Easter lilies are beautiful plants, and you can make them look even better by planting a couple of companion plants next to them. Before you actually decide which companion plant to use for Easter lilies you have to decide what the main goal of the companion plants will be. Some companion plants are used for keeping pests away, while others simply highlight the Easter lilies with their flowers or leaves.
The companion plants for Easter Lilies are the ones that tend to have shallow roots and have the same sun and soil requirements as Easter Lilies do. Easter lilies benefit greatly from companion plants, some of them repel pests while others simply make the lilies look even better. Easter Lilies can be planted together with other bulbs, annuals, perennials, and even shrubs.
If you want a lot of different plants as companions for your Easter Lilies then my personal recommendation is to use a wildflower mix that contains both annual and perennial flower seeds Click here to check it out on Amazon.com
A general rule when choosing companion plants for any kind of plant is to use plants that are in the same Hardiness Zone and have more or less the same soil and sun requirements. As Easter lilies tend to grow relatively tall to about 24-36 inches ( 60-92 cm ) you should use companion plants that are shorter, this way you will add depth to the garden and the lilies will still be the center point of the garden.
Easter lilies do not have a wide spread, and oftentimes when grown alone some weeds will pop out eventually. In this case, you should use ground covering plants that will suppress the weeds and also highlight the Easter lilies. If you want to know everything about Easter Lilies then check out my recent article Easter Lily ( Lilium Longiflorum, Trumpet Lily, Bermuda Lily ).
Companion Plants For Easter Lilies
Companion plants for Easter lilies can enhance the beauty of the garden and provide additional benefits such as pest control or attracting pollinators. Some suitable companion plants for Easter lilies include low-growing annuals or perennials that won’t compete for nutrients or sunlight. Consider planting spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils or tulips nearby to create a stunning display. Other options include low-growing ground covers like creeping phlox or sweet alyssum, which can add a carpet of color and attract beneficial insects. Additionally, aromatic herbs like lavender or rosemary can act as natural pest repellents.
Companion Bulbs For Easter Lilies
You can get really creative when choosing companion bulbs for Easter Lilies, either focusing on contrasting colors, shapes, and sizes or simply focusing on having beautiful flowers until your Easter Lilies actually flower. A general rule when picking companion bulbs for Easter lilies is to use bulbs that are perennial in your area. If you have to dig out annual bulbs every year right next to your Easter Lilies you increase the chance of damaging the lily bulbs.
Although I would add one exception to the annual bulb rule, Dahlias, the color, and the shape of their flowers contrast the Easter Lilies so well that I promise that you will love this combination, plus some Dahlias grow around the same size as Easter Lilies do. In addition to this, I highly recommend using Alliums as companion plants for Easter Lilies due to the unique shape and color of their flowers. If you want to know what happens if you plant your bulbs too early then check out my recent article What Happens If You Plant Bulbs Too Early ( August – September ).
- Dahlia
- Crocus
- Bluebells
- Hyacinth
- Daffodil
- Allium
- Cyclamen
- Snowdrops
- Gladiolus
- Canna
- Eucomis
- Anemone
- Nerine Bowdenii
- Liatris
- Other Lilies
Annual Companion Plants For Easter Lilies
The best part about using annual plants as companions for Easter lilies is that you are guaranteed to have flowers in the first year of planting. Easter lilies might not flower the first year, but most annual flowers will do. As Easter lilies tend to have green stems and white flowers, you should use companion plants that have different colored flowers, and different textured leaves. Some annuals might need staking like Zinnias, but if you grow them with Easter lilies you can simply use the stem of the lilies as stakes and tie the Zinnias to it.
There are a couple of things that you should know before choosing annual companion plants for your Easter lilies, the roots of the companion plants should be shallow this way the roots will not disturb or damage the Easter lily bulbs. Avoid vining plants like Clematis as these will damage the stem of the Easter lilies, or stunt their growth. If your lilies are not flowering then check out my recent article Why Are My Lilies Not Flowering? ( Top 14 Reasons ).
- Cosmos
- Ageratum
- Impatiens
- Dianthus
- Begonias
- Verbena
- Petunia
- Dill
- Geraniums
- Marigold
- Vinca
- Pansy
- Zinnias
- Calibrachoa
- Asters
Perennial Companion Plants For Easter Lilies
The best part about using perennial plants as companions for Easter lilies is that the maintenance for them will be relatively low, and as these plants will come back every year they will fill out the space around the lilies rather fast. Shallow rooted perennials are ideal companions for Easter lilies, as their roots will not go deep enough to disturb the bulb of the lilies, but this depends on your garden setup.
Some of these perennials are grown from bulbs while others are from seed, just make sure that they are actually considered to be perennial plants in your area.
- Penstemon
- Coral bells
- Salvia
- Daylilies
- Sedums
- Rudbeckia
- Artemisia
- Hyssop
- Lamb’s ear
- Beebalm
- Veronica
Companion Shrubs For Easter Lilies
When it comes to companion shrubs for Easter lilies there are not a lot of options, some shrubs grow way too big, while others will simply outcompete the lilies in terms of how much nutrients they absorb. The main important thing to keep in mind is the size of the shrub when it is mature, if you plant a small shrub right next to your Easter lilies, in a couple of years the shrub will cover the easter lilies which will have a difficult time surviving.
Make sure to plant the shrub far enough from the Easter lilies but close enough that it still looks good. On the other hand, it is always easier to replant a couple of Easter lilies than an established shrub. My personal favorite shrub that goes well with Easter lilies is the Pinky Winky Hydrangea, the size, and shape of the hydrangea complement the Easter lilies so well.
- Hydrangea
- Bush Honeysuckle
- Azalea
- Viburnum
Key Takeaways
- Make sure to choose companion plants with shallow roots for your Easter Lilies, these will not go deep enough to disturb the bulb of the lilies.
- If you want to use annual companion plants, but you do not want to disturb the soil when you dig them up, then you can grow them in pots right next to the Easter Lilies.
- If you are growing your Easter Lilies in partial shade make sure that the companion plant can also grow in partial shade or else it will get leggy.
