Shrubs for borders

Shrubs that work in a planted border, with mature size, aspect and bloom time for each.

Shrubs give a border its bones. Because they are woody and permanent they decide the scale and winter shape of the whole scheme, so place them first and let the perennials flow around them. Dig a square planting hole, tease out any pot-bound roots, and plant at the same depth the shrub sat in its container; firm well and water in. Allow for the mature spread on the label, not the nursery size, or you will be cutting things back hard within a few years. Mulch the root zone but keep mulch off the stems. Group flowering shrubs with evergreens so there is structure once the flowers have gone. These shrubs range from compact front-of-border types to larger backbone plants.

Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 370 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.

370 plants for this

Related collections

Perennials for borders Bulbs for borders Ornamental grasses for borders Annuals for borders Climbers for borders Shrubs for shade