Before focusing on color, form, or texture, choose plants that have the similar growing requirements in order to properly combine them in a bed, border, or container. After all, if the plants can’t thrive together, does it really matter whether they look wonderful together?
Suppose you adore gardenias—and who doesn’t?—but are at a loss for what to plant alongside them. Knowing that gardenias prefer acidic, moist, well-drained soil and full to part shade (as long as the full sun is in the morning, please) will allow you to fully enjoy the “pretties.”
- Trees: Look for foliage that contrasts with the gardenia’s foliage and blossoms in terms of color and texture; good examples include crepe myrtle, dogwood, and Japanese maple.
- Shrubs: Gardenias go well with flowering shrubs like camelias, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Due to its tiny leaves, clipped boxwood is a typical match, but don’t overlook the colorful foliage of the groundcover loropetalum (“Purple Pixie”) for an interesting contrast.
- Perennials: Hostas and ferns, as well as cast iron plant, Brunnera, toad lilies, and Solomon’s seal, make for traditional garden companions.
- Annuals: To enhance your gardenia display, look for bright annuals like impatiens, wax begonias, and blue torenia. Concerned about sensitive impatiens being exposed to the sun? You can proceed if you use types that prefer the sun.
- Either go for a gardenia shrub.
- Crown Jewel or a gardenia fashioned into a typical tree is ideal. Both choices are gorgeous, but the second offers additional planting options around the trunk’s base.
- Make sure your planter is big enough to fit the gardenia and other plants. It is possible to start with a young gardenia in a 3-gallon nursery pot, for instance, enjoy it there for a season, and then put it in the ground as it develops.
- To finish your planting, place any of the annuals suggested above around the base of the gardenia. However, search for extra plants, such English ivy or silver ponyfoot, to flow over the side. Another thought? With mondo grass in black, ring your gardenia. The combination of black and white is instantly attractive and easy to make.
Can you grow gardenias and lavender together?
With these plant combination ideas, you may emphasize the elegance of Southern Living Gardenias and lengthen the bloom season.
Gardenias, which are renowned for their alluring aroma and lush green foliage, are a mainstay in traditional Southern gardens. Gardenias have just been improved and released by Southern Living, bringing this cherished plant into the modern era. Southern Living Gardenias will enhance the beauty and charm of your garden, regardless of whether your gardening aesthetic is traditional elegance or modern-chic.
Vintage Beauties: Gardenias + Hydrangeas
Gardenias with white blossoms and deep green foliage, such as the double-blooming JubilationTM Gardenia or the daisy-shaped ScentAmazingTM Gardenia, are ideal for combining. Use vintage standards as planting companions to create a classic aesthetic. Any kind of hydrangeas, with their sizable, sculpted leaves and buoyant blooms, make excellent companions. Try planting White Wedding Hydrangea, with its pillowy white blooms borne aloft on robust stems, or TaraTM Hydrangea, a small oakleaf hydrangea, for a lovely white garden. A little smaller choice that will blossom blue in acidic soil is the Dear DoloresTM Hydrangea.
Cottage Chic: Gardenias + Camellias
Gardenia and camellia are both traditional partners, and the new, unusually vertical-growing Diamond Spire Gardenia is a gorgeous addition to Southern Living Camellias. As gardenia flower production is halted by cold temperatures in the fall, the bloom season of camellias extends into the winter. If you want to maintain the appearance of an all-white garden, consider a variety like October Magic BrideTM Camellia. The October Magic Pink PerplexionTM Camellia brings delicate pink blooms to the waning winter landscape for a splash of color that will uplift your spirits.
Color Complements: Gardenias + Perennials
The compact size of ScentAmazingTM Gardenia brings these beauties toward the center of a planting, where they can be accentuated by a vibrant ground layer of foliage or flowers, in this tiered plant arrangement around a cute garden shed or playhouse. The silvery-purple leaves of ‘Twilight’ Heucherella lends elegance and drama to the planter for a traditional appearance. This pair also functions effectively when contained.
A less common but equally effective gardenia companion plant is a floral ground cover. Plant a floral carpet of heat-loving blooms like the ‘Kudo Pink’ Scabiosa shown in the plan below; other great perennials include lantana, gerbera daisies or lavender.
Color Contrasts: Gardenias + Salvias
Try Southern Living Salvias with your gardenias for a combination that will appeal to both people and pollinators. SaucyTM Wine provides consistent color in a neat packaging with a small habit and outstanding blossom power. The blossoms enhance Southern Living Gardenias without detracting from the planting’s attractiveness. In order to avoid taking away from the gardenia’s star performance, use bright accessories judiciously.
Planting Tips
Pay great attention to each plant’s growing requirements while picking planting partners for gardenias. Pick plants that do well in similar amounts of light, water, and soil. Root competition is not tolerated by gardenia. Give gardenias and other shrubs plenty of room to grow, and choose groundcovers with shallow root systems.
