View the map

Back

Long Border

Rosemoor’s Long Border is 150m (500ft) in length and forms the central axis for the Formal Garden, linking the various other gardens that make up the area.

Looking its best in...

  • Summer Roses, fuchsias, Alstroemeria, Hemerocallis 'Jake Russell', Hypericum x moserianum
  • Autumn Ornamental grasses including Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Silberspinne', seedheads left for structure and wildlife

A plantsman's delight

Our Long Borders are always popular with visitors because of their immense variety of plants. You can’t help moving along the border to see what is behind the next neatly clipped pillar.

The borders peak during summer and early autumn, but bulbs, annuals, biennials and tender perennials are used to extend the season of display and enrich the overall effect.
 

Hedges and stakes: protecting our plants

Hedges of yew, box, holly and beech provide a dramatic, dark green backdrop to a mixed planting of small trees, flowering shrubs and perennials. They also provide shelter from the wind, which can damage tall herbaceous plants such as delphiniums.

Some of the perennials are self-supporting, but others need to be supported by link stakes.

Take a journey in colour

The Long Borders are designed with colour progression in mind, shifting from soft to strong colours as you reach the centre. At the southern end, the yellow throats of Alstroemeria echo the golden Hemerocallis 'Jake Russell' and Hypericum x moserianum opposite.

Miscanthus sinensis 'Kleine Silberspinne' provides feathery contrast with the surrounding shrubby plants.

Spring Highlights

Narcissus 'Jenny'

daffodil 'Jenny'
Narcissus 'Ice Wings'

daffodil 'Ice Wings'
Narcissus 'February Silver'

The Long Borders run through the heart of the 'new' garden and make a charming walkway of bright pinks and yellows that flow into cooler whites and lilacs. Fresh daffodils emerge in the spring and are soon joined by striking perennials that bridge the gaps between architectural shrubs and trees.

Clouds of blue-mauve flowering Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ light up the path edges all through summer while the beautiful golden seed heads of Miscanthus grasses last well into autumn.

Sally, RHS Garden Rosemoor Horticulturist

The Long Borders run through the heart of the 'new' garden and make a charming walkway of bright pinks and yellows that flow into cooler whites and lilacs. Fresh daffodils emerge in the spring and are soon joined by striking perennials that bridge the gaps between architectural shrubs and trees.

Clouds of blue-mauve flowering Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ light up the path edges all through summer while the beautiful golden seed heads of Miscanthus grasses last well into autumn.

Sally, RHS Garden Rosemoor Horticulturist

Plants in this section

  •
Allium cristophii
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Allium</em> <em>cristophii</em>
Acanthus spinosus L.
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Acanthus</em> <em>spinosus</em> L.
Kolkwitzia amabilis 'Pink Cloud'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Kolkwitzia</em> <em>amabilis</em> 'Pink Cloud'
Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Potentilla</em> <em>fruticosa</em> 'Abbotswood'
Rosa 'Golden Wings' (S)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Rosa</em> 'Golden Wings' (S)
Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Campanula</em> <em>lactiflora</em> 'Loddon Anna'
Geranium Rozanne ('Gerwat'PBR)
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Geranium</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Rozanne</span> ('Gerwat'<sup>PBR</sup>)
Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Echinops</em> <em>bannaticus</em> 'Taplow Blue'
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>arborescens</em> 'Annabelle'
Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Hemerocallis</em> 'Burning Daylight'
Penstemon 'Hidcote Pink'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Penstemon</em> 'Hidcote Pink'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' (v)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Miscanthus</em> <em>sinensis</em> 'Morning Light' (v)
Veronica gentianoides
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Veronica</em> <em>gentianoides</em>
Allium cristophii
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Allium</em> <em>cristophii</em>
Acanthus spinosus L.
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Acanthus</em> <em>spinosus</em> L.
Kolkwitzia amabilis 'Pink Cloud'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 4–8 metres
<em>Kolkwitzia</em> <em>amabilis</em> 'Pink Cloud'
Potentilla fruticosa 'Abbotswood'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Potentilla</em> <em>fruticosa</em> 'Abbotswood'
Rosa 'Golden Wings' (S)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Rosa</em> 'Golden Wings' (S)
Campanula lactiflora 'Loddon Anna'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Campanula</em> <em>lactiflora</em> 'Loddon Anna'
Geranium Rozanne ('Gerwat'PBR)
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Geranium</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Rozanne</span> ('Gerwat'<sup>PBR</sup>)
Echinops bannaticus 'Taplow Blue'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Echinops</em> <em>bannaticus</em> 'Taplow Blue'
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>arborescens</em> 'Annabelle'
Hemerocallis 'Burning Daylight'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Hemerocallis</em> 'Burning Daylight'
Penstemon 'Hidcote Pink'
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Penstemon</em> 'Hidcote Pink'
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' (v)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Miscanthus</em> <em>sinensis</em> 'Morning Light' (v)
Veronica gentianoides
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Veronica</em> <em>gentianoides</em>
Allium cristophii
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
  • 0.1–0.5 metres
<em>Allium</em> <em>cristophii</em>

You may also be interested in...

Read RHS advice on staking perennials

Read RHS advice on staking perennials »

Get growing: how to plant a pretty border

Get growing: how to plant a pretty border »

Love gardening

Sign up to receive regular gardening tips, inspiration, offers and more

View our Privacy Policy

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.