The 29 Top Edging Plants for Your Garden

1. Creeping Thyme (Thymus spp.)

• Zones: 2 to 9
• Water: Maintain moist soil
• Soil: Sandy and well-drained
• Light: Thrives in full or partial sun

Creeping thyme is a low-growing plant that spreads beautifully to cover the ground in your garden. Its flowers, in shades of pink, purple, and white, bloom from late spring to summer, while the tiny blue-green leaves add charm throughout the entire season.

2. Coral Bells (Heuchera)

• Zones: 4a to 9a
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist
• Soil: Rich and well-draining
• Light: Full to partial sunlight

"This plant is an excellent choice for areas with filtered sunlight and comes in a variety of colors," says Cate Singleton, director of design at Tilly, an online landscaping design company. "I enjoy mixing different colors for a cottage style, or sticking with lime green or dark purple varieties for a more contemporary feel. The large leaves provide fantastic texture for garden borders."

3. Periwinkle (Vinca minor)

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Water: Prefers moist soil, yet is drought tolerant
• Soil: Well-draining
• Light: From full sun to full shade

This resilient perennial thrives in a range of conditions, from full sun to full shade, and is also drought-resistant. It’s a spreading vine that showcases blue, purple, or white flowers throughout the spring and summer months.

4. Begonia

• Zones: 9 to 11
• Water: Keep the soil gently moist
• Soil: Loamy and well-draining
• Light: Partial to full shade

This plant thrives in the shade, making it an ideal choice for borders, with its vibrant blooms providing lasting color. It can be grown as a perennial in zones 9 to 11, or as an annual in cooler climates.

5. Creeping Phlox (Phlox stolonifera)

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Water: Needs weekly watering when newly planted, but becomes drought-tolerant once established
• Soil: Rich and well-draining
• Light: Full to partial sunlight

Creeping phlox is an excellent choice for filling in borders and edges, gradually spreading to cover spaces with its vibrant green foliage and beautiful pink, purple, and white flowers that bloom from spring through summer.

6. Angelina Sedum (Sedum rupestre Angelina)

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Water: Water regularly after planting, but becomes drought-tolerant once established
• Soil: Moist and well-draining
• Light: Full or partial sunlight

"This is one of my favorites for hot climates," says Singleton. "The lime green hue really adds a vibrant touch to the edges of landscape beds, and the foliage creates plenty of texture. It’s perfect for cascading over walls, thriving in rock gardens, and spreading to fill empty spaces in the garden."

7. Irish Moss (Sagina subulata)

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Water: Keep the soil moist
• Soil: Sandy and well-draining
• Light: Full to partial sunlight

This vibrant, emerald-green ground cover can withstand light foot traffic, making it an ideal choice for garden borders. Despite its name, it’s not a true "moss," and needs either full or partial sunlight to thrive. Irish moss is a bit like Goldilocks when it comes to watering—aim for just the right balance to keep it moist without over-watering or drying it out.

8. Liriope (Liriope Spicata)

• Zones: 4 to 10
• Water: Water regularly when first planted, but it becomes drought-tolerant once established
• Soil: Sandy and well-draining
• Light: Full to partial sunlight

"Though it may be used often, this plant is a reliable choice," Singleton says. "It works well as a border in formal garden designs and can also be combined with daylilies for a more eclectic feel."

9. Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Water: Keep moist, but be careful not to overwater
• Soil: Moist and well-draining
• Light: Full to partial shade

These charming shade-loving plants bloom beautifully in spring, making them ideal for planting beneath trees or in other low-light areas. They are also remarkably low maintenance, needing only regular moisture and the occasional tidying up.

10. Strawberry Plants (Fragaria x ananassa)

• Zones: 5 to 10
• Water: Water weekly
• Soil: Rich, well-draining
• Light: Full sun

Why settle for just a pretty border when you can have one that's both attractive and tasty? Strawberry plants are a perfect choice for edible gardens or even as part of a flower bed. You'll find varieties that bear fruit and flowers in the spring, and others that will continue to bloom and produce fruit all season long. While white flowers are typical, pink-flowered varieties are also available.

11. Impatiens (Impatiens spp.)

• Zones: 10 and 11
• Water: Keep moist
• Soil: Rich, well-draining
• Light: Partial to full shade

These vibrant, long-lasting flowers bring a burst of color to shaded areas of your garden border. Available in shades of red, pink, coral, yellow, purple, and white, they're a low-maintenance choice that is typically grown as an annual in many regions.

12. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)

• Zones: 3 to 8
• Water: Keep soil moist
• Soil: Moist
• Light: Partial to full shade

This native springtime flower produces delicate blue blooms, perfect for planting in shaded areas of your garden. They thrive in spots under trees or other low-light environments.

13. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Water: Water regularly when first planted
• Soil: Moist, well-draining
• Light: Full sun

These vibrant flowers are a classic annual choice for gardens, known for their continuous blooms from summer through fall. Just be sure to remove spent flowers regularly to encourage fresh blossoms.

Bonus: Planting marigolds around vegetable gardens or other plants that tend to attract wildlife can act as a natural deterrent to keep critters from munching on your precious plants.

14. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Water: Highly drought-tolerant
• Soil: Well-draining
• Light: Full sun

Finding plants that thrive and bloom in dry conditions can be tricky, but zinnias, with their vibrant, long-lasting flowers, make a perfect choice. Opt for compact varieties like Dreamland or Thumbelina that fit beautifully in garden borders.

