Lilies bring beauty and elegance to any garden with their diverse forms and vibrant colors. Thoughtful companion planting enhances their display, creating a more dynamic and visually appealing landscape. Combining lilies with other flowers extends the blooming season and introduces varied textures and heights, making the garden captivating.
Factors to Consider When Pairing Flowers with Lilies
Successful companion planting with lilies aligns their environmental needs with those of their neighbors. Most lilies thrive in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, though some varieties tolerate partial shade. Companion plants should share this preference for optimal growth.
Soil requirements are important; lilies prefer moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. While lilies prefer consistent moisture, they are susceptible to rot in soggy conditions, so choose companions with similar moderate to light water needs. Coordinating bloom times allows for continuous visual interest, with early, mid, and late-season bloomers for continuous color. Consider plant height to prevent taller companions from overshadowing lilies, while shorter plants can provide ground cover and keep lily roots cool.
Complementary Flowers for Lilies
Selecting companion plants enhances a lily bed’s visual appeal. Various plant types offer distinct benefits.
Foliage Plants
Hostas, with their broad leaves, contrast with slender lily stems and help keep the soil cool. Ferns, especially Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina), offer a soft, green texture that highlights bold lily blooms. Heuchera, or coral bells, introduces varied leaf colors, adding depth and interest year-round.
Spire-forming Flowers
Delphiniums provide tall spires of blue, purple, or white flowers that complement lilies. Foxgloves (Digitalis) offer elegant, bell-shaped blooms on tall stalks, creating a cottage garden feel. Gladiolus, with sword-like foliage and towering flower spikes, provide a strong vertical element.
Filler Flowers
Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) offers clusters of fragrant flowers in mid-to-late summer, bridging bloom gaps and adding volume. Coneflowers (Echinacea) provide sturdy, daisy-like blooms that attract pollinators. Astilbe, with its feathery plumes, adds fine texture and color in shaded or partially shaded areas, suitable for some lily varieties.
Groundcovers/Edging Plants
Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) creates a carpet of early spring color, while sedum offers succulent foliage and late-season blooms. Impatiens provide continuous color in shadier spots, complementing lilies that tolerate some shade. Shallow-rooted annuals like Cosmos, Dianthus, and dwarf Snapdragons also make good companions, providing color without competing for root space.
Creating Harmonious Lily Combinations
Thoughtful design principles create cohesive lily displays. Color theory plays a role; complementary colors, such as orange lilies with blue delphiniums, create vibrant contrasts. Analogous palettes, using colors next to each other on the color wheel, foster harmony. Monochromatic schemes, using different shades of a single color, produce a sophisticated and calming effect.
Texture contrast adds visual intrigue; pair fine-textured plants like ornamental grasses with broad leaves of hostas or lily petals. Combine various plant forms, such as spiky liatris, mounding phlox, and trumpet-shaped lilies, to prevent the garden from appearing flat. Layer plants by height, with shorter plants in the foreground and taller ones in the back, to create depth. Repetition of certain plants or colors throughout the bed provides visual rhythm and unity.
Maintaining Your Mixed Lily Beds
Maintenance ensures a healthy lily bed. Watering should consider all plants’ needs; lilies prefer consistent moisture but good drainage, so supplemental watering during dry spells is important. Fertilize with a balanced granular fertilizer as bulbs sprout, or side-dress with compost.
Monitor for common pests and diseases, addressing them promptly to prevent spread. Deadhead spent lily blooms to redirect energy to the bulb for future growth. Pruning companion plants helps maintain their shape and prevents overcrowding. Divide dense lily clumps in fall or spring to rejuvenate growth and improve air circulation.