Not sure which plants and flowers work well together? Worried you’re going to plant some that don’t get along and ruin all your good work?
The companion planting guides here will help to show you which plants and flowers are good companions and which will be a disaster.
Black eyed Susans (also know as Rudbeckia) is one of my absolute favorite flowers for adding that a punch of golden color to a garden. Those signature black-eyed blooms just stand out against everything else. But not every plant plays nicely with them. I learned this one summer when half my rudbeckia bed looked stressed …
I’ve seen plenty of carnation catastrophes over the years. I remember Elaine from my garden club who planted her prized carnations right next to her mint – within weeks her carnations were struggling while the mint thrived. These mishaps happen more often than you’d think. I’m going to share what I’ve learned about planting carnations …
Begonias are stunning flowers that add a pop of color to any garden. With their vibrant blooms & unique foliage it’s no wonder so many gardeners fall in love with them. I know I did when I first planted them along my front walkway three years ago. But begonias can be a bit picky about …
Lobelia is one of those flowers that had me at hello. The first time I spotted those beautiful blue cascades tumbling from a hanging basket at my local nursery, I was smitten. So no surprise it’s become a staple in my garden design projects over the years. But lobelia is not exactly the most sociable …
Morning glory is one of those magical plants that can transform a boring fence into a something far more interacting overnight. Well, not literally overnight – but these fast-growing vines sure make it feel that way! I planted some last spring and practically watched them climb before my eyes. But morning glories are actually pretty …
I’m going to be honest – I’ve made some big mistakes when growing columbines (Aquilegia) in my garden. In fact I’ve killed off a lot of them over the years, mainly due to planting them with the wrong neighbors. I had this silly assumption I could plant columbines anywhere and with anything. That approach led …
I’ve been growing astilbe for many years now. When I first started gardening I thought I could just plop these pretty shade lovers anywhere and watch them thrive. Yeah, that doesn’t work! My beautiful astilbe plants struggled when planted with the wrong neighbors & it took me years of trial and error to figure out …
When I first added camellias to my garden I had no idea how particular they could be about their neighbors. After numerous costly mistakes & failed companion plantings I’ve figured out what not to plant with camellias. I’m going to give you some pointers on how to get yours thriving by planting them with the …
I never thought something as innocent as periwinkle (Vinca minor) could cause so much garden drama. Years ago I added this pretty ground cover to a sloped area in my yard that needed stabilizing. It looked gorgeous with its glossy leaves and delicate purple flowers – until it started invading everything nearby. Since then I’ve …
When I first brought home a pink rhododendron from the garden center years ago, I had no idea about the drama I was about to create in my backyard. After planting it right next to my favorite hydrangeas and watching both plants struggle miserably for two seasons, I learned something: rhododendrons are really particular about …