Companion planting suggestions

10 years ago

I have a Frances Williams that needs a new friend. Right now she's next to American Halo, but AM will be too big when mature (newbie mistake) and also, they just don't work together (too similar, I guess). The new friend will sit between the FW and Elegans is just down aways.

Something medium sized, but on the taller size that will complement FW.

Any thoughts?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

leafwatcher
10 years ago
Ok I know this shows very little imagination ;)

but I really like the Tiaras. I put them in between big plants, and as the bigger plants expand I divide up move and reposition the ground covering tiaras.

In fact I have one clump so dense I am going to break it up and take some to my Moms for the edging I have started there..
hostafrenzy
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you LW!

I do have and like a Golden Tiara in the front garden and actually never thought to use it as ground cover, I like the idea.

For planting next to the FW though, I need something taller to hide the basement window well thingie.

Whats your thoughts on leaving the American Halo (it's doing really well) next to FW? I could divide them as they grew - but do you think they work nice together from an aesthetic prospective?
Related Discussions
what's wrong with this camellia/companion plant suggestion.
Q
Comments (6)
Hello, texasanna. This is a very bad time to plant anything in Texas. The temperatures have been in the 100s for eons and most of the state is in an exceptional drought. The wilting of the leaves is a combination of transplant shock, heat stress and little moisture. If your soil drains well, it would be ok to water often since the plant's root system was cut to fit into the pot. I suspect that wilted leaves return back to normal once the worst of the day is over. Make sure that you have 3-4" of mulch about 6 inches past the drip line to make sure you do not have to water often. Then as long as the soil feels moist on the top 4" inches, you can skip watering. When you water, water the soil early in the mornings starting with the main truck and then watering outwards. About 1 gallon of water per watering should be fine. Make sure the plant gets shade in the afternoon. I find it ideal to get shade starting at 11am or 12pm. I start having trouble with the ;eaves if they get more sun than that. It is not necessary to fertilize this year. The potting mix probably had some of those round fertilizer pellets and that will last until Spring. Besides, plants stressed by transplant shock and heat should never be fertilized. Check the soil acidity if your soil is normally alkaline. You may want to ammend it in the Spring and again in late Summer or early Fall. Does that help you? Luis
...See More
Companion Plants for Itea Virginica 'Little Henry'
Q
Comments (4)
I have 9 'Little Henry' shrubs mixed in my garden. I don't have any photos of it in bloom because we had a frost in mid-April last year that killed the buds. If the ground is moist, there are some interesting perennials to use such as amsonia hubrechtii and the sedge, carex testacea. The three provide a nice fall foliage color combo with the itea turning red, the amsonia yellow and the sedge orange. However, that's not a flowering group if you want blooms. The amsonia has tiny little blue flowers in spring. If you want more blooms in moist soil, daylilies (deer will eat), canna, Japanese or Siberian iris, or bee balm will work. Little Henry blooms in late spring here (zone 7), so I consider it a nice green backdrop during the summer. Which gives a lot of possibilities with perennials. What colors do you like? Since Little Henry has small oval leaves, I would look for a frilly and a spikey plant to use to compliment. I can only speak to zone 7 plants, so check to see if these work in your zone: If you like blue/purple, nepeta 'Walker's Low' blooms from spring until frost. The flowers are on soft spikes. Bees love it. It can be divided easily in the spring for more plants. It's a nice tall edging plant, too. I cut it back in fall or early spring and then cut it again after the first bloom to get more blooms. I use Black & Decker cordless HedgeHog trimmer to make it easy. In this photo, nepeta 'Six Hills Giant' (taller than Walkers Low) is behind Spanish Lavender. In this photo, I have purple sage (foliage) and aster frikartii 'Monch'. Again, these are for dry soil. They also work well with the lavender, nepeta and Little Henry. I hope this helps. Cameron Here is a link that might be useful: my gardening blog
...See More
Aspidistra elatior
Q
Comments (1)
It looks good with Holly Ferns--at least in the Southern Living magazine pictures. I've just started growing it myself. I had hoped some other folks would answer this question... Nita
...See More
companion plant suggestions for containers
Q
Comments (6)
You would love the many small ground covers that grow in Sydney - Scaevola, prostrate forms of Grevilleas, Hibbertias, Eremophila, Acacia, Pea flowers, Ziera, Goodenia, etc, etc. I would also think about contrasting foliage like Dianella 'Cassa Blue', Thelionema umbellatum, or Lomandra 'Wingarra'. Yellow Buttons (Helichrysum ramosissima - has had name changes though, and there are many forms)or Billy Buttons (Ixeolena brevicompta) are great!
...See More
beverlymnz4
10 years ago
Threre are some mediums that might give a similar effect.

