A herbaceous border is a collection of perennial herbaceous plants arranged closely together, usually to create a dramatic effect through colour, shape or large scale. The head gardener here obviously knows his stuff as these borders are jam-packed with plants and brilliantly choreographed.
Lanhydrock is one of my favourite gardens in the spring as their Magnolia trees are spectacular. Back in August we drove over for a visit primarily to see their herbaceous borders. I have already featured the long border at the back of the garden and this leads through to the round garden where there are huge beds full of more flowers. In this secluded part of the garden is a pretty building with an interesting arched gateway, a sundial and a bench. A bench that in all our visits has never been empty. Until today.
We swiftly made our move and relaxed on the bench for 15 minutes in the sunshine to take in the wonderful views of this part of the garden.
Time to explore further. Large scale planting goes on here. Huge swathes of blue agapanthus carefully combined with reds of Crocosmia and Heleniums or backdrops of yellow Rudbeckia and Ligularia.
The white agapanthus meanwhile has the softer hues of pink Astilbes and Dierama pulcherrimum (Angel’s Fishing Rod)
Exotic looking Canna lilies, Ginger plants (Cautleya-gracilis) and Lobelia tupa mingle along with Phlox, Japanese anemones, lilies, hardy geraniums, giant Crocosmia and crimson Monarda.
Despite all the different colours everything seems to blend or contrast beautifully. Foliage is important not only for colour, but also shape and form. The dark, almost black, foliage of Dahlia ‘Knockout’ with its bright yellow flowers or the bright blue Gentiana asclepiadea with lime green foliage and Melianthus major with spectacular, grey-green leaves with deeply serrated edges.
if you love plants then you’ll love this place. At any time of the year there is something to look at and the commercial plant nursery provides many plants for other National Trust gardens all over southern England. If you are tempted by what you have seen then pop into the plant centre on your way back to the car park. You won’t leave empty-handed.
Cornwall in Colours 
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