GARDENS BY THE BAY

Allium aflatunense

BULBS & THEIR COMPANIONS - 1

Spring-blooming bulbs are a wonderful way to start the gardening season with a burst of colour after a long cold winter. However, bulbs do go through an ugly stage after they produce their wonderful show. It is necessary to allow bulb foliage to yellow completely to put energy back into the bulbs for the next year's bloom.

There is no better way to hide the inevitable than with perennials that are beginning to produce their own lush foliage at the time the bulb foliage is in decline. For plants to serve this purpose, or to add an additional element of their own to your gardens, check out the recommendations of gardening experts given below. They've tried these combinations themselves and know that they work.


* Watch for the animated hummingbird and butterfly with the plants that attract them. *
The deer icon indicates plants that deer are not usually attracted to.

The best time and method to propagate plants can be found on our image-intensive PROPAGATION page.

To help your plants grow their best, check out our FERTILIZATION page.

To create your own plant partnerships based on tried and true color theory, check out our GARDEN COLOR page.

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ALLIUM

Members of the Ornamental Onion clan all seem to produce numerous small star- or bell-shaped flowers in clusters on hollow stems. The clusters can be as small as 1 inch or as large as 5 inches across. Foliage is onion-scented as one might expect and usually dies back right before or after flowering occurs, so co-planting with another perennial that will fill the bare spaces at the base of their stems is recommended. You are sure to find many suitable companionship ideas below.

Allium:  early types

    with:  Iris x germanica (intermediate types) & Tulipa (early)
Allium:  Ornamental Onion, Flowering Onion, blue forms Allium:  lavender-flowered
    with:  Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea 'Rose Glow'
Allium:  spring & early summer blooming types
    with:  plants that will hide their yellowing foliage but set off their flowers
      interspersed with:  clumps of low-growing perennials & shrubs
    Allium 'Globemaster':  purple/violet/rich lilac-purple
      planting depth:  8"
        with:  early white Astilbe
      Allium aflatunense:  Persian Onion
        Allium aflatunense
        note:  this lovely bulb can be seen in the border around this page, at the top of the page and directly above
          with:  Geranium spp, Monarda spp, Achillea, Ornamental Grasses
            behind:  yellow Intermediate Iris x germanica, Hosta (esp. waxy blue-leaved forms)
          Allium caeruleum:  Blue Garlic Allium christophii:  Star of Persia, light lilac
            Allium christophii - Star of Persia
            formerly:  Allium albopilosum
              where:  front of border, under a groundcover
                with:  shrubs
                  behind:  Geranium
                    under:  Sedum 'Ruby Glow'
                      in front of:  old roses
                        with:  Salvia 'East Friesland' & Nepeta (Siberian catmint)
                      Allium giganteum:  Giant Flowering Onion
                        note:  subject to fungal disease with clay soil and early summer wetness - Christopher Lloyd
                          with:  mounded plants (see A. aflatunense) i.e. Geranium, Monarda, Achillea, Ornamental Grasses
                        Allium moly:  Golden Garlic, Lily Leek
                          with:  Campanula persicifolia, Veronica latifolia 'Crater Lake Blue'
                        Allium schoenoprasum:  Common Chives, light mauve
                          with:  mounded forms of Geranium spp, Monarda, Achillea
                            with:  Thymus, Dianthus, Salvia, Lavandula, Santolina
                          Allium senescens:  German Garlic, rosy-purple
                            note:  highly attractive to butterflies
                              with silver-foliaged plants :  Artemisia, Dianthus
                                with strong-coloured plants:  Monarda
                              Allium sphaerocephalum:  Drumstick Chives, Round-Headed Garlic, purple-red, 20"
                                with:  Lilium Aurelian Hybrids (Trumpet Lily)
                                  against:  salmon-pink Hemerocallis, pink Old Roses
                                Allium tanguticum 'Summer Beauty':  Globe Lily, dusky violet-blue
                                  combined with:  Echinacea purpurea 'Bright Star', mauve Hemerocallis 'Little Grapette' &
                                    Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'
                                Allium tuberosum:  Chinese Chives, Garlic Chives If the above forms of Allium aren't enough choices for you, check out more forms and information about their care and planting at the links below.

