Top Border Fillers: 5 Plants for a Full and Flourishing Garden

When it comes to creating a vibrant, well-rounded garden, border fillers play a key role in achieving that luscious, full look. Whether you’re aiming for a wild, natural aesthetic or a more refined, contemporary style, selecting the planting scheme can make all the difference.

Here’s our five top border fillers that will guarantee your garden flourishes throughout the seasons:

1. Achillea (Yarrow)

Achillea, commonly known as Yarrow, is a fantastic choice for filling garden borders thanks to its vibrant blooms and hardy nature. This perennial is celebrated for its clusters of tiny flowers, which come in a variety of colours including white, yellow, pink, and red – but Yarrow is not just pretty, it's also robust, thriving in poorer soil and drought conditions. Its fern-like foliage adds texture to your borders, making it a versatile addition. It’s ideal for a more naturalistic look, but can also suits modern gardens with its delicate presence.

2. Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea, or Coneflower, is perfect for adding a touch of elegance and wild charm to your garden. With its distinctive, daisy-like flowers and conical centre, Echinacea brings a pop of colour that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Available in shades of pink, purple, and white, it offers a timeless appeal. Echinacea thrives in well-drained soil and full sun, making it a reliable choice for long-lasting borders. Plus, its seed heads provide winter interest, so your garden remains attractive even when the growing season ends.

3. Gaura lindheimeri (Beeblossom)

For those who adore a bit of whimsy in their garden, Gaura lindheimeri, often known as Beeblossom, is a wonderful choice. This perennial boasts delicate, butterfly-like flowers that flutter above their wiry stems. The flowers start as soft pink or white and gradually turn to a more vivid pink or red, offering an ever-changing display. Gaura’s airy appearance and long blooming period make it an excellent choice for adding a light, fairy-like touch to your borders. It prefers well-drained soil and full sun and it’s tolerant of drought, making it as resilient, as well as beautiful.

4. Nepeta (Catmint)

Nepeta, or Catmint, is a fantastic plant for those who want to inject a bit of modernity into their garden. Its aromatic foliage and spikes of lavender-blue flowers not only offer a splash of colour but also have a calming, fragrant quality. Nepeta is known for its ability to attract pollinators and repel pests, making it both functional and visually pleasing. It works wonderfully in borders, creating a soft, flowing effect with its gently arching stems. Catmint is also incredibly easy to grow, thriving in a range of soil types and conditions, and is a superb choice for a more contemporary, stylish garden.

5. Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)

Rudbeckia, or Black-eyed Susan, is a classic border filler that’s both colourful and reliable. Known for its striking golden-yellow petals and dark brown centres, Rudbeckia adds a cheerful, bold element to any garden. It’s a tough perennial that thrives in sunny positions and well-drained soil, making it a trusty choice for a flourishing border. Its long flowering period, from midsummer to autumn, ensures your garden remains lively for months. Rudbeckia’s sturdy structure and bright blooms make it a favourite for both traditional and contemporary garden designs.

Creating Your Perfect Border

When designing your garden borders, consider the overall aesthetic you want to achieve. Mix and match for a more creative garden design and incorporate plants with varying heights, textures, and colours to add depth and interest to your space.

Don’t forget to consider the growing conditions of each plant to make sure they’re suited to your garden's soil, light and moisture levels. The plants listed in this blog are predominantly plants for free draining drier gardens, therefore some will fail in heavy clay soils.

At Haywood Landscapes, we have been advising clients and building beautiful gardens across Kent and the surrounding areas for over 30 years. Get in touch with us or call 01227 733447 to find out how our garden designers and landscapers can transform your outdoor space.