Peony Companions

Planted individually or in groups, Peonies should be considered an essential component of any spring garden. These long-lived, fuss-free plants produce some of the most beautiful and often fragrant blossoms in the world of gardening. Enhance the display of Peonies in your garden by surrounding them with their preferred companions. Early in the season, when the reddish stems of Herbaceous Peonies first begin to break ground, their color can be accentuated by late-blooming Daffodils, Scilla siberica, and spring-flowering Anemones. As the season progresses and Peonies begin to bloom, Tall Bearded Iris and Poppies tend to flower simultaneously, allowing gardeners to create spectacular adjacencies that also can be enjoyed indoors in vases. Low mounding plants including Nepeta, Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle), Brunnera, and Daylilies can be used at the feet of Peony plants where they add contrasting foliage forms and colors and their own well-timed flowers. Scroll below to find a sampling of preferred Peony partners, and prepare for a stellar show.