Choose from colour descriptions ranging from soft and delicate to harsh and bright, from rose-pink to lavender- or lilac- , even orchid-pink, from cool blue-pink to hot-pink and every shade in between.

Of course, personal preference will have a lot to do with which pink shades you choose to add to your beds and borders. Whatever the tone, there are many plant partnerships to choose from below that have been tried by the experts and found to be pleasing to the eye. What better recommendation could there be?

* 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.

LYCHNIS

Commonly called Campion or Catchfly, this self-seeding perennial for sun or light shade is available in a variety of colours, including orange, red, rose-pink and white. Foliage is usually a silvery-gray which helps to tone down the effects of some of the brighter-coloured forms.

Lychnis coronaria 'Angel Blush':  delicate soft pink and white

echo with:  bright pink Phlox amoena or Spiraea japonica 'Alpina'
echo with:  Lythrum salicaria (magenta)
echo with:  Rosa 'Cardinal de Richelieu' (deep pink old-fashioned) or 'William Lobb', or English Rosa 'Othello'

edger in front of:  Paeonia 'Mahogany' (crimson single)

seen above with:  a purple short-spurred Aquilegia

LYTHRUM

Few gardeners grow Purple Loosestrife these days, having heeded the warnings about how quickly they can take over wetland areas and crowd out valuable plant forms. If you continue to grow them, keep them deadheaded so seeds cannot form and contribute to their invasive spread beyond the bounds of your gardens.

Lythrum:  Loosestrife

combined with:  Achillea x 'Coronation Gold', Lavandula, Lilium, Nepeta x faassenii, Salvia & Veronica
combined with:  Lilium martagon (lemon-yellow), Gypsophila paniculata & Stachys byzantina

beside:  Helenium 'Gold Fox'

with:  Iris, Paeonia, Phlox paniculata, Hemerocallis, Heliopsis, Veronica 'Sunny Border Blue'
with:  Papaver, Ornamental Grasses
in shadier spots with:  Hosta, Astilbe. Iris sibirica
combined with:   Hemerocallis 'Perennial Pleasure' & Hemerocallis 'Prairie Blue Eyes'

MALVA

The blooms of Mallow look like dainty saucer-shaped hollyhock flowers. Best in full sun, this short-lived perennial will often self-seed. Colour choices are usually pink and white.

Malva alcea:  Hollyhock Mallow, pink

with:  Phlox paniculata, Achillea, Liatris, Artemisia, Artemisia versicolor
with:  garden mums (now called Dendranthema)
behind:  Dianthus

with:  Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

with:  antique Rosa
with:  Dianthus caesius (D. gratianopolitanus) or Dianthus plumarius
echo behind:  Stachys byzantina

echo behind:  Stachys byzantina

with:  Pennisetum setaceum 'Rubrum'

MONARDA

Bee Balm has fragrant foliage and somewhat shaggy-looking two-lipped flowers which are appealing to hummingbirds. Give them full sun to very light shade in moist soil and they will reward you with a long bloom period, which can be made even longer by regular dead-heading.

Monarda:  pink cultivars

for partnership ideas follow the link to Butterfly Magnets & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Butterfly Magnets & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Butterfly Magnets & Their Companions - 2

OENOTHERA

Sundrops - the name alone can strike fear in the hearts of many a gardener, familiar with their fast-spreading habit. If you still want this plant in your garden in spite of its reputation, try the pink forms below.

Oenothera speciosa:  pink

to intertwine with:  the equally aggressive Cerastium tomentosum
with:  Nepeta x faassenii, Iris

with:  Lavandula, Salvia, Nepeta x faassenii

PAEONIA

The Peony is a long-lived perennial, available in nearly every colour imaginable. The foliage is nearly as attractive as the flowers that appear in spring and deserves to take centre stage once the bloom is over. Be kind to your peonies and make sure you remove spent flowers - even removing those in full bloom for arrangements in your home if heavy rain is predicted, since the weight of the water on the heavy clusters will pull them to the ground anyway.

