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Companion Plants
Consider a cheerful composition for an annual bed or mixed container:
Annual. An award winning variety with fragrant, 2-3” indigo-blue flowers that bloom profusely all season. Their sweet scent can be enjoyed throughout the day, and is strongest in the evening. Consider planting on a patio or below a window, where their floral fragrance will perfume the air. Tough plants are resistant to both heat and rain.
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: 6-8”, spreading to 2.5-3’
Plant Spacing: 12-18”
Annual. Vibrant, fully-double 4-5” flowers in a lovely salmon-pink hue. ‘Magellan’ are early bloomers that flower freely all summer and into the fall for a truly outstanding garden performance. Plants are sturdy and well-branching.
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: 14”
Plant Spacing: 12”
Annual. An excellent dwarf variety for flowers beds, containers or to edge a vegetable garden. Large, 3” blooms are in warm shades of orange to pastel cream, and hold up very well in heat and drought.
Calendula are a terrific vegetable companion, as they attract pollinators and repel harmful nematodes in the soil. Their flowers are edible and dried petals can be used in place of saffron, as a garnish, or to make a delightful tea. They are very easy to grow, requiring minimal watering and feeding. Plant in poor to average, well-draining soil and deadhead occasionally for increased blooms.
Location: Front of border, Mixed container, Vegetable garden
Bloom Period: June/July to September
Height: 12-14”
Plant Spacing: 6-12”
Annual. Clusters of soft peach flowers will complement any container arrangement. Plants are well-branched and heavy-blooming.
Verbena are outstanding performers in the ground or containers. They thrive in heat and are highly drought tolerant. Container plants will still need regular watering. Plants are not particular about soil type, as long as it is well-draining. Deadheading will provide a second flush of blooms.
Location: Mixed container, Hanging basket, Rock garden
Bloom Period: June/July, September/October
Height: 8-10”, spreading 16-20”
Plant Spacing: 10”