Are you looking to enhance your garden borders with vibrant colors and lush foliage? Look no further! In this article, we’ve curated a list of ten low-growing plants that are sure to add beauty and charm to your outdoor space.
As experienced gardeners, we know how crucial it is to pick the right plants for your garden borders. For flowerbeds, low-growing plants are a must—they add color and texture without overwhelming the space.
In this list, we’ve gathered ten top picks that are easy to care for and look great. From the tiny flowers of creeping thyme to the trailing vines of creeping Jenny, these plants are perfect for any garden. Let’s dive in and explore these low-growing wonders that’ll spruce up your borders in no time!
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum):
Creeping thyme forms a dense mat of fragrant foliage and produces tiny flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white, perfect for edging flowerbeds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-9
Size: Height of 3-6 inches, spread of 12-18 inches
Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia):
Creeping Jenny, also known as moneywort, features trailing stems with rounded chartreuse leaves, ideal for spilling over the edges of flowerbeds.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Size: Height of 2-4 inches, spread of 12-24 inches
Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)
Creeping phlox is a low-growing perennial that forms a colorful carpet of flowers in spring, available in various shades of pink, purple, blue, and white.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Size: Height of 4-6 inches, spread of 12-18 inches
Dwarf Marigold (Tagetes patula)
Dwarf marigolds are compact annuals with cheerful blooms in shades of orange, yellow, and gold, perfect for adding a splash of vibrant color to flowerbed borders.
USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual (grown as an annual in all zones)
Size: Height of 6-12 inches, spread of 6-9 inches
Dwarf Zinnia (Zinnia spp.):
Dwarf zinnias are annuals that produce bright, daisy-like flowers in various colors, including red, orange, pink, yellow, and white, ideal for edging flowerbeds with their compact size.
USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual (grown as an annual in all zones)
Size: Height of 6-12 inches, spread of 6-9 inches
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima):
Sweet alyssum is a low-growing annual with clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers in white, pink, or purple, excellent for bordering flowerbeds and attracting beneficial insects.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Size: Height of 4-6 inches, spread of 12-18 inches
Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora):
Moss rose is a drought-tolerant annual that forms a dense carpet of succulent foliage and produces colorful, rose-like flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, and white.
USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual (grown as an annual in all zones)
Size: Height of 4-8 inches, spread of 6-12 inches
Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’)
Dwarf fountain grass is a compact ornamental grass with arching foliage and bottlebrush-like flower spikes, adding texture and movement to flowerbed borders.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Size: Height of 18-24 inches, spread of 18-24 inches
Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis):
Blue star creeper is a low-growing perennial with delicate, star-shaped blue flowers and bright green foliage, ideal for filling in gaps along flowerbed edges.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Size: Height of 1-3 inches, spread of 12-18 inches
Dwarf Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’):
Dwarf lavender is a compact variety of lavender that offers fragrant foliage and lavender-blue flowers, perfect for edging flowerbeds and adding aromatic appeal.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Size: Height of 12-18 inches, spread of 12-24 inches
These low-growing plants provide a beautiful and diverse array of colors, textures, and fragrances, enhancing the borders of your flowerbeds while keeping maintenance to a minimum.