What vegetation complements geraniums well?
The plants mentioned above are only a handful of the many that can be used with geraniums to create a lovely flower garden. Any of the following plants can be added to your geranium pot to make hanging baskets or a porch container garden:
- fern asparagus
- sage
- coleus (colorful leaves)
- the sweet potato vine
- impatiens
- flutter petunias
- spooky Jenny
- celosia
- ivy
- verbena
- angelonia
- patterned basil (strong scent)
- canna
- blue fog (beautiful blue flowers)
- spherical plants
Do geraniums benefit other plants in the garden?
Geraniums are beneficial to numerous other plants as well. Aphids and cabbage worms will be repelled by the aroma of a geranium plant. Deer and bunnies are supposedly discouraged from nibbling on your plants by their aroma. Geraniums are also used as a “trap plant” to stop Japanese beetles from consuming other plants. According to the theory, beetles are attracted to geraniums and avoid other plants, such as roses.
Will my geraniums last all winter?
Because they are often not cold-hardy, geraniums will perish when the first frost occurs. Geraniums can be brought indoors and will survive the winter if they are potted, though. Next spring, you can replant them outside to further enhance the attractiveness of your landscape.
How can I propagate my geraniums?
Geraniums can be grown from seeds, however stem cuttings are the most straightforward method. Simply cut the stem and leaves from the stem. Remove the stem from the leaves at the bottom and place it in a glass of water. After a few weeks, the new plant’s roots will start to appear, and you can pot it in a gentle potting soil. After it sprouts a few new stems, keep it moist until you can plant the young geranium in your garden.
Do geraniums prefer sun or shade?
Geraniums are sun-loving plants that require at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Geraniums can be grown in lower light levels, but they will become lanky as they attempt to reach more sunlight. Additionally, if the geranium does not receive enough sunlight, it will not flower as frequently.
What vegetables grow well with geraniums?
Geraniums can be grown alongside practically any vegetable. Since Japanese beetles are drawn to geraniums, the cucumbers and other garden vegetables will become infested with the beetles as a result. They will also keep aphids, potato beetles, and other pesky critters out of the garden.
What cannot be planted close to lavender?
Do not put these plants close to lavender:
- MintMint demands more soil moisture than lavender can withstand. Mint can be extremely invasive, as anyone who has ever cultivated it can attest. Avoid!
- Annuals & Perennials that Love the Shade
- Coleus, Hosta, Impatiens, Fuchsia, and Camellias are examples of plants and flowers that enjoy the shadow and are probably not the greatest companion plants for lavender. Do not use shade plants!
- dense bushes
- Another example of what not to plant with lavender is a shrub that needs a lot of space or one that spreads widely.
- Strong Growers
- Another option for what to avoid planting close to lavender is definitely plants that quickly reproduce themselves. Personally, I wouldn’t put my daffodil and other spring bulbs too near together.
Echinacea
Despite how beautiful they look next to one another, echinacea and lavender work well together.
They both flourish in environments that are extremely similar, growing best in USDA Zones 3 through 9. Echinaceas, sometimes referred to as cone flowers, require even less water than lavender and just as much sun. Your watering schedule won’t need to be drastically altered because they are thought to be more drought tolerant than their potential spouse.
Like lavender, echinacea needs well-draining soil in order to produce its purple flowers. If you choose to combine these throughout the summer, your garden will have a magnificent purple and lavender display.
Roses
Roses and lavender make a timeless and elegant combination. The best companion plants for lavender are shrub roses and floribunda rose types.
Depending on the type you select, roses thrive in the majority of environments (USDA Zone 211). Loamy, well-draining soil is ideal for rose bushes. The two plants should be separated by a wide distance because roses require more water than lavender, needing it at least twice each week.
Yarrow
A fantastic perennial to grow with lavender is yarrow. It’s interesting because it belongs to a class of tough plants that can survive in arid conditions.
Because it overgrows and spreads nearly uncontrolled when planted in nutrient-rich soils, this attractive plant is frequently regarded as a weed. This growth is easier to control in soil that drains properly and is sandier.
Yarrow requires full sun to grow, so planting it next to your lavender won’t be a problem. Additionally, the combination will work wonders for your garden’s color scheme. When yarrow blooms in the late summer, its tiny yellow blossoms will go well with lavender’s delicate purple hue.
Sedum
Consider upright sedum as a companion plant that will look fantastic with your lavenders (Stone Crop). You can’t go wrong combining your lavender with any of its colors, including red, white, and pink.
This border plant prefers sandy, rocky soil with excellent drainage, and it does best in direct sunlight. Sedum requires just as little maintenance as lavender and may be grown in USDA Zones 3 through 10. To maintain the soil just barely damp, it needs to be watered at least once every week.
