoflor

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.