Curated by real gardeners

Plants for Borders & Edging

The front-row plants: compact, tidy, and generous with bloom. These edge a path or bed without flopping into it.

553 plantsRanked by real gardeners

The 24 most-saved picks

Walker's Low Catmint#1 most saved

Walker's Low Catmint

Nepeta faassenii 'Walker's Low'

Zones 4–8· 358 saves· from $7
Mixed Coral Bells#2 most saved

Mixed Coral Bells

Heuchera sanguinea 'Mixed Coral Bells'

Zones 4–8· 290 saves
Primrose#3 most saved

Primrose

Primula x polyantha 'Pacific Hybrids'

Zones 5–8· 252 saves· from $13
Pansy

Pansy

Viola wittrockiana 'Painted Porcelain'

Zones 4–10· 241 saves
Cat's Pajamas Catmint

Cat's Pajamas Catmint

Nepeta faassenii 'Cat's Pajamas'

Zones 5–8· 212 saves· from $18
Lilyturf

Lilyturf

Liriope muscari

Zones 5–10· 151 saves· from $14
Lucerne Blue-eyed Grass

Lucerne Blue-eyed Grass

Sisyrinchium angustifolium 'Lucerne'

Zones 4–9· 151 saves· from $9
Blue Mouse Ears Hosta

Blue Mouse Ears Hosta

Hosta cordifolia 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Zones 4–8· 147 saves· from $12
Stella de Oro Daylily

Stella de Oro Daylily

Hemerocallis flava 'Stella de Oro'

Zones 4–10· 145 saves· from $12
Evergold Japanese Sedge

Evergold Japanese Sedge

Carex oshimensis 'Evergold'

Zones 5–9· 140 saves· from $11
Dwarf Fountain Grass

Dwarf Fountain Grass

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Little Bunny'

Zones 4–9· 137 saves· from $10
Marcus Woodland Sage

Marcus Woodland Sage

Salvia nemorosa 'Marcus'

Zones 4–8· 132 saves· from $13
Wildberry Coral Bells

Wildberry Coral Bells

Heuchera x brizoides 'Wildberry'

Zones 4–9· 123 saves· from $14
Red Creeping Thyme

Red Creeping Thyme

Thymus thymus 'Coccineus'

Zones 4–8· 112 saves· from $10
Creeping Phlox 'Blue Carpet'

Creeping Phlox 'Blue Carpet'

Phlox subulata 'Blue Carpet'

Zones 4–9· 105 saves
Faassen's Catmint

Faassen's Catmint

Nepeta faassenii

Zones 4–8· 104 saves
Moody Blues Sky Blue Veronica

Moody Blues Sky Blue Veronica

Veronica spicata 'Moody Blues Sky Blue'

Zones 4–8· 101 saves· from $15
Tickseed 'Sweet Tart'

Tickseed 'Sweet Tart'

Coreopsis tinctoria 'Sweet Tart'

Zones 5–9· 99 saves
Silver Carpet Lamb's Ear

Silver Carpet Lamb's Ear

Stachys lanata 'Silver Carpet'

Zones 4–8· 97 saves· from $7
Liriope muscari Big Blue

Liriope muscari Big Blue

Liriope muscari 'Big Blue'

Zones 4–9· 93 saves· from $9
Obsidian Coral Bells

Obsidian Coral Bells

Heuchera villosa 'Obsidian'

Zones 4–9· 93 saves· from $15
Timeless Night Coral Bells

Timeless Night Coral Bells

Heuchera x villosa 'Timeless Night'

Zones 4–9· 92 saves· from $14
Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox

Emerald Blue Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Emerald Cushion Blue'

Zones 4–9· 91 saves
Scarlet Flame Creeping Phlox

Scarlet Flame Creeping Phlox

Phlox subulata 'Scarlet Flame'

Zones 4–9· 91 saves· from $8

Borders questions

What makes a good edging plant?

Mounded or upright habit under ~18", foliage that stays presentable all season, and tolerance for the reflected heat of paths and driveways.

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