Although it will tolerate little shade, full sun is necessary. Sedum is the ideal choice for any shaded area that needs to be filled around your lavender. When the lavender season is over, the spectacle in your garden is continued by the blooming of sedum flowers in the summer and fall.
Alliums
Alliums and lavender make a beautiful combination if landscaping is your passion. The tall allium bulbs contrast well with the brief purple blossoms. Another drought-tolerant plant that thrives in Zones 4 through 8 is this one.
Combining alliums and lavender can result in fascinating height variations along borders or in pots. You won’t have to worry about planting them in the same beds or containers because they only require full sun, little water, and sandy soil.
Where shouldn’t gardenias be planted?
- Acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0 is preferred by gardenias. Gardenias shouldn’t be planted close to concrete walls or foundations since the pH there can be too high for healthy growth.
- Nutrient-rich soil is preferred by gardenias. To promote your plant’s growth, amend the soil with lots of organic matter, such as manure or peat moss.
- Gardenias thrive in temperatures of 60-65F during the day and 65-70F (18-21C) at night (15-18C). If the Gardenia’s optimal temperature is not followed, flower buds won’t develop!
- To thrive, gardenias need a lot of dampness. Use a humidifier, place the plant on a tray of wet pebbles, or spritz it daily to add more moisture. Increased humidity is crucial in preventing the growth of spider mites, which prefer dry environments.
Sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Because of its potent perfume, marjoram (disambiguation) is sometimes grown beside gardenias to deter hazardous insects from coming near them when they are looking for a meal. Gardenia flower perfume is hidden by Sweet Marjoram’s aroma, which also deters pests that cause damage such scale insects and aphids.
Signet marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)
The single-flowered signet marigold has small, many blooms in red and yellow colors that cover its finely split, lace-like foliage.
This bushy annual has blossoms that will improve any landscape from the beginning of the summer until the first frost. These marigolds will not only contrast nicely with the gardenias, but they will also keep aphids away.
Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Gardenias’ rich green hues contrast beautifully with the hydrangeas’ big, sculptured leaves. Both plants encourage good pollinators to visit your yard.
Camellias (Camellia sasanqua)
Gardenias can benefit from camellias as companion plants since they produce longer flowers. Even if your gardenias aren’t in bloom, camellias will still bloom. These two plants can produce seasonally consistent blooming.
Gardenias and camellias can grow side by side without vying for nourishment. They complement each other beautifully and have extremely comparable nutritional and hydration needs.
Salvia (Salvia officinalis)
Your gardenias will look stunning in contrast to the purple, vertical blossoms of salvia. These plants make your garden more lively in the spring and summer by luring bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.
Heuchera
Heuchera and gardenias work perfectly together to produce a striking appearance in your environment. The silky gray leaves provide a refined appearance that complements gardenias in full bloom perfectly.
The gardenia’s pale green tint and the Twilight Heucherella’s dark foliage provide for a startling contrast that ups the drama. Since both plants do well in the same soil and water, you can also grow gardenias and Heucherella together in a container. You can plant them together without worrying about the light requirements because they both prefer partial shade.
Rhododendron (Rhododendron ferruginous)
Like gardenias, rhododendrons prefer moisture and are acidic plants. The pink flowers of a rhododendron look lovely against those beautiful white gardenia petals.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
The vibrant snapdragon is a lovely bedding plant that blooms for several months. They are distinguished by the big, pointy flowers that grow on top of the glossy leaves.
Snapdragon blooms have a fruity scent and a range of hues, from pastels to more vivid hues like red, yellow, pink, orange, or purple.
Two puff petals, which resemble stacked or ruffled berets, may be present in some flowers.
Dahlia
The dahlia can reach a height of 36 inches and bloom profusely from July until the first frost. It is a fantastic option for cutting flowers or borders because of its long vase life.
Additionally, the more regularly you cut dahlias, the more flowers you get. Although it will be welcomed in hot climates, full sun is optimal for blossoming.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
The gorgeous annual plant Centaurea cyanus, sometimes referred to as Cornflower or Bachelor’s Button, bears lovely, many flowers. They stand erect on long stems clothed with lance-shaped, gray-green leaves and bloom profusely in late spring and late summer.
Ferns
Because of their lush, colorful foliage, ferns go well with all kinds of plants and make the ideal backdrop for flowering plants. Ferns complement gardenias since they enjoy moisture and some shade. They don’t bloom, so they won’t compete with the gardenias’ exquisite summer looks.
Even more ideas for plants that compliment gardenias
Make sure to look for acid-loving plants that require the same soil conditions as gardenias (well-drained soil) and have the similar requirements for sun exposure if you’re still looking for companion plants to add to your ideal garden.
- everlasting bushes
- cast iron factory
- frog lilies
- hostas
- azaleas
- Myrtle psorale
- maples from Japan
- dogwoods
Gardenias thrive in all-white settings as well. Simply combine them with your other favorite white flowers, such as spirea, hydrangea, and white roses.