Creeping, groundcover-type plants may be spaced about twice as far apart as their mature height. In all cases, if a solid mass of plants is desired, the spacing may be reduced. If individual plants are to be conspicuous as specimens, and be allowed to produce large flowers, the distances should be increased. The enormous color range in perennials, plus their easy relocation if disharmony occurs, give the gardener great latitude in choosing and combining colors. A border in tones of the same color can be effective, or several closely related colors may be used, or the border may be made wildly exuberant with a vast variety of hues in one or more seasons.
Hues are modifications of color such as orangish-red.
The objective is a balanced composition in every season, with no section being at any time too heavily weighted with one color, and the bloom so distributed that it always makes a pleasing pattern through the bed. For real floral artistry, it is perhaps more important to consider intensity, which is the vividness of a color, rather than hue. For example, light tones placed near dark ones, or contrasting palest tones with the most intense, can give new interest and life to the border. Also consider location and color. Near patios, white is especially good because it shows up well in the evening or dusk hours when patios are often in use.