Peg Aloi

The backbone of the garden is the flower bed.

This approach also allows lots of color variation throughout the season.

This autumnal view of a New England botanical garden has blue caryopteris, pink anemones and purple verbena.

Bed of brightly colored annual flowers

Peg Aloi

Plant for Pollinators

This cottage style flower bed has large drifts of color.

The color and spiky texture pairs well with the fluffy lime green euphorbia growing behind it.

These bright yellow kniphofia and deep purple delphiniums immediately attract attention.

Pernnial garden with flowering plants including caryopteris, anemones and verbena

@thewitchinghourisnigh/ Instagram

Incorporate Silvery Accents

Using silver-toned foliage adds more interest to your beds than just using green.

When planting in a small area, placement is important to create a variety of heights and textures.

White, silver and pastel colors can help define the area and draw the eye to shady spots.

Garden beds alongside a stone walkway with perennials including pink roses and astilbes

@thejardiniere/ Instagram

Other silver-leafed plants include lamium, artemisia, brunnera and a number of different ferns.

These plants are also relatively drought-tolerant, including yarrow, echinacea,sedum plantsand grasses.

Go All Bulbs

Planting bulbs in the fall yields a satisfying show in spring.

Large garden with lawns and mature trees and lush bed full of green foliage plants

@andrewduffgardendesign/ Instagram

Some tulips are also perennial.

This stunning garden features large clumps of variegated hostas,feathery ferns, grasses and astilbes.

Their large leaves are fluffy and striking, and provide a lot of texture.

Cottage style garden with large mounds of flowering catmint with purple flowers and euphorbia

@andrewduffgardendesign/ Instagram

These vivid pale and dark blue delphiniums provide a striking contrast to the bright yellow flowers in this garden.

Planting large clumps of perennials and spacing them out gives a sense of continuity and fullness.

Separated by gravel walkways, the beds have a pleasing, easy-care design.

Garden with low boxwood hedge edging and gradually taller plants back to front

@themayflygarden/ Instagram

Plant Those Mums

Planting perennial mums is a great option to add constant color to your bed.

This garden has multiple colors of cushion and daisy mums that have perennialized nicely.

Get Geometric

Choosing perennials with striking, geometric silhouettes will create a visually dynamic design.

Deep purple delphiniums and bright yellow kniphofia in a flower bed

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

And few sights are as pleasing as an abundance of pinkrose blooms.

When the flowers and foliage die back, perennials can take their place.

Planting day lilies and/or hostas near daffodils is a popular pairing.

Flower bed with silvery foliage in trees, hostas and lamium

@themayflygarden/ Instagram

Mix Plant Aesthetics

Mix and match plant styles for a unique look.

This colorful perennial bed adds an unexpected dash of whimsy with these large-leafed tropicals.

Though, by no means do they have to be even remotely identical.

Perennial garden with many flowering plants nestled closely together including pink roses, spirea and astilbe

@thejardiniere/ Instagram

With a large landscape, separate planting beds can have their own separate themes and looks.

These color connections can shift as different blooming perennials come into season.

These voluminous lavender plants, which also like sandy soil, fit the bill.

Spring garden with pale lavender foxgloves and pale pink peonies

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

When flowering, they emit a lovely floral, herby fragrance and also attract pollinators.

It will continue the green color scheme and soften the edges of the structure where they meet the ground.

Use plants of different spreads and textures to continue the organic feel.

Flower bed with white hydrangea, white caladiums, pink echinacea

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

For example, the wide-spreading hosta softens the edges of the stone path underneath.

They look clean and modern, and a little bit industrial.

It will look especially lovely surrounding a floating deck like this one.

Garden beds and gravel walkways, with pink climbing roses and purple alliums

@thehackneygardener/ Instagram

While colors mingling together look soft and natural, separating the hues will provide a visually striking look.

The most attractive way to arrange flowers in a flower bed is by mature height.

Plant shorter plants in the front and taller ones in the back, with mid-height plants in the middle.

Flower bed full of bright orange, red and hot pink tulips and other flowers

@thelaundrygarden/ Instagram

The depth of your flower bed will depend on the plants you choose to fill it with.

It will likely need to be at least six inches deep and range between six to 12 inches deep.

Cottage style garden with soft muted colors

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

Curving tulip beds with yew trees, with pink tulips, white daffodils, and blue grape hyacinths

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

Large hosta beds with variegated hostas, grasses and ferns

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

Large leafed perennials in a flower bed with nature trees in background

@thewitchinghourisnigh/ Instagram

Bright and pale blue delphiniums alongside yellow flowers in a flower bed

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

Cottage style garden separated by gravel path leading to brick wall and curved arch doorway

@thelaundrygarden/ Instagram

Garden at sunset with colorful perennials and tall conifers

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

Enclosed garden with trees, shrubs, flowers and gravel walkways

@edenrowegardens/ Instagram

Large shady flower bed with astilbes, hydrangea, ferns and heuchera

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

Autumn garden with colorful mums

@thewitchinghourisnigh/ Instagram

Purple and blue anemones in a garden

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

Late afternoon sunlight on white flowers in a garden

@andrewduffgardendesign/ Instagram

English garden with squared hedge and bed full of perennials such as iris and catmint

@andrewduffgardendesign/ Instagram

Pink roses in garden next to black iron fence

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

Shade garden with colorful perennials and blue ceramic pot with bright blue hydrangeas

@thepsychgarden/ Instagram

Bed of daffodils, yellow with orange centers

@thewitchinghourisnigh/ Instagram

Perennial bed in foreground with mature trees in background

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

Large garden landscape with orange and yellow perennials in foreground

@plantsplantsen/ Instagram

purple flowers in rock garden

fotolinchen / Getty Images

small pond in flower bed

Lady Landscape

arched vines and greenery

SEAN GLADWELL / Getty Images

concrete dividers in flower bed

Ann Living

flower beds around a deck

Lady Landscape

green fields with colorful flowers

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