                              • blue Alliums
                              • white Alliums

                              • CROCUS

                                One of the first spring-blooming bulbs to set a gardener's heart racing at the prospect of the growing season to come is the crocus. From the earliest form, Crocus ancyrensis, to the last, Crocus vernus, we welcome and enjoy the wonderful colour range offered by this genus. With a somewhat different appearance, there are even some for fall enjoyment as well.

                                The companion plants you choose for your crocuses will depend on the time that a specific type of crocus blooms. To help you make appropriate choices, crocus forms in order of appearance are as follows.

                              • Crocus ancyrensis:  Golden Bunch Crocus, 2" orange, plant in masses for effect
                              • Crocus sieberi:  cool lilac-blue
                              • Crocus chrysanthus:  Snow Crocus
                              • Crocus tomasinianus:  clear blue
                              • Crocus susianus 'Cloth of Gold'
                              • Crocus vernus:  Dutch Hybrid Crocus
                              • Crocus:  unspecified types

                                  Crocus - an unidentified purple form
                                  the unidentified purple form above blooms at the same time as 'Striped Beauty' seen below on this page
                                    with:  Omphalodes
                                      to co-bloom with:  Eranthis hyemalis, Narcissus 'Hawera'
                                        to be followed by:  Dicentra spectabilis
                                          under:  Campanula portenschlagiana, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Gypsophila repens 'Rosea'
                                            under:  Platycodon grandiflorus (to mark the Balloonflower's spot until its late emergence)
                                              growing up through foliage of:  Stachys byzantina
                                                among:  Anemone blanda, Heuchera sanguinea
                                                  under:  Alchemilla mollis, Thymus spp., Veronica incana, Veronica spicata 'Blue Spires'
                                                Crocus:  small types
                                                  under:  Ajuga reptans, Asarum canadense, Campanula carpatica 'Blue Clips'
                                                Crocus:  species types
                                                  under:  Veronica repens
                                                Crocus:  yellow early-blooming
                                                  with:  Iris reticulata
                                                Crocus:  early spring species i.e. Crocus chrysanthus, Crocus vernus
                                                  where:  ground-cover beds
                                                    under:  Campanula portenschlagiana, Pulsatilla vulgaris
                                                      with:  Helleborus spp, Euphorbia epithymoides, Bergenia spp, wildflowers, other bulbs
                                                    Crocus:  yellow forms
                                                      with:  Iris reticulata
                                                    Crocus:  white forms
                                                      under:  Vinca minor
                                                    Crocus:  yellow and white in drifts
                                                      with:  Chionodoxa de luciliae (blue)
                                                    Crocus chrysanthus:  Snow Crocus
                                                      with:  Crocus tomasinianus 'Ruby Giant'
                                                        under:  Campanula portenschlagiana
                                                      Crocus chrysanthus 'Blue Pearl':  delicate blue Species Crocus
                                                        do not put with:  shrill colours
                                                      Crocus goulimyi:  lavender-blue, August bloom
                                                        with:  Ajuga 'Burgundy Glow', Cyclamen hederifolium
                                                      Crocus speciosus:  lavender, 4" fall-blooming
                                                        where:  for naturalizing
                                                      Crocus vernus 'Joan of Arc':  white
                                                        with:  Dianthus (dwarf Alpine & Maiden Pinks)
                                                          to co-bloom with:  Narcissus 'Hawera'
                                                        Crocus 'Largest Yellow'
                                                          with:  Dianthus (dwarf Alpine & Maiden Pinks)
                                                        Crocus tomasinianus:  clear blue
                                                          Crocus tomasinianus'
                                                          if you haven't tried "Tommies" yet, be sure to plant some in fall for a very early showing the following spring
                                                            with:  red-leaved Sedum album
                                                          Crocus tomasinianus 'Ruby Giant':  burgundy species crocus
                                                            with:  Crocus chrysanthus
                                                          Crocus vernus:  Dutch Crocus, 4-6"
                                                            to bloom before:  Galanthus nivalis
                                                          Crocus vernus 'Peter Pan':  pure white hybrid crocus
                                                            with:  Crocus vernus 'Purpurea Grandiflora'
                                                          Crocus vernus 'Pickwick':  silver-lilac hybrid crocus
                                                            with:  Crocus vernus 'Purpurea Grandiflora'
                                                          Crocus vernus 'Purpurea Grandiflora':  purple hybrid crocus
                                                            with:  Crocus vernus 'Pickwick', Crocus vernus 'Peter Pan'
                                                          Crocus vernus 'Remembrance':  violet with a silver gloss
                                                            to co-bloom with:  Galanthus nivalis
                                                          Crocus:  fall blooming species crocus
                                                            among:  foliage plants i.e. ferns (for late colour)
                                                          Crocus:  purple & lavender-striped
                                                            underplanting for:  double white Arabis caucasica
                                                          Crocus 'Striped Beauty'
                                                            Crocus 'Striped Beauty'
                                                            with other bulbs:  Eranthis hyemalis, Galanthus, other Crocus forms
                                                              with:  Azalea, Rhododendron (esp. white and pink cultivars)
                                                            More information on growing various Crocus forms can be found at the link below.

