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Perennials & grasses

Plant catalogue

Perennials & grasses

Perennials die back in winter and return each spring, so a well-planned border gets better every year. The plants here are chosen for long flowering, strong wildlife value and reliability in UK conditions.

See the full plant catalogue

Echinacea, salvia and ornamental grasses growing together in a perennial border
1

Build in layers

Place tall plants such as feather reed grass at the back, mid-height echinacea, salvia and rudbeckia in the middle, and low mounds of geranium and catmint at the edge.

2

Think about the whole year

Pair spring hellebores with summer salvias and autumn sedum so something is always in flower or carrying seedheads.

3

Cut back at the right time

Leave seedheads until late winter for birds and insects, then cut back before new growth shoots.

4

Divide to refresh

Most clumps benefit from division every three to four years in spring or early autumn.

9 plants

Browse perennials & grasses

Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Perennials & grasses H7

Coneflower

Echinacea purpurea

Daisy-like pink flowers with a bold orange-brown central cone, loved by bees and butterflies and good for cutting.

  • Full sun Part shade
  • Height: Up to 90cm
  • Flowers July to October
  • Pollinators
  • Cut flowers
  • Seedheads for birds
Hardy geranium 'Rozanne' (Geranium 'Rozanne')
Perennials & grasses H7

Hardy geranium 'Rozanne'

Geranium 'Rozanne'

Violet-blue, white-eyed saucer flowers over an exceptionally long season on a mounding, weaving plant.

  • Full sun Part shade
  • Height: 50cm
  • Flowers June to October
  • Pollinators
  • Good in pots
Catmint 'Walker's Low' (Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low')
Perennials & grasses H7

Catmint 'Walker's Low'

Nepeta racemosa 'Walker's Low'

Lavender-blue flower spikes over aromatic grey-green leaves; a magnet for bumblebees and ideal for edging paths.

  • Full sun
  • Height: 60cm
  • Flowers May to September
  • Pollinators
  • Scented
Wood sage 'Caradonna' (Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna')
Perennials & grasses H7

Wood sage 'Caradonna'

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

Upright violet-purple flower spikes on dark stems; one of the most reliable sages for a sunny border.

  • Full sun
  • Height: 60cm
  • Flowers June to September
  • Pollinators
  • Cut flowers
Ice plant 'Herbstfreude' (Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' (syn. Sedum 'Autumn Joy'))
Perennials & grasses H7

Ice plant 'Herbstfreude'

Hylotelephium 'Herbstfreude' (syn. Sedum 'Autumn Joy')

Fleshy blue-green foliage topped by broad pink heads that deepen to copper; late bees and butterflies queue up.

  • Full sun
  • Height: 60cm
  • Flowers August to October
  • Pollinators
  • Seedheads for birds
Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm' (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm')
Perennials & grasses H7

Black-eyed Susan 'Goldsturm'

Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii 'Goldsturm'

Golden-yellow daisies with black centres that glow in the low light of late summer.

  • Full sun Part shade
  • Height: 60 to 90cm
  • Flowers July to October
  • Pollinators
  • Cut flowers
  • Seedheads for birds
Plantain lily 'Halcyon' (Hosta 'Halcyon')
Perennials & grasses H7

Plantain lily 'Halcyon'

Hosta 'Halcyon'

Heart-shaped blue-grey leaves with a waxy bloom, topped by pale lavender flower spikes in summer.

  • Part shade Shade
  • Height: 40cm
  • Flowers June to August
  • Shade-tolerant
  • Good in pots
Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster' (Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
Perennials & grasses H7

Feather reed grass 'Karl Foerster'

Calamagrostis × acutiflora 'Karl Foerster'

A tall, upright grass with feathery plumes that turn from soft pink to buff and stand through winter.

  • Full sun Part shade
  • Height: 1.5 to 1.8m
  • Flower stems June to September
  • Seedheads for birds
  • Winter interest
Lenten rose (Helleborus × hybridus)
Perennials & grasses H7

Lenten rose

Helleborus × hybridus

Nodding cup-shaped flowers in white, pink, plum and green-tinged shades that open in late winter.

  • Part shade Shade
  • Height: 45cm
  • Flowers February to April
  • Shade-tolerant
  • Winter interest
  • Pollinators

Plant sizes, hardiness and flowering periods are typical for UK gardens and vary with site and season. Availability and sizes are confirmed when you enquire; nothing is reserved or sold through this website.

Related reading

Guides to go with these plants

  • Wildlife gardening

  • 6 min read

Planting a pollinator-friendly border

Practical planting ideas to feed bees, hoverflies and butterflies from February to November in a British garden.

A bumblebee feeding on purple flowers in a pollinator-friendly border

  • Soil & planting

  • 6 min read

Plants that thrive on heavy clay soil

How to plant, mulch and choose perennials, shrubs and hedging that cope with heavy clay, wet winters and summer cracking.

A gardener planting a shrub into heavy clay soil with a spade

  • Garden care

  • 6 min read

Watering wisely in a changing climate

Water-wise gardening for British summers: how much, when and where to water, plus ways to reduce how much you need.

Watering a border at the base of plants with a can in the early morning

Ask about perennials & grasses

Tell us what you are planting and where, and we will suggest suitable plants and check what is available.

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