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Companion Plants
Create a sensational summer ornamental bed with this knockout combination:
Annual. An old-fashioned Victorian favourite, Heliotrope is as known for drawing in butterflies as it is for its magnificent fragrance. Heavy clusters of deep violet blooms stand out over bushy, dark green foliage. The flowers, with their sweet almond and vanilla scent, are still cultivated for perfume-making in Europe. Enhance this fragrance by planting en masse. They also perform well in containers. Grow in rich, well-draining soil and feed monthly. Plants are drought and heat tolerant once established. Note that all parts of the plant are poisonous.
Location: Landscape planting, Container, Butterfly garden
Bloom Period: July to September
Height: 12-18”
Plant Spacing: 10-12”
Annual. A classic variety of this popular annual - and one of my personal favourites. A true workhorse, ‘Carpet of Snow’ is one of the most versatile plants in the garden. As an ornamental, it can be tucked into the corners of raised beds, blanket the edge of a border bed, or drape gracefully over the sides of a mixed container. As a vegetable companion, its lovely, sweet fragrance attracts an abundance of pollinators and repels harmful insects. A low growth habit allows it to act as a living mulch. Both the leaves and flowers are edible, with a light peppery taste. Plants prefer moist, loamy soil, and providing a monthly dose of balanced fertilizer will be heartily rewarded.
Location: Front of border, Hanging basket, Mixed container, Vegetable garden
Bloom Period: June to October
Height: 6”, spreading to 12”
Plant Spacing: 5-8”
Annual. ‘Gloria’ is a show-off in the garden. The rose-pink petals and piercing crimson eyes will easily charm all who come to visit. Plants are heavy-blooming and self-cleaning, for an easy display of colour from early summer to frost.
Cosmos attract bees, butterflies and birds. The plants are self-seeding, but not invasive, and are not prone to pests or disease. They tolerate heat, drought and will grow in even the poorest soil conditions, provided that there is good drainage. This is a truly low-maintenance plant. Avoid too much fertilizer, as this can lead to lush foliage and few blooms.
Location: Rear border, Landscape planting, Cottage garden
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 3-5’
Plant Spacing: 18”
Annual. Enjoy a wealth of 2.5-3” carmine flowers from these rapidly spreading plants. Easy to grow, they do not require deadheading, are perfectly suited to containers, and create a stunning seasonal ground cover when massed in a landscape. Plants are extremely weather resistant and will stand up to heavy rain and mild frost.
Petunias are a popular summer annual, prized for their beautiful blooms and versatility in the garden. Attracting pollinators and repelling harmful insects, they are an excellent companion for the vegetable garden. Mounding varieties put on a thrilling display in the landscape, and trailing varieties form a graceful ground cover or hanging basket. Plant in light, fertile, well-draining soil. Water regularly and feed container plants every 1-2 weeks.
Location: Ground cover, Mixed container, Hanging basket
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 6-8”, spreading to 3-4’
Plant Spacing: 12-18”