                                                          • yellow Crocus

                                                          • HYACINTHUS

                                                            The intensely fragrant hyacinth has been around forever, it seems, but it appears less and less often in gardens we visit and even those we plant ourselves. The bulbs are somewhat costlier than many others but they certainly give you more than enough "bang for your buck". Try them for yourself and see if you aren't thrilled with their appearance come spring.

                                                            Hyacinthus:  Hyacinth

                                                              Hyacinthus - Hyacinth
                                                              with:  Aubrieta, Myosotis, early-flowering pansies in mixed colours
                                                                beside:  Paeonia, Hypericum kalmianum shrub
                                                              Hyacinthus:  pink & blue forms
                                                                with:  Narcissus (yellow & cream-coloured), Iberis sempervirens
                                                              Hyacinthus:   blue forms
                                                                with:  pink Arabis caucasica ‘Compinkie’
                                                              Hyacinthus:  dark blue forms
                                                                for a blue echo with:  Myosotis (lighter blue)
                                                              Hyacinthus:  white
                                                                for an all-white picture with:  white Arabis caucasica, white Phlox subulata
                                                              Hyacinthus 'Chestnut Flower':  double white pink-striped Hyacinth
                                                                with:  Hyacinthus 'Purple Dream'
                                                              Hyacinthus 'Crystal Palace':  pale blue double-flowered Hyacinth
                                                                with:  Hyacinthus 'Ben Nevis'
                                                              Hyacinthus 'Hollyhock':  deep pink compact Hyacinth
                                                                with:  Anemone blanda 'White Splendor'
                                                              Hyacinthus 'Purple Dream':  reddish-purple Hyacinth
                                                                with:  blue and white Anemone blanda
                                                              Hyacinthus:  Multiflowered Hyacinth
                                                                with:  early Narcissus
                                                              Hyacinthus 'Delft Blue':  Multiflowered Hyacinth
                                                                with:  pink or white shades
                                                              Hyacinthus orientalis 'Odysseus'
                                                                with:  Narcissus 'Hawera' (a miniature Triandrus hybrid)
                                                              Check out additional information about the Hyacinth at the link below and be sure to add this bulb to your gardens soon in any of its many forms.

                                                            • pink Hyacinths

                                                            • FOR MORE BULBS & THEIR COMPANIONS, FOLLOW THE LINKS BELOW.


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                                                              RED PERENNIALS    Achillea - Veronica

                                                              SHADE PERENNIALS    Aegopodium - Erythronium  |  Ferns - Polemonium  |  Polygonatum - Vinca

                                                              SILVER FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Cerastium    |    Cornus - Limonium    |    Lunaria - Veronica

                                                              SIMPLY SPECIAL PERENNIALS    Acanthus - Saxifraga

                                                              WHITE PERENNIALS    Achillea - Iris  |  Kalimeris - Yucca

                                                              YELLOW PERENNIALS    Achillea - Hypericum  |  Inula - Verbascum

                                                              VARIEGATED-FOLIAGE PERENNIALS    Acorus - Erythronium  |  Hakonechloa - Lysimachia  |  Miscanthus - Yucca

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