Combine bulbs and perennials to keep your garden looking full and beautiful even after the spring bulbs are finished. In issue 83, we shared a list of perennials that get along well with bulbs. Here are more great perennial neighbors. Match the growing conditions for the perennials and the bulbs for the most beautiful show.
Good Plants for Hot, Dry Sun | Great Companions for Moist Soil | Great Neighbors that Like Shade
Good Plants for Hot, Dry Sun
| Plant Name | Height/Width | Light | Cold/Heat Zones | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranesbill Geraniumspp. |
6 to 36 in. tall and 6 to 36 in. wide | Sun | 4 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Mounding habit covers ripening bulb foliage; flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue and white bloom from midspring to fall; cut back old foliage to 4 in. after flowering |
| Speedwell Veronica spicata |
6 to 18 in. tall and 18 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Blue, white or pink flower spikes start blooming in midspring; complements mid- and late-spring bulbs; well-fed plants may require staking |
| Thyme Thymus serpyllum |
1 to 2 in. tall and 10 to 12 in. wide | Sun | 4 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Dense carpet of bright pink flowers begins blooming in early summer; prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soils; fragrant foliage |
| Catmint Nepetaxfaassenii |
12 to 36 in. tall and wide | Sun | 3 to 8/ 12 to 1 |
Lavender-blue flowers bloom from midspring to fall; covers ripening bulb foliage; cut back by half midseason to keep tidy |
| Garden phlox Phlox paniculata |
12 to 48 in. tall and 12 to 36 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Flowers in many shades of lavender, pink, red and white; mid- to late summer blooming won’t overshadow spring bulbs |
| Tall sedum Sedumhybrids |
18 to 24 in. tall and 18 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Rose flower clusters in late summer attract butterflies; low maintenance, so won’t disturb bulbs; drought- and heat-tolerant |
| Globe thistle Echinops ritro |
36 to 40 in. tall and 18 to 24 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Round blue flowers bloom in summer; deep taproot means it doesn’t need dividing so you don’t have to disturb bulbs |
| Coreopsis Coreopsisspp. |
9 to 48 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Bright yellow, white, pink or red flowers attract birds and butterflies; blooms complement late-spring and summer bulbs; pest-resistant and low maintenance |
| Basket-of-gold Aurinia saxatilis |
6 to 12 in. tall and 9 to 12 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 10/ 10 to 1 |
Yellow flowers and silver foliage complement spring bulbs; prefers well-drained, sandy soil; great front of the border or rock garden plant |
| Peony Paeonia spp. |
24 to 48 in. tall and wide | Sun | 3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Flowers of various colors and shapes bloom in spring; mounding foliage covers ripening bulb foliage; rarely needs dividing |
Great Companions for Moist Soil
| Plant Name | Height/Width | Light | Cold/Heat Zones | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia bluebells Mertensia virginica |
12 to 24 in. tall and 12 in. wide | Part to full shade | 3 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Early spring blooms complement bulbs; leaves fade by midsummer; prefers rich soil |
| Japanese sweet flag Acorus gramineus |
12 in. tall and wide | Sun to part shade | 5 to 11/ 12 to 1 |
Bright green, evergreen foliage; tolerates moist to wet soils; slowly naturalizes |
| Brunnera Brunnera macrophylla |
12 to 18 in. tall and wide | Part to full shade | 3 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Leaves cover ripening bulb foliage; true blue flowers bloom in spring |
| Coral bells Heucheraspp. |
6 to 18 in. tall and 10 to 24 in. wide | Part shade | 2 to 9/ 8 to 1 |
Stalks of delicate red, pink or white flowers bloom in late spring; variety of variegated and purple foliage colors; morning sun and afternoon shade prevent leaves from scorching or bleaching |
| Daylily Hemerocallishybrids |
8 to 60 in. tall and 12 to 48 in. wide | Sun | 3 to 9/ 9 to 3 |
Flowers in nearly every color; long bloom season, many rebloom |
| Toad lily Tricyrtis spp. |
24 to 36 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide | Part shade | 5 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
White, purple or spotted flowers in summer to fall; prefers moist, acid, fertile soil; complements late-blooming bulbs |
| Bergenia Bergeniahybrids |
8 to 24 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide | Part shade | 3 to 10/ 9 to 1 |
Pink to purple flowers bloom in spring; shiny, leathery leaves stay clean through summer; leaves turn purple-bronze in fall |
Good Neighbors that Like Shade
| Plant Name | Height/Width | Light | Cold/Heat Zones | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caucasian comfrey Symphytum caucasicum |
6 to 36 in. tall and wide | Shade | 3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Mounding habit covers ripening bulb foliage; flowers in shades of pink, purple, blue and white bloom from midspring to early summer; plant in dry shade; cut back old foliage to 4 in. after flowering |
| Columbine Aquilegiaspp. |
12 to 24 in. tall and 12 in. wide | Part shade to shade | 3 to 9/ 8 to 1 |
Bright and pastel flowers bloom in spring; attracts hummingbirds and butterflies; deadhead faded blooms to prevent unwanted seedlings; tolerates poor, dry soils |
| Hosta Hostahybrids |
4 to 48 in. tall and 10 to 60 in. wide | Part shade to shade | 3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Enormous selection of leaf colors, sizes and shapes; white or lavender flowers bloom in summer; plant in moist, well-drained soil; slugs and snails may eat leaves, but won’t kill plant |
| Bleeding heart Dicentra spectabilis |
24 to 48 in. tall and 18 to 30 in. wide | Part shade | 3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Pink or white flowers hang from arching stems in spring; foliage dies back in summer heat; plant in moist, well-drained soil; pest and disease free |
| Sweet woodruff Galium odoratum |
6 to 12 in. tall and 9 to 12 in. wide | Part shade to shade | 3 to 9/ 9 to 1 |
Tiny white flowers in spring; can be aggressive, but easy to pull; thrives in moist soil |
| Lady’s mantle Alchemillaspp. |
4 to 18 in. tall and 12 to 24 in. wide | Part shade | 4 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Chartreuse to yellow flowers in early summer; mounding leaves cover ripening bulb foliage; tolerates more sun in cooler zones; plant in moist, well-drained soil |
| Hellebore Helleborusspp. |
12 to 36 in. tall and wide | Part shade to shade | 4 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Blooms in late winter to early spring; flowers in white, pink, yellow, green or burgundy; tolerates dry soil |
| Lungwort Pulmonariaspp. |
6 to 12 in. tall and 15 to 40 in. wide | Shade | 3 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Mounding habit; rough leaves with silver markings; pink, blue or white flowers in early spring; deadhead faded flowers; plant in moist, well-drained soil |
| Periwinkle Vinca minor |
3 to 6 in. tall and spreads up to 36 in. wide | Sun to part shade | 4 to 8/ 8 to 1 |
Lavender-blue flowers in spring continue sporadically through summer; tolerates full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soils |
| Lily-of-the-valley Convallaria majalis |
8 in. tall and wide | Shade | 2 to 7/ 7 to 1 |
Fragrant, white or pink bell-shaped flowers in late spring; prefers moist, well-drained soil; no serious pests; all parts of plant are poisonous to people and pets |