Paeonia lactiflora:  pink

echo with:  Kolkwitzia amabilis
in front of:  Anchusa azurea (Anchusa italica), Eremurus (white)
with:  Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'
with:  Geranium sanguineum 'Album', Salvia 'Miss Indigo' (an intense violet-blue only marginally hardy)
in front of:  Thalictrum aquilegifolium (3 white)
behind:  Geranium spp. (white forms), Geranium striatum (pink)
beside:  Iris sibirica (blue, white or violet)
near:  Hemerocallis & Echinacea purpurea
with:  Filipendula hexapetalus
with other perennials in front of:  Rosa rubrifolia (a shrub whose foliage has washes of purple, blue & gray)
with other perennials in front of:  Rosa rugosa 'Jens Munk' (double pink)

with:  Achillea 'Moonshine'

offset in front of:  Thalictrum aquilegifolium

synonym:  'Village of Cherry Pine'
behind:  violet Iris sibirica 'Ruffled Velvet'

PAPAVER

Everyone is familiar with the papery petals of plants in the Poppy family. Whether you like the early-blooming Oriental Poppies or the later-blooming Opium Poppies you can't go too far wrong.

Papaver orientale:  coral-pink

this lovely light-coloured form is a colour echo of the gorgeous co-blooming Iris x germanica 'Beverly Sills' on its right
seen near one another from a distance these two seem to shout out "Look at us. Look at us."

Papaver orientale:  salmon-pink

this lovely form can be seen in the border around this page and in the image at the top
generally with:  gray-leaved plants
behind:  silvery Artemisia
with:  Artemisia 'Lambrook Silver', Stachys byzantina

with:  Iris sibirica 'Ruffled Velvet', deep blue perennial Salvia

PENSTEMON

Beard-tongue and Penstemon are both common names for this sun-loving perennial. Most forms prefer well-drained soil and as a group these perennials should be in more common usage than is currently the case, as there are many lovely forms available in a variety of colours.

Propagation by division is easy, although starting from seed is another method to try. For instructions on starting dozens of species within this genus from seed follow the link to Tom Clothier's Seed Germination Methodology page.

Penstemon barbatus 'Elfin Pink':  clear pink, 12-18"

with:  Penstemon barbatus 'Prairie Dusk'

the white flowers and red stems of this cultivar are seen above with:  a purple Digitalis
what:  University of Nebraska selection, 1996 PPA Perennial Plant of the Year
where:  mass-planted
with:  Geranium, Tradescantia, Achillea, Oenothera, Stachys, Yucca, Ornamental Grasses
combined with:  Salvia 'May Night' & Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam' in front of Iris sibirica

PERSICARIA

You may know this creeping plant as Snakeweed or Knotweed. It was once known botanically as Polygonum. It produces showy spikes of pink petal-less flowers over semi-evergreen foliage in either sun or partial shade.

Persicaria affinis 'Border Jewel':  Knotweed, Snakeweed, Himalayan Fleeceflower

formerly called:  Polygonum affine 'Border Jewel'
uses:  excellent ground cover, good for garden edges
starts out pale pink as above, deeping through many shades toward rust red over a long bloom period

with:  Iris, Astilbe, Hosta, ferns, Ornamental Grasses

PHLOX

There are many phlox forms, from tall to ground-hugging edgers, from sun-lovers to shade-dwellers, from spring to mid-summer bloomers - whatever you choose will provide you with masses of five-petalled flowers in a wealth of colours and tones. If the colour pink is your preference, try any of the forms listed below.

Phlox paniculata:  rose-coloured forms

with:  Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly', 'Blue Elf' or 'Blue Mirror' & Monarda (pink)

for partnership ideas follow the link to Edgers & Their Companions - 2

for partnership ideas follow the link to Edgers & Their Companions - 2

with:  pink-white Tulipa 'New Design' with white-edged foliage
the two above plants in front:  co-blooming Cornus florida
the above three plants near:   a white-striped Yucca

PHYSOSTEGIA

Obedient Plant is a great choice for late summer bloom. And if you have the time to move any of its florets to a new position, that's where they will stay -hence the name.

