What to Plant Around Peonies

Peonies, with their lush, vibrant blooms, are a stunning addition to any garden. But what can you plant around peonies to complement their beauty and create a harmonious landscape? Let's explore some excellent companion plants that will enhance the appearance and health of your peony beds.

When selecting plants to pair with peonies, consider factors like height, bloom time, color, and growth habits. This will help you create a balanced, visually appealing garden that showcases the best of each plant. Let's dive into some fantastic combinations.

Annuals and Perennials for Color and Contrast

Annuals and perennials can add a burst of color and texture to your peony beds. Choose plants that complement or contrast with the peonies' color palette to create a striking display.

For instance, planting bright, bold annuals like marigolds, zinnia, or petunias around peonies can create a stunning contrast. Their vibrant hues will make the peonies' soft, romantic blooms stand out even more. On the other hand, pastel-colored perennials like lavender, catmint, or salvia can create a harmonious, calming effect when planted alongside peonies.

Early Bloomers

Planting early-blooming flowers around peonies ensures that your garden is in full bloom from spring to fall. Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths are excellent choices for adding color and interest to your peony beds before the peonies start to bloom.

Consider planting these early bloomers in front of or between your peony plants. As they die back, the peonies will take center stage, creating a seamless transition from one blooming season to the next.

Late Bloomers

To extend the blooming season of your peony beds, incorporate late-blooming plants that will take over once the peonies have finished. Asters, black-eyed Susans, and coneflowers are excellent choices for adding late-season color and attracting pollinators to your garden.

Plant these late bloomers in and around your peony plants, allowing their roots to intermingle and create a dense, healthy planting area. This will also help to suppress weeds and retain moisture in the soil.

Grasses and Foliage Plants for Texture and Height

Grasses and foliage plants can add texture, height, and structure to your peony beds. They also help to soften the edges of your planting areas and create a more natural, cohesive look.

Ornamental grasses like Karl Foerster feather reed grass or Switchgrass 'Heavy Metal' can add height and movement to your garden. Their upright growth habit and architectural foliage make them excellent companions for peonies. Foliage plants like hostas, heuchera, and coral bells can add interest and texture to your peony beds, especially when the peonies are not in bloom.

Evergreens for Year-Round Interest

Incorporating evergreens into your peony beds ensures that your garden remains attractive throughout the year. Evergreens like boxwood, holly, or juniper can be used to create low hedges or borders around your peony plants, providing structure and definition to your garden.

Evergreens also help to protect your peony plants from harsh winter winds and provide a backdrop for the peonies' stunning blooms in the spring and summer. Additionally, evergreens can help to retain moisture in the soil, benefiting both the evergreens and your peony plants.

Vines and Climbers for Vertical Interest

Vines and climbers can add vertical interest to your peony beds and help to maximize your garden's space. Plant vines like clematis, climbing roses, or wisteria near a trellis, arbor, or fence, and allow them to grow up and around your peony plants.

Choose vines that bloom at different times than your peonies to ensure continuous color and interest throughout the growing season. Additionally, vines can provide much-needed shade for your peony plants, protecting them from intense sunlight and helping to retain moisture in the soil.

Incorporating a variety of plants into your peony beds can create a beautiful, dynamic garden that showcases the best of each plant. By considering factors like color, bloom time, and growth habits, you can design a garden that is both visually appealing and ecologically sound. So go ahead, experiment with different combinations, and create a peony garden that is uniquely yours.