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Companion Plants
Combine with early perennials and bright summer annuals for a burst of colour that will last all season:
Perennial. Create a colourful blanket of rich orange, yellow and white blooms.
Viola are perennials in the pansy family of flowers, characterized by smaller blooms and a slight difference in petal orientation. They also tend to be more heat and cold tolerant. Like pansies, their blooms are edible, and serve as a delightful garnish or candied cake topping. Plants will self-seed, allowing them to easily naturalize into any garden space. Once established, they require little care, simply plant once and wait for their cheerful faces to delight you each spring!
Location: Front of border, Spring garden, Mixed container
Bloom Period: May/June, September
Height: 6-8”
Plant Spacing: 6“
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. Charming, double, deep-salmon blooms. ‘Profusion’ are a completely new type of zinnia, featuring vivid, 2” flowers on compact, tidy plants. Their effect is stunning when mass planted, and plants are resistant to heat, humidity, drought, and powdery mildew. This is one series that has been certified “Flameproof”!
Zinnias will attract an abundance of butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden! Dwarf varieties are beautiful in the landscape or mixed containers, providing a flush of cheerful colour all season. Intermediate and tall varieties are outstanding cut flowers. Give the vegetable garden a boost by planting zinnias near tomatoes, potatoes and beans. Plants are very easy to grow, tolerating both heat and drought once established. For best performance, plant in rich, well-draining soil and water regularly.
Location: Front of border, Mixed container, Landscape planting
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 12-18”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. A stunning heirloom variety, ‘Black Prince’ stands out with beautiful, dark leaves and bold crimson flowers. Pair with light-hued plants and silvery foliage for a particularly striking effect.
A cottage garden classic, snapdragons are cool season flowers that will bloom best in spring and fall. They can tolerate light frost, and when allowed, most varieties will readily self-seed. Their beautiful, tubular flowers attract bees and make excellent cut flowers. Dwarf varieties are an excellent addition to containers, and tall, cutting varieties strike an imposing figure in a landscape planting. Plants prefer rich, moist, well-draining soil, with regular watering.
Location: Mixed container, Mid-border, Cottage garden
Bloom Period: June to October
Height: 18”
Plant Spacing: 6-12”