A Charming Garden Idea with Thyme, Lavender and Other Shrubs

Plant Combinations, Summer Borders, Patio Gardens

Garden Ideas, Landscaping ideas, Artemisia, Allium Purple Sensation, Cornus kousa Satomi, euphorbia, geranium kahsmir white, lavandula munstead, salvia caradonna, thymus silver posie, trollius alabaster

This sun-soaked border channels pure Mediterranean ease—silvery foliage, aromatic herbs, and purple spikes—elegant, low-fuss, and water-wise.

Lavandula ‘Munstead’ (Lavender) and Thymus ‘Silver Posie’ (Thyme) knit the edges with fragrance and fine texture, keeping the palette calm and coastal. Artemisia ‘Nana’ (Wormwood) adds cool, silvery mounds that make everything around it glow.

For height and rhythm, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ sends up inky-purple wands, Allium ‘Purple Sensation’ pops late-spring globes, and Euphorbia x martinii lights the scene with lime-green domes. Geranium ‘Kashmir White’ drifts between, softening edges.

Many plants have won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.

The perks are big:

Low-water, low-maintenance Mediterranean palette. Mediterranean Garden Ideas You’ll Love
Built for sun, heat, sharp drainage, and gravel mulch
Evergreen backbone with a long bloom window
Fragrance + pollinators from lavender, thyme, salvia, and alliums
Deer-savvy choices and coast-friendly performance

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Garden Information

Hardiness	6 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun
Season of Interest	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Maintenance	Average
Water Needs	Average
Soil Type	Loam, Sand
Soil pH	Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage	Well-Drained
Characteristics	Fragrant, Plant of Merit, Showy
Tolerance	Deer
Attracts	Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas	Beds And Borders
Garden Styles	Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Plants In This Garden

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation' (Ornamental Onion)

A favorite of many gardeners, multiple award-winner Allium hollandicum ‘Purple Sensation’ is a striking ornamental onion with perfectly round flowerheads, 3 in. wide (8 cm), packed with dozens of small, star-shaped, rich violet-lilac flowers. They are borne atop sturdy stalks, which arise from a group of 6 to 8 handsome, blue-green leaves. Blooming in late spring to early summer, this spectacular Allium enjoys long-lasting blooms and makes outstanding cut flowers that will last for 2 weeks.

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early)
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Artemisia schmidtiana 'Nana' (Wormwood)

One of the most popular foliage plants, award-winner Artemisia schmidtiana ‘Nana’ is a compact, semi-evergreen perennial forming a low, spreading mound with soft, silvery leaves divided into hair-like segments of extremely fine foliage texture.

Hardiness	4 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	3" - 6" (8cm - 15cm)
Spread	8" - 1' (20cm - 30cm)

Thymus 'Silver Posie' (Common Thyme)

Both useful and ornamental, Thymus ‘Silver Posie’ (Common Thyme) is a bushy dwarf evergreen shrub with a wonderful foliage of white-margined, aromatic, gray-green leaves with a hint of pink on the tips. In late spring to early summer, the plant is smothered in clusters of small, tubular, bright purple to white flowers

Hardiness	6 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	9" - 1' (23cm - 30cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna' (Woodland Sage)

Multiple award-winner, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’ is a favorite of many gardeners for its unique, glowing dark purple stems and stunning, vertical spikes of rich, violet-blue flowers appearing in late spring or early summer

Hardiness	4 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' (Lavender)

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Munstead’ (English Lavender) is a compact perennial or shrub known for its vibrant purple blooms and sweet fragrance. Thriving in full sun and well-drained soil, it attracts pollinators and is drought-tolerant. Munstead Lavender is popular in gardens for its ornamental value and culinary uses, providing beauty and aroma year-round.

Hardiness	5 - 9
Exposure	Full Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)

Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White' (Cranesbill)

Luminescent in the shade, Geranium clarkei ‘Kashmir White’ (Cranesbill) is a rhizomatous, spreading herbaceous perennial with a profusion of large, upward-facing, white flowers, 2 in. wide (5 cm), adorned with contrasting lilac-pink veins.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid)
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Cornus kousa 'Miss Satomi' (Kousa Dogwood)

Award-winning Cornus kousa ‘Miss Satomi’ (Kousa Dogwood) is an upright, spreading medium-sized deciduous shrub with 4 seasons of interest. In spring, a heavenly array of star-like blooms appear.

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	12' - 15' (3.7m - 4.6m)
Spread	12' - 15' (3.7m - 4.6m)

Euphorbia x martinii (Martin's Spurge)

One of the most striking foliage plants, Euphorbia x martinii (Martin’s Spurge) is a dwarf evergreen sub-shrub which produces rosettes of narrow, dark gray-green leaves on stiff stems. In late spring, it sports dense sprays of chartreuse flowers, sometimes studded with a purple eye.

Hardiness	6 - 11
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread	1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)

Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood)

Compact, Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (Boxwood) is a small, slow-growing, broadleaf evergreen shrub with a soft and lush foliage of ovate, fairly glossy leaves, up to 1 in. long (2 cm). Tough, hardy and easy to grow, this dwarf Boxwood provides color year-round

Hardiness	5 - 8
Exposure	Full Sun, Partial Sun, Shade
Seasons	Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height	2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spread	2' - 4' (60cm - 120cm)

How Many Plants Do I Need?

Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas

Allium Artemisia Buxus (Boxwood) Cornus (Dogwood) Euphorbia (Spurge) Geranium (Cranesbill) Lavandula (Lavender) Thymus (Thyme)

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Alternative Plants to Consider

Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ (Lavender)

Salvia x sylvestris May Night (Wood Sage)

Thymus ‘Silver Queen’ (Lemon Thyme)

Geranium pratense ‘Mrs Kendall Clark’ (Meadow Cranesbill)

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.