new border

Rowan12

I'm planning a new herbaceous border 12 m long by 3.5 wide , west facing  blue and yellow theme.The perennials aren't a problem but I want to add a bit of interest in the winter and some structure. Any suggestions would be welcome. I love cornus midwinter fire but will it look okay in the summer. Thank you 

AnniD

Midwinter Fire will have green leaves and white flowers, the autumn colour is pretty good when the leaves turn. There are also yellow stemmed cornus that would fit with your theme. Coronilla glauca or maybe Acacia if it is sheltered. Mahonia has yellow flowers late winter/early spring. 

JennyJ

A yellow-flowered witch hazel (Hamamelis)? 

There's a winter-flowering shrubby honeysuckle that is very scented and has pale cream/yellow flowers (Lonicera fragrantissima). 

Gold/yellow variegated Euonymus would be good for year-round colour.

I can't think of any blue structural shrubs for the winter unless you want to include blue-ish conifers.  Some of the Vinca have blue flowers and there are variegated forms of both Vinca major and Vinca minor, but they are low-growing - ground cover/understorey rather than structural. 

For late winter/early spring you could include bulbs (crocus, daffodils, grape hyacinths), blue pulmonaria, brunnera (there's one with cream/yellowish variegation which might work).  The foliage of the variegated honesty is effective at this time of the year, but the flowers which come a bit later, usually May here) are white so it might not go with your scheme.

Rowan12

Thank you so much, gives me lots of food for thought. I've just taken over half an acre plot and trying clear out lots of very elderly shrubs , so this will be my first ever border. I am a real novice but willing to have a go.

Busy-Lizzie

Ceanothus have blue flowers and quite a few are evergreen.

Rowan12

Thank you