Up in Front!

Seven Suggested Plants for the Front Row

Blue Spruce sedum (Sedum rupestre ‘Blue Spruce’) makes a wonderful textured front edging. And in July it is adorned with yellow, star-shaped flowers that rise just above the foliage. Pollinators love them. I planted Appalachian sedge behind it.

Up in front! The flowers or foliage that edge the front of a plant bed complete the display. Like a cuff on a shirt sleeve, low-growing plants or flowers finish off a planting nicely. They are the important first layer in a tiered planting.

A common question is, ‘how high should front row plants be’? That depends on how close you are to the planting area. If it is normally viewed from a distance - like across a lawn or terrace - the height of edging plants can be as high as 2 ft tall. In beds that are viewed up close, the edging plants should be lower than that. The following is a few suggested front of edging plants.

Liriope and Sedge - Soft, Flowing Form

A grassy edge defines a plant bed and accentuates it. Low-growing plants with fine grass-like foliage such as lilyturf (Liriope) and sedge (Carex), when planted in a continuous ribbon, create a loose but tidy border that gently cascades at the front of a bed. This visually softens the transition from lawn, walkways, or paving. It also acts as a unifying design element.

And some varieties of these are evergreen (or semi-evergreen in colder zones) which helps when other plants go dormant or die back in winter. Sedge prefers part shade and works well in woodland or naturalistic settings. Liriope tolerates sun or shade, making it a versatile option.

In late summer to early fall, variegated liriope produces spikes of small, lavender to purple flowers, somewhat resembling grape hyacinths. After flowering, small black berries often follow, adding additional seasonal appeal.

I particularly like the perennial variegated liriope (Liriope muscari 'Variegata') because it is low-maintenance, grows no taller than 18”, and adds brightness to garden beds. Its most prominent feature is its arching green leaves with creamy yellow or white edges. Evergreen in warmer climates (zones 7–10), semi-evergreen or deciduous in cooler areas.

‘Profusion’ Zinnia - A Vibrant Sun-Loving Flower