Plants to Go With Peonies – The Perfect Companions for Showstopping Blooms

With their voluminous, romantic blooms in shades of white, pink, red and yellow, peonies are truly the queens of the spring garden. But every regal peony needs a court of companion plants to enhance her beauty.

Choosing the right plants to pair with peonies can extend your garden’s interest beyond the peony’s relatively short bloom time, The ideal peony companions highlight the peony’s best assets while covering its bare legs later in the season,

This article will recommend over 20 splendid peony plant partners. We’ll consider companion plants that bloom before during and after peonies in all heights and forms. Read on to learn how to design a flawless entourage for your peony royalty.

Why Grow Companion Plants with Peonies

Peonies make excellent companion plants for several key reasons

• Lengthen bloom time – Peonies only flower for 2-3 weeks. Companion plants expand the garden’s interest before and after peonies fade.

• Deter pests – Some plants naturally deter garden pests. Pairing peonies with pest-resistant plants reduces damage.

• Attract pollinators – Different flowers lure different pollinating insects. More diversity brings more bees and butterflies.

• Add visual interest – Varying heights, leaf shapes and bloom forms creates an appealing vignette around peonies.

• Improve growing conditions – Certain plants, like legumes, enrich soil nutrients to benefit their neighbors.

Take these benefits into account as you choose peony plant pairings. Aim for a balanced combination of spring bulbs, summer perennials, foliage accents and structural elements.

Spring Blooming Companion Plants

Early bloomers complement peonies by preceding their bloom time. Plant these bulbs and perennials:

• Crocuses – Cheery purple, white or yellow cups bloom as early as February.

• Daffodils – Yellow trumpets sing of spring’s arrival.

• Hyacinths – Fragrant blue, pink or white bells flower in early spring.

• Tulips – Elegant cups come in a rainbow of spring hues.

• Iris – Ruffled blooms in purple, blue, yellow and white.

• Lilacs – Extremely fragrant panicles in purple, pink or white.

• Lupines – Spikes of blue, white, pink or yellow flowers.

Summer Blooming Companion Plants

To extend floral color after peonies fade, incorporate these summertime bloomers:

• Roses – Choose complementary colors for pretty pairings.

• Lilies – Elegant white trumpets like ‘Casa Blanca’ work nicely.

• Coneflowers – Daisies in pink, white, yellow or red.

• Delphinium – Towering spires of blue, purple, pink or white.

• Daylilies – Frilly yellow, melon, peach or red blooms.

• Salvia – Violet spikes complement pink peony blossoms.

Foliage Companion Plants

In addition to flowers, peonies combine beautifully with plants grown for their standout leaves:

• Hostas – Bold blue-green leaves offer great texture.

• Ferns – Lacy green fronds contrast the peony’s form.

• Heucheras – Ruffled leaves come in green, red and bronze.

• Japanese Maples – Delicate, lacey foliage in red or green.

• Astilbes – Feathery pink, red or white plumes on mounds of foliage.

• Lady’s Mantle – Ruffled, chartreuse leaves pair nicely.

Groundcover Companion Plants

Plant spreading groundcovers under and around peonies to suppress weeds:

• Ajuga – Features purple, burgundy or green leaves.

• Sweet Woodruff – Forms a green carpet studded with white blooms.

• Creeping Thyme – Fragrant gray-green mat for walkways.

• Snow-in-Summer – Silver foliage topped with white flowers.

• Dianthus – Grass-like blue or gray foliage with pink blooms.

• Vinca Minor – Trails along the ground with glossy leaves.

Structural Companion Plants

Incorporate height and visual interest around peonies with:

• Obelisks – Support climbers like clematis or morning glories.

• Arbors – Frame a gateway into a garden room.

• Trellises – Provide a backdrop for vines or peas to climb.

• Birdbaths – Attract songbirds and wildlife to your garden.

• Garden Art – Sculptures, decorative pots, stepping stones.

Design Tips for Peony Companion Plantings

• Place taller plants behind peonies to avoid obscuring their view.

• Repeat peony flower colors in blooming companions like roses, lilies and iris.

• Combine diverse leaf textures and shapes for added interest.

• Incorporate herbs like lavender and sage for fragrance.

• Use annuals like zinnias and cosmos for quick, cheap color between peonies.

• Include pollinator-friendly plants to encourage bees and butterflies.

• Plant evergreen shrubs and trees for winter structure when peonies sleep.

Extending Bloom Time with Companion Plants

A common companion planting strategy is to choose plants that bloom at different times for continuous color:

• Plant early bulbs like tulips and daffodils to precede peonies.

• Add mid to late summer perennials like coneflowers and roses to follow peonies.

• Incorporate evergreen shrubs like boxwood for winter structure.

• Use a mix of spring, summer and fall blooming trees around peonies.

Complementary Color Combinations

Some winning peony companion color pairings include:

• Pink peonies with white roses, iris and delphinium

• Red peonies with yellow daylilies and coreopsis

• White peonies with blue lobelia and purple salvia

• Yellow peonies with pink hydrangeas and blue lobelia

With a thoughtfully designed troupe of complementary plants, your peonies will reign gloriously over the garden kingdom. Creatively intermingle spring bulbs, summer perennials, foliage accents and vertical elements to spotlight your peony’s splendor all season long.

Peonies, while beautiful, have some downsides including their susceptibility to fungal diseases like Botrytis blight, which can cause wilting and bud rot. They can also be prone to flopping due to their heavy blooms, especially after rain.