Herbaceous border

A herbaceous border is a collection of perennial herbaceous plants (plants that live for more than two years and are soft-stemmed and non-woody) arranged closely together, usually to create a dramatic effect through colour, shape or large scale.

Hybridization and new imported plant species revolutionized the form of British gardens in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Maintaining the herbaceous border is work-intensive, as the perennials have to be dug up every 3–4 years and divided to keep the bed clean-looking and prevent overgrowth of the plants.

In World War I this type of border became less popular in Britain as there was a shortage of labour to keep the gardens maintained.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world's longest herbaceous border, at 215 metres (705 ft), is at Dirleton Castle, East Lothian, Scotland.