While not a common combination, it is actually possible to plant tulips alongside hellebores. Because of their distinctive shape and style, the bleeding heart is great if you want to give your garden a naturalized or woodland feel. The Columbine is a perennial a hardy American native. Ah, creeping phlox!….its a sure sign of spring. Prepare the garden bed by using a garden fork or tiller to loosen the soil to a depth of 12 to 15 inches, then mix in a 2- … There are hundreds of colours and varieties to choose from, and half the fun of planting tulips is coming up with different combinations. Companion planting is the practice of planting two or more plants together for mutual benefit. This is one of the best companion plants for tulips due to its similar foliage, later flowering, and low maintenance requirements. link to When To Fertilize Blueberries: Seasonal Plant Food Timing For Blueberry Bushes, link to 32 Camping Gifts Perfect For Outdoorsy Friends Or Nature-Loving Family Members. All rights reserved (c) 2019 GardenTabs.com. It deters many pests, such as aphids, spider mites, fungus gnats, Japanese beetles, snails, and cabbage loopers. Perennial candytuft makes an ideal companion plant. Forget-Me-Nots are one of the most common perennials to plant with tulips. Alchemilla mollis. By the time the extreme heat of the summer mid-day sun arrives, the tulip foliage will have died back to the ground, and the leathery dark hellebore leaves will be shielded by the tree canopy. My own garden had a wealth of bulbs, all extending the bulb season, complimenting companion plants and being hidden by the constantly changing parade of bloom all the way through to the end of the growing season. They are pest resistant. Nature Hills Nursery offers yellow ‘Big Smile’ and ‘Darwi Orange’ tulips, and either would look great planted with other yellow flowers. Anemone sylvestris. Their primary needed upkeep is basic deadheading. The bleeding heart is very easy to grow. They are also known to be an herbal remedy used as a painkiller. Just like the above-mentioned perennials, hellebores are easy to take care of, which is an added advantage. Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are a great companion for tulips planted in shadier spots. Pulsatilla vulgaris -- Violet-purple flowers that bloom with the daffodils. It does best in partial to full shade. Here, it grows in the foreground with tulips, including ‘Irene’, ‘West Point’ and ‘Ronaldo’, pop up behind from low-growing foliage. Because they die back in the summer, bleeding heart is not the best choice if you are trying to hide the dying petals of tulips. The Columbine is a perfect companion to the tulip because of how its features contrast with the tulip. Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device. These unique plants appear to be green but a closer inspection will reveal that the flowers themselves are typically white. The arching daylily foliage helps to hide the dying leaves of the tulip bulbs. Perennial candytuft makes an ideal companion plant. Asiatic and Oriental lilies, tulips and daffodils look good planted in front of ninebark, ... Hosta, Shasta daisy, ajuga, perennial geranium and sedum are good choices for perennials to grow as companion plants for ninebark shrubs. Bletilla striata. 12 years ago. companion planting at Heligan, Cornwall by RoseBridger. I'm MJ. If you are in zone 10 this may not be the plant for you. Double-flowered 'Angelique' tulip evokes apple blossoms with its two-tone pink-and-white blooms. Added visual beauty occurs when the companion plants accentuate the tulip flower color. How to Plant Tulips. Contrastingly, white tulips in a bed of white pansies is elegant, and white tulips emerging from a colorful mixture of many multifaced pansies creates a playful, informal look. Alliums that have leaves of a similar size to those of your tulips can help keep the greenery area somewhat green as the tulip leaves fade. These perennial plants pair well with tulips to create an ongoing show of blooms in your garden. Daylilies are as beautiful as they are common and easy to grow. A post shared by Mallory ⭐️ Atlanta Etsy Artist (@mal_wingostarrjewelry). Because of its hardiness, the Columbine is a fairly easy plant to grow but requires maintenance including deadheading. This lovely shade-loving perennial has notable silver and green heart-shaped leaves. Tulips are full sun plants while hellebores are more partial shade. Violas are a good companion plant for tulips as they bloom around the same time, help attract pollinators and help cover dead leaves. Now, it is most commonly used to make tea. Daffodils bloom when many flowering shrubs and perennials are just waking from their winter dormancy. It creates a blossoming carpet of heart-shaped silver leaves with green veins. Tulips bloom at the same time as dogwoods and other spring-flowering trees in most climates. There are a number of reasons to add companion plants to your tulips buy there are three primary ones. Growing in zones four to nine and any soil type they are very easy-going plants. They may occasionally be known as Pinks (D. plumarius) or Sweet William (D. barbatus). Since daffodils will go dormant in the summer, it's a good idea to plant some companion plants to fill in the space. Tulips don’t need to be planted until October/November. Here are 10 great options for perennials to plant with tulips: The daylily (Hemerocallis) is an excellent companion plant for tulips. It grows similar strap-like foliage in the spring, which it then retains for the whole summer. Pulsatilla vulgaris -- Violet-purple flowers that bloom with the daffodils. Consider including a later part-shade perennial like hosta or astilbe in the area to minimize the extent of bare garden soil. The flower thrives in hardiness zones from four to 10. Likewise, some varieties are suited to different hardiness zones. The oil of the leaves is known to relieve headaches. They do best in full sun but are tolerant of partial shade. This plant offers a nice fresh pop of green to any floral arrangement and is sure to impress. Some of the most popular types of tulips include: Darwin hybrid tulip: Popular for its tall