52. SHORT, LOW GROWERS GRAB THE EYE

Up in front! The flowers or foliage that edge the front of a plant bed complete the display. Like a cuff on a shirt sleeve, low-growing flowers finish a planting nicely. The flowers at your feet—or at the front of a raised bed—are the important first layer in a tiered planting.

A colorful edge acts as an outline of a flower bed. The low-growing blossoms define the shape of the bed and make it readily visible. They call attention to the display. A garden design tip: use compact blue and purple flowers, such as blue ageratum or purple calibrachoa, as edging plants. These two colors are “recessive” and need to be in front to be noticed, otherwise the brighter colors will overpower them.

Low-growing foliage plants such as lilyturf (Liriope) or sedge (Carex) are often used in the front of a border, but there are some wonderful blooming flowers that are perfect for edging. I like zinnia ‘Profusion,’ in all its many colors, in the front of a plant bed. This annual flower grows just 12 to 15 inches high and wide, and it is covered with beautiful blooms all summer into fall. It’s a carefree, vigorous choice for edging. I also like the ground-hugging flower candytuft (Iberis sempervirens), a perennial spring bloomer that is often used as a white-flowering ground cover along pathways. It is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 4–8. And a beautiful spreader is the perennial Serbian bellflower (Campanula poscharskyana). It bears starry lavender-blue, long-blooming flowers in late spring. Plant this perennial where it can spill over walls for a show of color. It does well in moderately rich, well-drained slopes where the 2-feet-long stems can trail. It is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 3–7.

When you plant or seed flowers as a first layer in your flower bed, set them back from the flower bed edge. This allows room for them to grow without spreading out beyond the bed. This is the reason why flower beds should be wider than you think—a wide bed allows plants room to grow.

Calibrachoa are small, petunia-like flowers that grow low and wide. They can trail up to 30 inches. They are annuals that bloom all season and, best of all, do not need deadheading. They love sun but will grow almost as well in partial shade. It attracts hummingbirds. Hardy in zones 9–11. This beautiful flower looks great in front of yellow Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’).

The mounded habit and snowy white flowers of candytuft (Iberis sempervirens), a perennial, light up the front of a garden in May. A popular cultivar is ‘Purity,’ which is densely growing to 10 inches in height. A great plant for attracting bees and butterflies, it likes dry, well-drained soil. Shear back one-third to one-half of the top growth just after flowering to promote a fall rebloom.

‘Illusion Emerald Lace’ sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas ‘Illusion Emerald Lace’) adds a chartreuse edge to any flower bed. It is a tender perennial grown as an annual foliage plant. It is heat tolerant and grows 6 to 10 inches high, spreading up to 30 inches. It can overgrow its bounds, but you can trim it at any time. It likes full-sun to part-shade locations. Hardy in zones 10–11.

White wax begonias, an annual, are a traditional low-growing edging flower. They keep flowering strong into the fall, as seen here.