Like their owners, gardens have distinct national characteristics. There are exceptions, of course, especially in the UK, where we are quick to adopt other styles and open to horticultural influences from across the globe. But it would be hard to dispute that one of the key elements of many British gardens — the border — relies heavily on the inclusion of herbaceous perennials.
By definition, any plant with a life cycle of more than two years is perennial. Trees and shrubs are essentially perennials, but because their stems stiffen as they mature, they enter the sphere of woody plants. Tulips, daffodils, alliums and others with bulbs, corms or rhizomes fall into the bulbous perennial group. Here, though, I’m focusing on my unabashed admiration for the