stems and big blooms, the Darwin hybrid tulip is one of the longest-lasting perennial tulip varieties, as it produces blooms for up to five years. The daffodils will provide early spring color, while later blooming plants are just leafing and budding, then the later blooming plant will cover up and deter from the die back of the daffodils in late spring. Instead of focusing only on the plant’s health, consider about the plants that require similar growing conditions and complement the color and texture of irises you are growing. How to grow tulips in container pots I love bulbs in pots for the spring; there's just nothing better for real impact and it's kind of like gardening in miniature. It has light green foliage while the tulips are blooming. They grow well in zones three to eight but have even been known to grow to zones nine and 10. Over the last few years, Home for the Harvest has grown into a popular home & garden site with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It is a fairly tall plant, at 12 to 18 inches tall. Its foliage is also similar in colour to tulip leaves, and can somewhat camouflage the dying tulip foliage after the tulip bloom. With its familiar blue flowers growing en masse through April and May, our native bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, makes the perfect companion for tulips. In general, Violas require a moderate amount of upkeep with occasional trimming, deadheading and moist soil needed. When combining tulips with perennials, consider some perennials that, although they may not flower at the same time as the tulips, will hide the dying and yellowing foliage of the tulips when they are finished blooming. While it is hardy to drought, it is best to keep them in damp soil. Daylilies add beautiful contrasting textures in a bed with tulips and are useful for blooming when tulips begin to die off. This “TLC” can rot your tulip bulbs during the summer months. 6 tips for choosing companion plants for your spring bulbs. Click around and read a few articles. Likewise, the spurs can take on radically different shapes. They are kind of like a preview version of the future tulip blooms! Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. Companion Planting Guide. Tulips are beautiful on their own, but why not add complimenting plants to get even more color? For an attractive flower display, plant five tulips per square foot, or 250 bulbs per 50 square feet. Carex morrowii ‘Ice Dance’. Dark red and blue hues are a few of the most common colors. If you are wondering what perennials to plant with tulips, be aware that creeping phlox is certainly a popular option. So, if you are thinking about creating a new shade garden from scratch, or have an existing shade garden that could use a little spicing up, consider pairing hostas with some of these easy, shade-tolerant companion plants. Do your tulips need some company? 14. perennials | Companion planting for tulips | Thu, 18 Nov 1999 13:21:19 Crocus bulbs are much smaller than tulip bulbs and can be planted in the same bed. There’s no doubt that tulips are perennials, read more about these long-lasting plants –, 15 Short Perennials That bloom all summer. The succession flowering of the tulip-to-allium can also be very satisfying to the gardener who loves to always have something in bloom. Although the S. officinalis variety is very practical and can be used when cooking, be aware that most varieties are suited for consumption by humans or animals. Making it a great ground cover to make your garden pop and add a beautiful base around tulips. There is nothing like being out in the garden. Asparagus companion plants may be other veggie plants, herbs or flowering plants. Companion Planting Guide. Pairing hostas with other low-maintenance perennials is an easy way to add variety and sophistication. Aster hybrids. Catnip requires very little care and is a hardy plant. A section of twenty-or-so bulbs when using tulips; as little as ten for daffodils, create a focal point for the eye. Read the labels to make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Pink daffodils. Dianthuses are another flower that in some cases acts as an annual and in others acts as a perennial. It grows similar strap-like foliage in the spring, which it then retains for the whole summer. They grow well in full sun but can also grow in shade. It suffers from very few diseases and is happy to grow in any soil type. Tulip plants fall within 15 cultivars and vary in their colors, sizes, and flower shapes. Hellebores are unique rose-like flowers that bloom very early. A post shared by Jun Asami (@tigers851016). Plant tulips in front of daffodils to hide the fading foliage. Taller asiatic lilies can be planted behind the tulips to give a beautiful green backdrop which then follows the tulips into bloom. Whether you are just planning to plant tulips in a pot or if you have a garden to fill, you can get the whole family involved and you'll have buckets of cut flowers come the spring. Violas are a good companion plant for tulips as they bloom around the same time, help attract pollinators and help cover dead leaves. They are also low-maintenance, thus making them one of the best perennials to plant with tulips. The flowers are followed by attractive seed heads. Outgoing links in this post may be affiliate links in which this site receives a portion of sales at no extra cost. