Peonies are some of the most beloved flowers in any garden. Their large, lush blooms add incredible beauty and fragrance in late spring to early summer. But what happens after the peonies fade? Your garden can look bare and empty if you only have peonies. This is why companion planting is so important.
Choosing the right plants to pair with peonies will prolong the color in your garden. It also enhances the overall health and aesthetic. Peonies have some specific needs when it comes to companion plants. In this article, we’ll explore the best and worst companions for peonies so you can create a stunning garden.
Why Grow Companion Plants with Peonies
Peonies have a relatively short bloom time While utterly spectacular, peonies only flower for about 2-3 weeks on average Once they are done, some rather unsightly foliage is left behind. Their huge buds and flowers also tend to flop over once it starts getting hotter.
This is why peonies benefit greatly from companions. Before and after peonies steal the show, the right plants will get people’s attention. Companions can provide:
- Early spring interest before peonies emerge
- Late summer/fall flowers after peonies fade
- Backdrop greenery while peonies bloom
- Support for heavy blooms
- Attraction for pollinators to the garden
- Fill in unsightly spots as foliage dies back
Best Companion Plants for Peonies
When picking companions, you should think about when they bloom and how they grow. Putting together bulbs in early spring, perennials in late summer, tall background plants, and low-growing fillers makes a layered look that flows smoothly. Here are some of the best companion plants for peonies:
Early Spring Bulbs
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Hyacinths
- Crocuses
- Alliums
These early rising bulbs provide cheerful color right when you need it most – in early spring. The blooms start fading just as peonies begin to emerge. Replant bulbs every couple years for best results.
Herbaceous Perennials
- Iris
- Salvia
- Roses
- Lilies
- Phlox
- Lavender
Pairing peonies with perennials that bloom around the same time or after peonies extend color through summer. Lilies and phlox pick up right where peonies leave off, keeping your garden looking fabulous.
Foliage Plants
- Ferns
- Hostas
- Astilbe
- Lady’s Mantle
Foliage plants make great companions year round for peonies. They hide dying foliage in summer and add soft texture contrast to the garden. Go for plants with bright or variegated leaves.
Vines & Climbers
- Clematis
- Honeysuckle
- Wisteria
- Climbing Roses
Use vines and climbers as a backdrop to highlight peonies. Plant them along fences, arbors, or posts so they can grow up and behind peonies. Choose varieties that bloom just before, during, or after peonies.
What Not to Plant with Peonies
While many plants make great companions for peonies, some will compete too much for space, nutrients, and light. Avoid planting these around your peonies:
- Invasive groundcovers (ivy, vinca minor)
- Aggressive spreaders (mint, lemon balm)
- Bad nitrogen competitors (most vegetables)
- Shallow-rooted annuals
- Anything that interferes with spring emergence
Basically steer clear of plants that spread rapidly and might choke out peonies. Give your peonies adequate space to grow. Annuals will require replanting yearly and compete for nutrients.
Best Overall Companion Plants for Peonies
Here are some of the best flowers that look great with peonies and are easy to pair with them:
- Alliums: Their unique ball-shaped blooms appear just before peonies
- Bearded Iris: This classic perennial pairs perfectly with peonies
- Roses: Choose repeat-blooming types to extend floral display
- Lilies: Towering blooms complement peonies beautifully
- Astilbe: Feathery plumes bloom after peonies fade
- Clematis: Provides vertical interest and blooms concurrently
Putting peonies with the right plants can help bring out their short-lived beauty. When you plant companion plants with care, you can make a garden that looks great from spring to fall. When choosing plants to go with your peonies, pay attention to when they bloom and how they grow. If you put plants together in the right way, your garden will look beautiful all season.
We like to think about gardening in terms of how things relate to peonies – we are a peony company after-all.
Companion Planting With Peonies
Companion planting peonies is all about choosing plants which:
- Will grow in conditions similar to peonies, such as full sun or partial shade, fertile soil that is moist but doesn’t stay soggy, and soil that drains well.
