GARDENS BY THE BAY
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.
To see if a particular plant is on this page press Ctrl+F, type in the name, then click the Find button.
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
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
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
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
Crocus: yellow early-blooming
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
Crocus: white forms
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
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
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
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'
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
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
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.
All of our own Gardens By The Bay pages can be accessed by clicking on the links below.
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PLANT PARTNERSHIPS
BLUE PERENNIALS Aconitum -
Geranium |
Iris - Vinca
BULBS Allium - Hyacinthus |
Narcissus only |
Tulipa only |
Minor Bulbs
BUTTERFLY MAGNETS Anaphalis - Hemerocallis |
Liatris - Veronicastrum
 DAYLILIES Spider & Unusual Form
EDGERS Arabis - Iris |
Nepeta - Veronica
FOLIAGE PERENNIALS
Alchemilla - Tanacetum
HOSTA Hosta - all
HUMMINGBIRD-FRIENDLY PERENNIALS Alcea - Salvia
ORANGE PERENNIALS Achillea - Tulipa
ORNAMENTAL GRASSES Acorus - Imperata |
Miscanthus - Spodiopogon
PINK PERENNIALS Achillea - Lilium |
Lychnis - Veronica
PURPLE PERENNIALS Aconitum - Liatris |
Polemonium - Veronica
RED PERENNIALS Achillea - Veronica
SHADE PERENNIALS Aegopodium - Erythronium |
Ferns - Polemonium |
Polygonatum - Vinca
SILVER FOLIAGE PERENNIALS
Achillea - Cerastium
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Cornus - Limonium
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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
PLANT PROFILES
Dianthus 'Tiny Rubies' |
Geranium |
Geum coccineum |
Kerria japonica |
Knautia macedonica
Paeonia tenuifolia |
Papaver somniferum |
Rudbeckia |
Salvia 'East Friesland'
Trollius |
Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'
PROPAGATION
DIVISION - SPRING ONLY |
DIVISION - FALL ONLY |
DIVISION - SPRING OR FALL |
DO NOT DIVIDE
FERTILIZATION
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PERENNIALS |
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