Small perennial plants are always welcome in my garden. Whether it's the front row of a border, a walkway, or along a garden path, this list will help you choose a few that will work well in your landscape and come back year after year.
I am always on the lookout for pretty perennials that are on the smaller side. I like to plant them on the edges of my gardens, the front of the borders in front of my house, and along the back of the foundation.
So today I'm sharing a large group of these small perennial plants that I have grown at one point or another to inspire your next plant shopping trip.
For each plant, I've given you the common and scientific name, the USDA zone information, the approximate height and width, and the type of sunlight it requires.
Some things to remember:
- In some cases, I've given you the exact variety of the picture shown but all of the plants come in many different colors and varieties.
- Most flower at different times in the season so consider the foliage too.
- They are all perennial, meaning they should come back year after year, making them a good bang for your buck. Occasionally they don't. I have found this to be true of new hybrids of some plants.
- All of these perennial border plants are low maintenance making them an excellent choice for even the beginner gardener.
19 Small Perennial Plants for the Border
1. Dalmation Bellflower
This pretty perennial is almost a ground cover as it's typically pretty short and can spread. It's also deer tolerant. Named after the Dalmatian mountains in Croatia where it is native.
- scientific name: Campanula portenschlagiana
- zone hardiness: 4 to 8
- height x width: 6 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
2. Bergenia aka Pigsqueak
Great for the shade this perennial is also often grown as a groundcover. with beautiful blooms in early spring. Deer and rabbits usually leave it alone.
- scientific name: Bergenia cordifolia
- zone hardiness: 3 to 8
- height x width: 12 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: partial shade to full shade
3. Betony
This one blooms in late summer when other plants may be losing their colorful blooms. Even without flowers, the plant has a nice clumping form that looks good in front of the border.
- scientific name: Stachys officinalis 'Hummelo'
- zone hardiness: 4 to 8
- height x width: 18 inches by 18 inches
- sun needs: full sun
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4. Brunnera aka False Forget-Me-Not
Beautiful clusters of delicate blue flowers show up early in the spring on this pretty perennial. It can be invasive and spread but is easily removed. A great shade perennial that can also tolerate dry areas.
- scientific name: Brunnera macrophylla
- zone hardiness: 3 to 8
- height x width: 12 inches by 18 inches
- sun needs: partial shade
5. Coral Bells
Heuchera is a good perennial for pretty foliage all season long. It comes in a myriad of varieties with foliage in deep dark burgundy or purple to bright green as shown above. Drought tolerant this lovely plant does flower, however the blooms are somewhat insignificant compared to the beautiful foliage.
- scientific name: Heuchera americana
- zone hardiness: 4 to 9
- height x width: 12 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
6. Coreopsis
Beautiful yellow daisy-like flowers bloom all summer long with this easy to grow perennial. Drought, heat, and deer tolerant make this one a winner in any garden.
- scientific name: Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
- zone hardiness: 3 to 8
- height x width: 18 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: full sun
7. Creeping Phlox
Here's another mid to late spring ground cover perennial in shades of pink, purple, and white. A strong bloomer that provides a carpet of color is quite a sight for sore eyes after a bleak winter. It attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies and is deer, rabbit, and drought tolerant.
- scientific name: Phlox stolonifera or phlox subulata
- zone hardiness: 3 to 8
- height x width: 6 inches by 6 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
8. Creeping Thyme aka Wild Thyme
Not typically the thyme you would cook with as that one is usually Thymus vulgaris. Still, this one offers a beautiful swath of color and fragrance. A good one to grow between pavers or other good ground cover spots.
- scientific name: Thymus serpyllum
- zone hardiness: 4 to 8
- height x width: 6 inches by 6 inches
- sun needs: full sun
9. Dead Nettle aka Yellow Archangel
Pretty variegated leaves and yellow blooms are present in this easy to grow semi-evergreen perennial that loves a shady spot. I have it growing on the back side of our garage and it's been there for over 20 years.
- scientific name: Lamium galeobdolon
- zone hardiness: 4 to 9
- height x width: 8 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: partial shade to full shade
10. Dianthus aka Pinks
There's lots of variety with over 12,000 cultivars in this group of dainty perennial flowers. Also known as "clove pinks" as some of the foliage smells like cloves.
- scientific name: Dianthus
- zone hardiness: 3 to 9
- height x width: 10 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: full sun to part sun
11. Epimedium aka Bishop's Hat
Another easy to grow shade lover. Drought, deer, and rabbit tolerant and has beautiful foliage when not in flower. This variety has great fall color too.
- scientific name: Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’
- zone hardiness: 5 to 8
- height x width: 12 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: part shade to full shade
12. Japanese Painted Fern
The colorful structure and texture of the foliage with dark stems make this pretty perennial fern look good in the garden all season long year after year. I like to press the fronds and use them for many of my craft projects.
- scientific name: Athyrium niponicum var. pictum
- zone hardiness: 3 to 8
- height x width: 12 inches by 18 inches
- sun needs: partial shade to full shade
13. Tiarella aka Foam Flower
A cousin to Heuchera (Coral Bells) this plant also has pretty foliage with interesting blotches in the center and pink flowers in early summer. Creates a nice clumping form for the perennial border or foundation as shown above.
- scientific name: Tiarella 'Sugar and Spice'
- zone hardiness: 4 to 9
- height x width: 8 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: partial shade to full shade
14. Hardy Geranium aka Cranesbill
Probably my all time favorite perennial is the hardy geranium. There are many varieties with different foliage and flower colors. They have that sweet cottage garden feel that I love. See more about the different varieties of hardy geraniums here.
- scientific name: Geranium sanguineum
- zone hardiness: 4 to 8
- height x width: 12 inches by 18 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
15. Lady's Mantel
Another pretty clumping perennial that produces beautiful chartreuse flowers in the early summer. They are great for flower arrangements, and the deer and rabbits tend to leave them alone. I also like the way rain beads up on the leaves.
- scientific name: Alchemilla mollis
- zone hardiness: 3 to 8
- height x width: 12 inches by 18 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
16. Liriope aka Lilyturf or Monkey Grass
Here's another one that blooms later in the summer though many plant it for the glossy grass-like foliage. Easy to grow and trouble free of deer, rabbits, and pest problems.
- scientific name: Liriope muscari
- zone hardiness: 5 to 10
- height x width: 12 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
17. Lungwort
An easy to grow spring bloomer with interesting spotted foliage all season long. Grows in a nice clumping mound for the garden border and is also not bothered by deer.
- scientific name: Pulmonaria 'Raspberry Splash'
- zone hardiness: 4 to 9
- height x width: 12 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: partial shade to full shade
18. Primrose
Some of the earliest blooming plants in the garden. These are a special group of flowers given to me by a friend whose father grew them with a passion.
- scientific name: Primula/Polyanthus
- zone hardiness: 4 to 8
- height x width: 8 inches by 12 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
19. Veronica aka Spiked Speedwell
Long blooming beautiful violet-blue flowers work well in the front of the border. They make a great cut flower for bouquets and arrangements, pollinators love them and are not bothered by deer and rabbits.
- scientific name: Veronica spicata
- zone hardiness: 4 to 9
- height x width: 18 inches by 18 inches
- sun needs: full sun to partial shade
Other Perennials with Dwarf Varieties
Did you know that many other perennials can be purchased in a dwarf variety? That makes them great candidates for the border too.
- Lavender
- Catmint
- Salvia
- Coneflower
- Bleeding Heart
- Hosta
- Sedum
- Beebalm
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