Blue Ivory
Mourning Dove

And June will have complementary coloring, but she might steal the show.

I am having a bit of a Hosta shopping block on this one.

Beverly
hostafrenzy
Original Author
10 years ago
Beverly, thank you!

June is just around the corner from FW and AH. Should I leave well enough alone? Maybe add in a contrasting perennial of some sort? (I'm thinking of your Paul's Glory vignette)

I'll start another thread - maybe pictures of FW and AH together will help me make up my mind.
beverlymnz4
10 years ago
Well, I just saw a beautiful Mourning Dove pic on the Hosta Library auction. ( I wouldn't be doing my Hosta Forum duty if I didn't try one more time to enable.)

But really, post that picture. You could wait until AH is too large and then move it ( you will need help). By then you will have found just the right one to replace it, or you will know that there isn't anything better, you can split it and put half back.

Beverly
ConnieMay ON Z6a
10 years ago
I agree that they look too similar to have side by side...and Frances Williams also gets quite large. (The Hosta Library says the foliage mound can reach to 36x48" in 7 years.) You may want to consider a companion with more of an airy feel to it since Elegans and FW are pretty weighty. Pineapple Upsidedown Cake might be one to consider.
hostafrenzy
Original Author
10 years ago
Morning Dove is lovely Beverly, but if I'm not mistaken it appears somewhat similar to Sleeping Beauty, which is also in this bed.

After giving thought to the size issue (thank you ConnieMay!), I think the way to go is to move FW to a NW bed (hopefully she'll be slow to wake up and avoid frostbite) and move my Autumn Frost to that spot. AF is a medium and I think will offer just enough contrast with the AH to make things interesting. Plus the AH is a good size and will eventually cover that window well.

I appreciate the help!
hostafrenzy
Original Author
10 years ago
Me again.

I also have a young 'Seducer' and a tiny Guac that need new homes. Would either of those work? I could relocate both the AH and FW (or leave one or the other) and utilize a combo of either:

Autumn Frost
Seducer
Guac

Not a big space, so which 2 hosta would you suggest?
ConnieMay ON Z6a
10 years ago
All beautiful plants. Guac won't stay tiny for long - she tends to be a fast grower.

Those companion plants will get quite large. Sensitive Fern is so beautiful and will take over if it can. If that is Geranium Rozanne it will get very large as well.

How large is the space in total?
hostafrenzy
Original Author
10 years ago
The space is about 8' x 3' on that leg.

Companion planting suggestions

Comments (10)

leafwatcher

hostafrenzy
Original Author

Related Discussions

beverlymnz4

hostafrenzy
Original Author

beverlymnz4

ConnieMay ON Z6a

hostafrenzy
Original Author

hostafrenzy
Original Author

ConnieMay ON Z6a

hostafrenzy
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Companion planting suggestions

Comments (10)

leafwatcher

hostafrenzyOriginal Author

Related Discussions

beverlymnz4

hostafrenzyOriginal Author

beverlymnz4

ConnieMay ON Z6a

hostafrenzyOriginal Author

hostafrenzyOriginal Author

ConnieMay ON Z6a

hostafrenzyOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hostafrenzy
Original Author

hostafrenzy
Original Author

hostafrenzy
Original Author

hostafrenzy
Original Author

hostafrenzy
Original Author