Daylilies: A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Companion Plants
Introduction
Companion planting is a great way to improve the health and beauty of your garden. It involves planting different types of plants together that benefit each other. For example, some plants can help to repel pests, while others can add nutrients to the soil.
Daylilies are a popular choice for companion planting because they are easy to grow and bloom for a long time. They also come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, so you can find the perfect ones to match your garden’s style.
Choosing Daylily Companions
When choosing companion plants for daylilies, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Sun requirements: Daylilies prefer full sun, so their companion plants should also be able to tolerate full sun.
- Soil requirements: Daylilies like well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Their companion plants should also be able to tolerate these conditions.
- Height: Daylilies come in a variety of heights, so you need to choose companion plants that will not shade them out.
- Bloom time: Daylilies bloom for a long time, so you can choose companion plants that bloom at different times to keep your garden looking interesting all season long.
Best Daylily Companion Plants
There are many different plants that make good companion plants for daylilies. Some of the most popular choices include:
- Echinacea: Echinacea is a popular herb that is known for its medicinal properties. It also attracts pollinators, which can benefit daylilies.
- Lavender: Lavender is a fragrant herb that is known for its calming effects. It also repels pests, which can help to protect daylilies.
- Shasta daisy: Shasta daisies are a classic garden flower that is easy to grow and blooms for a long time. They come in a variety of colors, so you can find the perfect ones to match your garden’s style.
- Bergamot: Bergamot is a perennial flower that is known for its showy blooms. It attracts pollinators, which can benefit daylilies.
- Phlox: Phlox is a popular garden flower that is easy to grow and blooms for a long time. It comes in a variety of colors, so you can find the perfect ones to match your garden’s style.
- Black-eyed Susan: Black-eyed Susans are a native wildflower that is easy to grow and attracts pollinators. They are also deer resistant, which makes them a good choice for gardens that are frequented by deer.
- Baby’s breath: Baby’s breath is a delicate flower that is often used in bouquets. It is also a good companion plant for daylilies because it attracts pollinators.
- Yarrow: Yarrow is a perennial flower that is known for its medicinal properties. It also attracts pollinators, which can benefit daylilies.
Planting and Care
Once you have chosen your daylily companion plants, it is time to plant them in your garden. Here are a few tips:
- Plant daylilies in full sun or light shade.
- Plant daylilies in well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
- Space daylilies 12-18 inches apart.
- Water daylilies regularly, especially during the hot summer months.
- Fertilize daylilies monthly with a balanced fertilizer.
