Let’s be honest here, establishing a border takes time and a little bit of patience, of which I have neither! So, I’m always looking for shortcuts… and there’s where ‘stitching plants’ come in to play. They’re the cool dudes of the border; growing swiftly, and just seeping into those gaps not yet filled by the big boys…!

You might see ‘stitching plants’ as the ‘support act’ for your border… they’re kinda there to help your other plants look good! However, there are some particularly showy specimens that are in real danger of overshadowing the acts they support… here’s a few of my favourites… some of you may already know, some you won’t!

Gosh, look at this! Coreopsis ‘Incredible’ lives up to it’s name in every way! Looking fantastic in this year’s trials, these plants look delicate, but they’re actually hardy and never stop flowering! Dot it through borders to fill them gaping holes!

Now, here you go, predictable but a winner- good old Verbena bonariensis…! The ultimate definition of a ‘stitching plant’, adding an accent to your full display. Floaty, mauve, wiry, unashamedly untidy…!

Now this is Phlox ‘of Sheep’ (best plant name ever huh!!), which is an annual, so adds as more of a quick fix for your borders, like dosing it up with Red Bull. Annual Phlox simply aren’t grown enough in my opinion. So easy, throw and sow, you can even leave the sowing as late as June, so perfect if you’re a bit disorganised like me!

NEW Foxglove ‘Illumination Raspberry’ is perhaps an unexpected ‘stitching plant’.. but give it a go. These unique hybrids are the perfect marriage of Digitalis and Isoplexis, which gives a ‘shrubby’, branching habit, much unlike usual Foxgloves! It’s sterile too, so keeps on blooming and blooming. Fills gaps with ease! 

Another surprise one, Clematis- this is ‘Blue River’. A delightfully informal Clematis, which weaves through borders with gay abandon, producing streams of cheerful, sky blue flower heads. Why worry about it climbing, when you can let it scramble!?

So, that’s just a few suggestions, do you have some ideas… leave a comment below!