Step into this woodland border where amber Epimedium Amber Queen flares, lavender-blue Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana glows and a mist of sky-blue Myosotis spills between them, creating a shimmering spring carpet beneath the trees that feels secret, sheltered, quietly magical and impossible to rush past, inviting you to pause and breathe.
First impression: this enchanting woodland border feels like a quiet spring celebration unfolding beneath the trees, where soft layers of foliage and flower create a tapestry of color and texture and every plant plays a role in shaping the calm, natural atmosphere, with Epimedium Amber Queen shining at the centre as a standout shade-loving perennial that is reliably deer and rabbit resistant.
Garden highlight: Epimedium Amber Queen sends up airy sprays of warm apricot and amber flowers that hover above wiry stems, giving the border a sense of lightness and movement, while its heart-shaped leaves emerge fresh and bronzed in spring before maturing to rich green, adding long-lasting groundcover and graceful structure to woodland garden design, all while remaining unappealing to browsing deer and rabbits.
Color harmony: complementing the epimedium are cool, serene drifts of Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana, whose pale lavender-blue flowers open wide to welcome the season and create a soft carpet that brightens the forest floor, their star-shaped blooms echoing the informal feel of a natural woodland yet pairing beautifully with the warm tones of Amber Queen, and like the epimedium, they are generally avoided by deer and rabbits.
Magical carpet: threaded between the epimedium and anemones is the dainty blue haze of Myosotis, or forget-me-nots, whose tiny sky-blue flowers spill gently into every gap, weaving a luminous wash of color through the planting and linking the amber and lavender shades into one cohesive spring woodland palette that looks effortless and wild, with foliage and flowers equally resistant to deer and rabbit nibbling.
Why you will love it: with its blend of texture, color and seasonal rhythm, this early-spring woodland planting shows how thoughtfully chosen shade perennials like Epimedium Amber Queen, Anemone nemorosa Robinsoniana and Myosotis can transform even the simplest understorey into a welcoming woodland sanctuary that is easy to maintain, naturally deer and rabbit resistant, full of life and irresistibly inviting.
| Hardiness |
5 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Exposure | Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Bees |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
| Hardiness |
5 - 8 |
|---|---|
| Climate Zones | 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17 |
| Exposure | Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Bees |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders |
| Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage |
Recreate this garden. Specify the percentages you would like to have of each plant and input the dimensions of your garden space.We'll give you a shopping list so you know how many plants you need.
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Epimedium 'Amber Queen' (Barrenwort) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Anemone nemorosa 'Robinsoniana' (Wood Anemone) | N/A | Buy Plants |
| Myosotis sylvatica (Wood Forget-Me-Not) | N/A | Buy Plants |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
