Bold Color Berm Garden Design | Hiram, ME

Garden Design Maine was invited to bring bold perennial color to a newly created berm garden at a property overlooking Clemons Cove in Hiram. A berm—a gently raised mound of soil—adds visual interest, improves drainage, and gives plantings a sculptural presence, making it an ideal foundation for a vibrant, layered design. 

Garden Design Goals

This berm garden focused on strong color impact while maintaining balance and visibility. Key goals included:

• Introduce bold, saturated color to the landscape

• Keep plant heights under three feet to preserve sight lines

• Select long-blooming, low-maintenance perennials

• Create a cohesive design suited to a sloped berm

• Support pollinators with thoughtful plant selection

Before the Garden Installation

The berm had been recently constructed, providing a blank canvas with excellent drainage and sun exposure but no established planting. The challenge was to design a garden that would feel full and dynamic without overwhelming the space or blocking views.

Garden Design Concept

Guided by the customer's preference for red, orange, and deep violet-blue tones, two distinct planting concepts were developed using perennials selected for color intensity, durability, and manageable height.

Both options emphasized repetition, seasonal interest, and plants well-suited to Maine growing conditions.

Seasonal Flowering Perennials

The first design concept featured long-blooming perennials such as heliopsis, catmint, geranium, salvia, and reblooming daylilies. These plants were chosen for their heat tolerance, extended bloom time, and strong visual presence.

The second concept focused on a pollinator-friendly mix including bee balm, daisies, sedum, buddleia, reblooming daylilies, and echinacea, offering a lively combination of color, texture, and seasonal variation.

Garden Features and Planting Highlights

The selected design was installed in early August 2024. By early summer 2025, the berm was already filling in with rich, saturated color that highlights the natural contours of the slope.

• Layered perennials create a dynamic, flowing effect across the berm

• Bold color groupings enhance visual impact from a distance

• Repetition of key plants creates cohesion throughout the design

• Pollinator-friendly selections add ecological value