Physostegia virginiana 'Pink Bouquet' or 'Rose Bouquet'

generally with:  late-summer perennials
with:  Boltonia asteroides, Phlox paniculata, Thalictrum, Eupatorium, Solidago, Helianthus, Ornamental Grasses

in front of:  Miscanthus sinensis 'Silberfeder' & Aronia (shrub turns brilliant red in fall)

with:  Boltonia asteroides 'Snowbank'

PLATYCODON

Free-flowering Balloon Flower is one of the best summer perennials, with blue-green, glossy foliage. Always handle carefully as its long, fleshy roots can be damaged easily. It can be planted in spring or early fall. Be sure to add lots of organic matter at planting time so plants will be content in their position for many years.

Balloon Flower can be propagated by seed. Either sow in fall into pots in a protected location outdoors OR sow indoors in winter. Germinate at 60-70 deg. F. Seedlings may take 2 years to bloom. Plants may even self sow in your beds. When this happens it is easy to move a seedling elsewhere to avoid having to divide an established plant with the risks inherent in that process.

Unfortunately, to my mind at least, the pink of these Balloon Flower forms is very pale. I'd much prefer a rich, robust pink hue myself. If you know of one, I'd love to hear about it.

Platycodon grandiflorus 'Astra Pink':  light pink, 8-10"x6-8"

uses:  cut flowers, containers, borders
with: Gypsophila paniculata, Lavandula angustifolia, Dianthus, Leucanthemum superbum

with:  Gypsophila paniculata, Lavandula angustifolia, Phlox paniculata, Dianthus deltoides

bloom time:  late May to August
behind:  Cerastium tomentosum

If the above forms aren't enough and you're wanting to know more, try the following links.

POLYGONUM

Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate adds a touch of the exotic to the late summer garden. Able to reach as high as 8 feet, this self-seeding annual also known as Prince's Feather has olive green leaves and graceful, arching sprays of bright flowers, usually pink, rose or deep ruby-coloured.

Polygonum orientale:  Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate

with:  Dianthus barbatus (Sweet William), pansies, Gypsophila paniculata
for bright contrast among:  soft yellow or cream-coloured Calendula or Delphinium

PULMONARIA

A wonderful choice for shaded areas in the garden, Lungwort will provide interest in every season - from the spring flowers to the season-long attractive appearance of its variegated foliage.

Pulmonaria saccharata 'Mrs. Moon':  pink-blue Bethlehem Sage, 12"

where:  shady sites
under:  Dicentra, spring bulbs i.e. Narcissus, flowering trees & shrubs
with:  ferns, white Tulipa, Muscari, Lychnis coronaria 'Alba', Helleborus, Anemone;
combined with:  Primula vulgaris & white Narcissus 'Thalia'

SAPONARIA

Soapwort is a useful perennial for sun to very light shade where it will quickly cover a sizeable area of ground and cover itself with masses of small flowers starting in mid-spring. Plant it in rich, moist, humusy soil for best performance.

Saponaria ocymoides:  Rock Soapwort

where:  along walks, edging beds, front border position, rock gardens
with:  Artemisia, Achillea, Hemerocallis, Veronica spp, Sedum, Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam'

SCABIOSA

Pincushion Flower with its rounded flower heads and prominent stamens does indeed look like a pincushion. It prefers neutral to slightly alkaline soil and blooms over a long period if kept deadheaded.

Scabiosa columbaria 'Pink Mist':  lavender-pink

with:  Scabiosa 'Butterfly Blue', Lavandula, Festuca 'Elijah Blue'
with:  Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina' or 'Laurence Flatman'
near:  mauve creeping thyme, Viola labridorica, Saxifraga (white) & a small version of Saxifraga 'London Pride'
in front of:  Thalictrum 'Thundercloud'

SIDALCEA

Checker Mallow has long been one of my favourite perennials, with its hollyhock-like small flowers. Happy in full sun and well-drained soil, it often seeds around the mother plant, but never invasively. This is one you'll be delighted to have extras of in your own garden or to provide to friends.

