9 Companion Plants That Help Your Peonies Grow While Making Your Garden More Beautiful

Key Points

Peonies bloom from late spring to early summer in shades of pink, white, and red.

Growing peonies with plants that bloom later in the season keeps gardens colorful longer.

Layering plants of different heights and textures creates a more complex garden look.

Coming in pretty shades of pink, red, yellow, and white, peony flowers bloom from late spring to early summer and make delightful additions to flower beds and bouquets.

But if you want to make peony flowers really shine, try growing these companion plants for peonies for even more garden color and an extended bloom time.

Meet the Expert

Kathleen Gagan is the owner and founder of Peony’s Envy nursery and display garden.

Laura Kubes is the co-owner of Hidden Springs Peony Farm.

Bearded Iris

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When it comes to peony companion plants, experts agree that bearded irises (Iris germanica) and peonies make an unbeatable match.

“Tall, bearded irises bloom at the same time as peonies and they come in dramatic colors that contrast nicely against the color of peonies,” says peony expert Kathleen Gagan.

Flower expert Pamela Groppe agrees.

“Irises provide a lovely vertical contrast to big, fluffy peony blooms,” says Groppe. “And together, they create that layered, romantic cottage garden look I love.”

Columbine

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If your garden has a touch of light shade, growing peonies with columbines (Aquilegia spp.) make a lot of sense too.

“There’s something magical about pairing peonies with plants that soften their bold presence in the garden,” says peony pro Laura Kubes. “In spring, that includes delicate bloomers like columbines.”

Not only do columbines come in an array of eye-catching colors that blend beautifully with peonies, but they’re highly adept at self-sowing and are some of the best plants for attracting hummingbirds.

Lily of the Valley

Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Peonies have a relatively tall form, which can allow weeds to potentially creep into your garden. Growing peonies with groundcovers like lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) can make peonies easier to maintain and while accentuating their look.

“Lily of the valley is the perfect groundcover for peonies,” Gagan says. “It blooms just before peonies, adds garden fragrance, the flowers are coveted, and the thick cover of leaves suppresses weeds.”

Virginia Bluebells

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Another spring-time bloomer, Virgina bluebells (Mertensia virginica) produce color-changing flowers that shift from pink to blue as the plants mature. They’re another one of Laura Kubes’ favorite peony companion plants.

“Virginia bluebells create the perfect balance beside large, luxurious peony flowers,” Kubes says. “And together, these plants produce a maximum visual impact after a long winter.”

Delphinium

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Peony flowers typically fade by midsummer, which can leave gardens looking a bit bare. To counteract this, Kubes recommends growing peonies with plants that flower later in the season, like delphiniums (Delphinium spp.).

“Their tall spires of flowers extend garden color and texture well into summer,” Kubes says.

Russian Sage

Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) also blooms later than peonies and is another plant Kubes recommends for extending the flowering season.

These plants have soft, grayish-green leaves and purple flowers, which give gardens a hazy, dreamy quality. They also grow up to 5-feet tall and are naturally deer resistant—they’ll provide a solid backdrop for lower-growing peonies while deterring deer from nibbling on your other garden plants.

Hardy Geraniums

Credit: The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) are perennial plants that can survive winters in zones 3 and up and complement the look of peonies in any type of garden.

“I tend to choose companions that not only look beautiful together but also help the garden feel full and flowering through the entire season,” Groppe says. “[Hardy geraniums] look wonderful tucked around peonies because they soften the base of peony plants, help shade the soil, crowd out weeds, and continue looking attractive long after the peony flowers fade.”

Ornamental Alliums

Credit: The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Growing peonies with ornamental alliums (Allium spp.) can extend the bloom season and reduce peony pests.

“Summer- and fall-blooming alliums add another layer of contrast with their sculptural blooms,” Kubes says. “They help gardens remain dynamic and full of interest long after peonies have stopped flowering.”

Virginia Anemone

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Kubes offers one final companion plant that she loves growing with peonies: the Virginia anemone.

“Their airy texture and smaller blooms bring movement and grace to gardens,” she says.

These plants are typically grown from seeds, rather than corms like other garden anemones, which makes them easier and more affordable to grow.

They’re also hardy down to zone 3, so gardeners in even the chilliest regions can enjoy the beauty and easy-care vibe of these peony companions.

Read the original article on The Spruce