Revived Herbaceous Borders
Hampshire

We were asked to revive herbaceous borders that had become tired and lost their way, injecting colour, cohesion and year-round interest. As the borders are visible from the kitchen windows, it was important they brought daily pleasure.

Fortunately, the borders had excellent underlying structure — strong ‘bones’ that we revealed on a cold February day. Working with our clients’ gardening team, we carried out restoration pruning on the existing backdrop of shrubs and roses and shaped the handsome hollies into topiary, introducing intentional structure to carry the planting through the winter months.

During the bare-root season, we planted a Gleditsia triacanthos f. inermis 'Sunburst', its mustard-yellow foliage bringing a vivid pop of colour between two purple-leaved shrubs. This completed the essential background layer, anchoring the borders with contrast and vibrancy.

Guided by plant form and our clients’ favourite colours, we designed planting to bring joy every day of the year. From snowdrops and pastel hellebores in early spring to the striking crimson flowers of hardy fuschia and jewel-like dahlias in autumn, the borders now offer an ever-changing display of seasonal flowers and foliage.

In summer, we embraced a palette of orange and purple, introducing Verbascum ‘Clementine’ as a signature plant. Its elegant spires now weave through the planting, subtly linking two borders that previously felt disconnected.   We layered in glamorous grasses, more shrub roses, a rich variety of perennials and bulbs to create a dynamic and spectacular planting scheme — one that continues to evolve and delight with the seasons.