Sidalcea malviflora 'Mr. Lindbergh':  rosy-pink

with:  Eryngium, blue Campanula, Achillea, Gypsophila paniculata, Echinacea purpurea, Ornamental Grasses
amid:  silvery foliage plants

with:  Perovskia atriplicifolia, white Phlox paniculata, pink Oenothera

SILENE

There are many forms of this plant, commonly known as Campion or Catchfly, both annuals and perennials. Strangely enough, I haven't found many references providing suitable companions for this group.

Silene schafta:  Moss Campion, Catchfly, Schafta Pink, rose-pink

where:  edger, rock gardens, spilling over rocks
with:  other low perennials, small Ornamental Grasses

THALICTRUM

The foliage of Meadow Rue is usually blue-green and lobed. Flowers vary from one form to another but are always attractive. Give them full sun as long as moisture is adequate, otherwise a bit of shade is appreciated.

Thalictrum aquilegifolium:  lilac-pink

at base of:  Acer palmatum (a dark-red-leaved form) for striking contrast

THYMUS

Whether grown for use as herbs in cooking, draping over a rock edge at the front of a garden, as a perennial groundcover or simply for the scent, Thyme will surely please in its many forms including the pink-flowered ones below.

Thymus doerfleri 'Bressingham':  greyish carpeting plant, pink flowers

where:  as groundcover, edger, walls

possible synonyms:  Thymus leucotrichus or Thymus nitidus
where:  in rock gardens, as edger

TRADESCANTIA

Spiderwort, occasionally referred to as Widow's Tears, with its saucer-shaped, three-petalled flowers, is happiest in at least a bit of shade. Dead-heading will promote continued bloom. Cut the entire plant back when it begins to look bedraggled to force new foliage to grow up that will provide a fresh new appearance.

Tradescantia:  an unnamed small-flowered magenta-coloured form

the colour magenta seems to be experiencing a resurgence in today's gardens, in blooms such as the one above

with:  Tradescantia x andersoniana 'Red Cloud'

VERBENA

There are a number of Verbena forms, some better known than others, and in a variety of colours. Some are tender. Others like the one below are fully hardy. Shear plants back after the first flush to encourage new bloom. Most like hot and dry locations.

Verbena canadensis:  Rose Verbena, rose-pink, 18-36", Zone 4

generally:  to tie mixed plantings together, as "weavers" among foliage plants, between flowering perennials,
front of border position
among:  Yucca, Artemisia, Verbascum, Ornamental Grasses
with:  Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Asclepias tuberosa, Achillea

VERONICA

There is surely something for everyone in this large group of perennials commonly called Speedwell. The pink forms below are only a few of this versatile family of plants.

Veronica dabneyi:  Pink Speedwell, pale pink, 6"x12"

where:  rock gardens, edger

with:  pale yellow dwarf Iris x germanica, Iberis, Aurinia
over:  late red Tulipa

generally with:  rounded plants
with:  Veronica longifolia 'Icicle' or Veronica spicata 'Blue Spires'
with:  Coreopsis, Asclepias tuberosa, Achillea, Geranium, Hemerocallis, Ornamental Grasses
in front of:  (double white) Chrysanthemum x superbum & Delphinium 'Summer Skies'
beside:  Gypsophila paniculata 'Rosy Veil' (pale pink)

echo with:  edging for gallica Rosa 'Rosa Mundi' (a fragrant antique with petals striped crimson, pink & white)

TO RETURN TO THE FIRST PAGE OF PINK PERENNIALS & THEIR COMPANIONS, FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW.

• Achillea to Lilium

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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    |    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

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

BULBS  |   ORNAMENTAL GRASSES  |   PERENNIALS  |   SHRUBS  |   VINES

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