15. Dianthus (Dianthus)

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Water: Water when the soil feels dry to the touch
• Soil: Well-draining
• Light: Full to partial sun

Carnations and 'pinks' belong to this family of well-loved border plants, which produce frilly blooms in various colors during spring or summer. Be mindful of the mature height of the variety you're selecting, as some can grow up to 3 feet tall, potentially blocking other plants in your border from sight.

16. Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides)

• Zones: 10 to 11
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist
• Soil: Rich and well-draining
• Light: Partial sun

If vibrant foliage is what you're after, coleus is the ideal plant for your garden border. Although it may produce small blue flowers, its dazzling leaves are truly the highlight, making it a must-have for adding color and texture.

17. Catmint (Nepeta spp.)

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Water: Water regularly when first planted, but drought tolerant once established
• Soil: Well-drained
• Light: Full or partial sun

If gardening has never been your strong suit, catmint might just be your ticket to success. These resilient plants offer a lively border with blooms in pink, purple, or white throughout the summer, and once established, they require minimal attention or watering.

18. Petunias (Petunia spp.)

• Zones: 10 to 11
• Water: Water weekly when rain isn't forecast
• Soil: Moist and well-draining
• Light: Full sun

These beloved, trumpet-shaped blooms are the perfect choice for a colorful garden edge. With a variety of hues and blooms that last through summer, petunias are a fantastic option—just make sure to deadhead them regularly to keep the flowers coming.

19. Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)

• Zones: 5 to 9
• Water: Water weekly, with additional waterings during dry and hot weather
• Soil: Moist and well-draining
• Light: Full or partial sun

Alyssum, aptly known as blanket flower, stays close to the ground and produces a blanket of white, pink, or purple blooms in both spring and fall.

20. Lavender (Lavendula spp.)

• Zones: 5a to 9a
• Water: Water when first planted; drought tolerant once established
• Soil: Dry, well-draining
• Light: Full sun

Lavender, a beloved perennial, thrives in the sunniest parts of your garden, offering fragrant blue-purple blossoms throughout the summer. It prefers dry, well-drained soil and becomes drought-resistant once it's settled in.

21. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)

• Zones: 3 to 10
• Water: Water regularly for the first year, then only during dry spells
• Soil: Loamy, rich soil
• Light: Full to partial sun

Daylilies are a low-maintenance perennial that brighten up your garden with their vibrant colors throughout the summer. Place them along sunny borders and enjoy the continuous spectacle of blooms opening, each lasting for just one day.

22. Dahlias (Dahlia spp.)

• Zones: 8 to 10
• Water: Water deeply once or twice a week
• Soil: Loamy, well-draining
• Light: Full sun

These vibrant, sun-loving blooms make excellent edging plants. In warmer regions, they're perennial, while in cooler areas, they thrive as annuals. Expect them to add vivid colors to your garden from summer through fall.

23. Ferns

• Zones: 2 to 10
• Water: Requires approximately one inch of water weekly
• Soil: Rich, fertile soil
• Light: Partial to full shade

Ferns are ideal for brightening up shaded borders with their delicate, feathery fronds. These native plants thrive under trees, making them a great choice for forest-like garden settings.

24. Astilbe

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist
• Soil: Well-draining
• Light: Full sun to full shade

Astilbes are renowned for their feathery, plume-like blossoms in hues of red, pink, purple, and white. Their ease of growth makes them an excellent choice for those who are not expert gardeners, yet still want beautiful blooms for their borders.

25. Japanese Spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

• Zones: 4 to 8
• Water: Water regularly during initial planting, then drought-tolerant once established
• Soil: Loamy
• Light: Partial to full shade

If you're seeking edge plants that remain attractive year-round, the evergreen Japanese spurge retains its lush foliage even through harsh winters. In spring, tiny white flowers will appear to enhance its beauty.

26. Verbena (Verbena x hybrida)

• Zones: 8 to 11
• Water: Water consistently when initially planted, then drought-resistant once established
• Soil: Moist and well-draining
• Light: Full sun

In northern regions, Verbena is grown as an annual, but in zones 8 to 11, it becomes a perennial. Its delicate blooms, which range in color, grace gardens from spring through fall.

27. Lamb's Ear (Stachys byzantina)

• Zones: 4 to 9
• Water: Resistant to drought
• Soil: Well-draining
• Light: Full to partial sun

For those seeking a ground cover that grows quickly and spreads fast, Lamb's Ear is an excellent choice. Its soft, silver-colored leaves and vibrant purple blooms in the spring and summer make it a standout in garden borders.

28. Hosta

• Zones: 3 to 9
• Water: Ensure the soil stays moist
• Soil: Loamy and well-draining
• Light: Partial to full shade

This charming perennial is known for its striking foliage and delicate purple flowers, maintaining a tidy, compact form that is ideal for garden borders.

29. Moss Rose (Portulaca grandiflora)

• Zones: 2 to 11
• Water: Highly drought-resistant
• Soil: Sandy, well-drained
• Light: Full sun exposure

These hardy succulents display a stunning array of red, pink, orange, yellow, and white flowers from early summer through to the first frost. Moss roses are an excellent choice for brightening up dry, arid spaces due to their exceptional drought tolerance.