REVELATIONS

H&G GARDENING
Photography by Leigh Clapp (abelia, black mondo grass), Simon Griffiths (mondo grass), Claire Takacs
(agapanthus, lily grass), Alamy (dwarf agapanthus, society garlic), Getty Images (storm lily).
Adding an edging plant is one of
the best ways to reinforce the
design of your garden, whether
outlining the shape of beds or delineating
paths. It’s a device that adds structure and
formality, but in a softening way. A border
of edging plants with contrasting foliage
texture or colour will enhance the curves
of a sweeping lawn. Next to paths and
paving, an edging plant not only blurs
hard lines but also prevents soil and mulch
from spilling over the paving. Used along a
less than attractive garden border, a softly
spilling plant can hide a multitude of sins.
PICK YOUR PLANT
For most edging borders, look for
low-growing plants that will reach a
maximum height of 30cm. Avoid plants
that spread too widely or grow very
quickly, otherwise you’ll spend too much
time keeping them in check. To reduce
maintenance, the best choices are
clumping plants with strappy leaves, as
these rarely need pruning. Think classic
mondo grass, although there are many
other choices (see box, below right).
One problem with edging a whole lawn,
or both sides of a path, is that you need
a plant that copes well with both sun and
shade. A good example is tricolour star
jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides
‘Tricolor’), little sister to that well-known
climber, star jasmine. Both are easy-care
but ‘Tricolor’ is much smaller, with pretty
pink, cream and green leaves rather than
flowers. It’s easily clipped into a low
mounding edge that looks less formal
than a hedge, and the multicoloured
leaves are as showy as blooms.
Classic European gardens demonstrate
how using a low hedge, such as box, to
outline beds and paths can add formality.
Keep in mind, however, that hedges will
require more maintenance than clumping,
strappy-leafed plants, and will be less
forgiving if there are any problems. Good
choices for low hedges include Japanese
box (Buxus microphylla var japonica),
MONDO GRASS
dwarf lilly pilly (Acmena ‘Allyn Magic’)
and Rhaphiolepis ‘Snow Maiden’, a dwarf
Indian hawthorn that bears white flowers
in spring. All can take sun or some shade.
In sunny areas, Euonymus ‘Tom Thumb’
and ‘Pierrolino’ are good performers.
THE STRAIGHT & NARROW
Don’t plant too close to paths. Check the
plant’s width and halve it to work out
the appropriate spacing from the edge.
To start, use an average of three or four
plants per linear metre. Using more plants
gives a faster result but increases the
budget. To save money, split pots into
several pieces if possible or divide clumps
sourced from friends and family. #
TOP CHOICES FOR SUN
Dwarf agapanthus ‘Snowball’,
‘Snowstorm’, ‘Tinkerbell’, ‘Peter Pan’.
Dianella ‘Baby Bliss’, ‘Aranda’, ‘Petite
Marie’, ‘Paroo Petite’, ‘Dinky Di’.
Society garlic (Tulbaghia ‘Silver Lace’).
Lambs’ ears (Stachys byzantina).
Cottage pinks (Dianthus ‘Coconut Sundae’,
‘Candy Floss’, ‘Sugar Plum’, Doris’).
TOP CHOICES FOR SHADE
Mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus).
Variegated mondo grass (Ophiopogon
‘Stripey White’, ‘Silver Edge’).
Lily grass (Liriope ‘Pink Pearl’, ‘El Marco’).
Storm lily (Zephyranthes candida).
Tricolour star jasmine (Trachelospermum
jasminoides ‘Tricolor’).
AGAPANTHUS
BLACK MONDO GRASS
DWARF
AGAPANTHUS
LILY GRASS
SOCIETY
GARLIC
STORM LILY
Australian House & Garden 171