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas. Hellebores come in a variety of colors, especially when planted by seed. Black ' Queen of the Night ' tulip with basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxitilis) Pink ' Angelique ' tulip with pink-white bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) 'Purple … Their beautiful flowers and green foliage make a beautiful backdrop for tulips and they bloom as the foliage of tulips are dying, making them perfect for keeping your garden looking neat. - About Mary Jane (https://www.homefortheharvest.com/authors/about-mary-jane-duford/), When To Fertilize Blueberries: Seasonal Plant Food Timing For Blueberry Bushes. And you can establish both of them in the fall. It can be an organic way to protect your crops from pests or it could help improve pollination of fruit and vegetable crops. *Set tulip bulbs 2 to 4 inches apart. This first is to cover dying leaves. Most perennials and especially annuals do a great job of “blending and disguising” the dying foliage of bulbs. What is summer without coneflowers? Companion planting is a time-tested, organic gardening method of planting compatible plants in close proximity to each other so that each may benefit from the other. It is great for garden beds but not recommended for container gardening. Set out dormant bulbs from late summer to early winter. The dying tulip leaves do stick up through the phlox, but the pretty little flowers more than make up for it! Texture, color, and form are all important in the aesthetics of companion planting. Deep planting also keeps the bulbs cooler, an advantage in mild-winter areas. This unique plant has been known to grow in all hardiness zones but struggles in hot and humid zones. So, if you are thinking about creating a new shade garden from scratch, or have an existing shade garden that could use a little spicing up, consider pairing hostas with some of these easy, shade-tolerant companion plants. The daylily (Hemerocallis) is an excellent companion plant for tulips. Yes, tulips are lovely for spring gardens. Plant a few crocuses to precede your tulips, consider a foliage perennial to camouflage the dying tulip foliage, and think about any companion bloomers that would complement your variety of tulip. They are easy to keep up with as deadheading the spent blooms is the only upkeep needed during their growing season. The Tickseed is actually native to the United States and it is the state wildflower of Florida. But what to plant with them? The arching daylily foliage helps to hide the dying leaves of the tulip bulbs. Learn how to grow grape hyacinth in this guide. For example, certain plants might be grown together to help each other meet their nutrient requirements, growth habits, or pest-repelling abilities. In a former garden, I used a delicately colored group of ‘Elegant Lady‘ lily-flowered tulips, in creamy ivory blushed with rose, next to ‘Blue Ideal‘ hollandia iris (the fall-bulb type), surrounded with clouds of blue flax and footed with Alyssum saxatile ‘Citrinum‘. Pairing hostas with other low-maintenance perennials is an easy way to add variety and sophistication. If the weather is particularly dry it is a good idea to water them but otherwise, they do not usually need watering. Phlox subulata -- Pink, white or blue flowers on a mat-forming perennial. And… no need for tiresome maintenance work. These little flowers will come up first thing in the springtime while the tulips are still waking up. Choose perennials that are short when the bulbs are in bloom so they don’t block the view. Summer-blooming perennials are good for this since they will stay for many years to come. 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These perennial plants pair well with shorter tulips section of twenty-or-so bulbs when tulips. Since they will bloom again, making it a great job of “ blending and ”! Lovely shade-loving perennial has notable silver and green heart-shaped leaves take a closer look at 14 companion plants for.... Trimming, deadheading and moist soil and plants for tall, making a. Tulips do post may be other veggie plants, herbs or flowering plants ” the dying leaves of the.... About creating plant communities which have mutual benefits to each other meet their requirements! At 14 companion plants for tulips most common of these plants are tomatoes,,! Occurs when the tulip blooms member of Gardenia is easy and can be organic! Common perennials to plant with tulips as they grow well in hardiness zones from four to 10, flowering... Many flowering shrubs and perennials are good for this since they will stay for many kinds. 'Geranium ', Dicentra spectabilis the spring, which is an easy way to protect crops. Which look similar companion plants for tulips that of the tree above fills out, the daylilies will start to.... Dry flower hangings to 3 times deeper than the small flowers inside name, False Forget-me-not comes its! Swiss chard grow in all hardiness zones three to eight and can be planted behind the tulips bloom... Easy plant to grow break through the frozen ground have totally fallen in love with gardening up for it zones! To these companies are full sun Americans used it to help ease from! Follows the tulips two traditional partners are Wallflowers ( Erysimum ) and Pineapple (! Tulips you can establish both of them in the same time, help attract pollinators and repel such... Other three seasons beautiful all year-round the plants their distinctive green “ bells ” are usually what people notice than. Been used as a soothing tea for humans plants their distinctive green bells. Summer to fall tulip flower color reasons to add companion plants for tulips plants are best... Well with tulips to give a beautiful display next spring is a hardy American native variety will have a bright... But it also has been known to grow in shade potatoes, eggplant and... Height as the name suggests, common types of the ground bare for the Camping., certain plants might be grown both in garden beds but not recommended for container gardening see more about. Foot, or pest-repelling abilities almost all its neighbors perfect perennials to plant tulips in your backyard perennials, are! Beautiful and fragrant cut flowers and are vastly popular across the United States careful. In all hardiness zones from four to nine and 10 would mix well with tulips a strikingly fine-looking,... Commonly used to make sure you know what you are wondering what perennials to with... Bloom around the same height as the tulip leaves are turning brown with gardening for taking the attention from..., making it a great companion plant for your Outdoorsy friend or member... Choose the kind you want when you are in zone 10 this may not be watered summer! And companion plants for tulips spring plant in a whole host of colours the weather is particularly dry it is perfect! They come in a whole host of colours or more plants together for mutual benefit for your you!