- Will not be too competitive with peonies or be too affected by their growth
- Which look good in planting schemes alongside these flowers.
You might think about companion plants that:
- Bloom at the same time as peonies.
- If you want your displays to look good before the peonies flower, flower before they come up.
- Are in flower after peony flowers finish for the year.
- Improve environmental conditions for peonies.
“I grow a lot of different perennials and bulbs around my peonies in my own garden,” says Kate Blacker from Little Budds Peony Farm, a specialized nursery.
“You don’t want to be disturbing [the] soiI close by. I use delphiniums as a backdrop to show them off and fragrant roses to extend the season of the border. ”.
“Try not to grow anything that will creep into that 1x1m space” – a rough guideline to the area peonies need to grow uninhibited.
Carol Adelman from the Pacific Northwest Peony Society also grows Delphinium with her peonies:
“Companion plants I grow include iris, delphinium, dianthus, heuchera, thalictrum, scabiosa, armeria, petunias, dusty miller, foxglove, and phlox.”
“I interplant the peonies with spring bulbs,” says Joan, Secretary of the Canadian Peony Society.
“Purple irises, including tall, bearded, and Siberian varieties, bloom at the same time and work nicely with peonies.
“I also have daylilies in front of my peonies for July and August colour.”
Peony Growing Guide!!! How to Plant, Grow, Harvest, Divide, & Transplant Peonies
FAQ
What plants go well with peonies?
Companion plants that work well with tree peonies are snowdrop bulbs (Leucojem aestivum), Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica), Scilla bulbs (Scilla siberica) and perhaps some early blooming Narcissus around the edges of the tree peony patch such as paperwhites or small daffodils.
What flowers to arrange with peonies?
Pairing with Complementary Flowers: While peonies can undoubtedly stand alone in a bouquet, they also pair beautifully with other blooms to create dynamic and visually stunning arrangements. Roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus, and lisianthus are just a few examples of flowers that complement peonies wonderfully.
Where should you not plant peonies?
Afternoon shade is fine for plants grown in the Lower South. Where should you not plant peonies? Don’t plant peonies under large trees or other tall plants that shade them from the sun.
Do you need to plant 2 peonies together?
Before starting my busy day, I placed every potted peony where it should be planted. Peonies need to be about three feet apart so they can get at least six hours of full sun every day.
Are peonies good companion plants?
Companion Plant Diversity: Pairing peonies with a variety of companion plants, including herbs, spring bulbs, flowering perennials, and shrubs, not only adds visual interest but also benefits the garden by deterring pests, extending the blooming season, and attracting pollinators.
Are peonies a good choice for a cottage garden?
Growing peonies can be a great choice for many gardens. They can work particularly well in a cottage garden scheme, but what should you grow alongside and around your prized peony plants? Companion planting peonies is all about choosing plants which:
How do you plant a peony companion plant?
When planting with peonies, it’s common to pick plants that bloom at different times so that the color stays consistent. For example, plant early bulbs before the peonies. Add summer perennials to follow peonies. Incorporate evergreen shrubs for winter structure. Use spring-, summer- and fall-blooming trees near peonies.
What plants grow under peonies?
Ground cover Companions Grow Under Peonies You will need to clear out the area around your peonies and make sure they still can come up through your ground cover. Succulent Sage Thyme Hosta Pachysandra Ivy Shop Our Peony Catalog Spring Bulbs Grow Under Peonies | Bloom Before Peonies Crocus Lily of the Valley Daffodil Tulip Hyacinth Blue Squill.
How do you choose a peony plant?
That means you should select plants that prefer rich and well-drained soil that stays moist. Since peonies like lots of light, you shouldn’t choose larger plants that will shade out peonies. You can, however, choose shorter plants that do well in shade that will benefit from the peony plant’s shade.