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Companion Plants
Create a cheerful summer border with these bright companions:
Annual. Masses of hot pink flowers with deep rose eyes. ‘Easy Wave’ petunias are vigorous, self-cleaning, and long-blooming, with a high production of 2.25” flowers all season.
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: Landscape planting, Mixed container, Hanging basket
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 8-12”, spreading to 2.5-3’
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Annual. This Mexican marigold is smothered in petite, sunny flowers with a light citrus scent. Plants grow in neat mounds with lacy green foliage. Both leaves and flowers are edible - leaves as a flavourful salad green, and flowers to dress up salads or desserts.
The quintessential companion plant, marigolds are stars in the vegetable garden. They attract bees, butterflies and beneficial predatory insects. They are an excellent companion for tomatoes and potatoes, as they repel harmful insects and soil nematodes. Plant in average soil with even moisture and fertilize every few weeks.
Location: Vegetable garden, Front of border, Mixed container
Bloom Period: June to October
Height: 12”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. A charming burst of bright, sapphire blue flowers with white eyes will provide the finishing touch to window boxes and planters.
Lobelia are vigorous plants that flower heavily all season. Their delicate blooms cascade beautifully over the edge of hanging baskets and containers, attracting butterflies and pollinators. Self-cleaning, and low maintenance, lobelia are very easy to grow. Plant in rich, well-draining soil. Water regularly and fertilize containers every two weeks.
Location: Mixed container, Hanging basket
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 6”, spreading to 12”
Plant Spacing: 6”
Annual. Bushy plants are smothered in large, double white blooms. ‘Zahara’ are continuously covered in vibrant, 2.5” blooms. They are tough plants, with high disease resistance and a “Flameproof” distinction that makes them ideal for hot, sunny dry areas in which other plants have failed.
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: Mid-border, Mixed container, Landscape planting
Bloom Period: June to September
Height: 16-20”
Plant Spacing: 12”