Companion Plants for Daffodils
by Diane Linsley
What are the best companion plants for daffodils?
There's nothing like a garden full of daffodils to cheer up the winter-weary gardener. With enough varieties, your garden can be bursting with blooms from late March to early May.
Daffodils look best planted in groups of five to twenty or more. Planting in patches looks more natural than planting in rows. Be sure to add some companion plants to bring out the best in your daffodil display.
It's hard to find flowers that bloom at the same time as daffodils. Here are the best ones I've found so far. I also added a list of bulb covers, which are annual flower seeds that are sown in spring or fall. These fast-growing anuals help to hide the dying daffodil foliage.
Best Companion Plants for Daffodils
Alyssum montanum 'Mountain Gold' -- Early-blooming perennial that looks nice with small daffodils, especially in rock gardens.
Alyssum saxatile -- Spring-blooming perennial with bright yellow flowers. Great companion plant for late-blooming daffodils and tulips.
Aubrieta 'Whitewell Gem' -- Spreading mounds of violet-purple flowers in spring. Easy to grow from seed.
Brunnera macrophyla -- Small sky-blue flowers on a shade-tolerant perennial.
Chionodoxa -- Minor bulb with blue, pink or white flowers. Nice companion plant for daffodils.
Euphorbia polychroma -- Neatly rounded mound of chartreuse-yellow flowers. Best with late-blooming daffoidils and tulips.
Dwarf Flowering Almond -- Spring-blooming shrub with pink flowers.
Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) -- Minor bulb with blue or white flowers.
Helleborus orientalis -- Early spring-blooming perennial. Shade-tolerant.
Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' -- Minor bulb with nodding, white flowers.
Myosotis sylvatica -- Forget-me-not. Blue, pink or white flowers. Self-sowing biennial. One of the best companion plants for daffodils and tulips.
Phlox subulata -- Pink, white or blue flowers on a mat-forming perennial.
Pulsatilla vulgaris -- Violet-purple flowers that bloom with the daffodils. The flowers are followed by attractive seed heads.
Siberian Squill -- Minor bulb with nodding, blue flowers in early spring.
Tulips -- Early tulips bloom at the same time as late daffodils.
Viola -- Annual or short-lived perennial that blooms in cool weather. Self sows nicely in some zones. Shade-tolerant.
Bulb Covers for Daffodils and Tulips
Alyssum -- Self-sowing annual with masses of white, pink or purple flowers. Easy to grow from seed.
Calendula -- Cheerful orange, yellow or apricot flowers. Easy to grow from seed. Reseeds very well.
Clarkia amoena -- Self-sowing wildflower with pink, red and white flowers. Excellent bulb cover for daffodils and tulips. Easy to grow from seed.
Gilia tricolor -- Native wilflower. Delicate, lilac and white flowers with contrasting dark eyes. Chocolate fragrance.
Malcolmia maritima -- Virginia Stock. Lightly fragrant, pink, purple and white flowers. Quick to bloom from seed.
Nemophila -- Baby Blue Eyes, Five Spot. Blue, white or purple flowers. Quick to bloom and easy to grow. Wonderful bulb cover for daffodils and tulips.
Nigella damascena -- Pink, blue or white flowers. Self-sowing annual. Easy to grow from seed.
Phlox drummondii -- Native wildflower. Pink, red, rose, magenta and white flowers. Easy to grow from seed.
Saponaria ocymoides -- Low-growing, trailing perennial smothered in bright pink flowers in May and June.
Related Articles
Self-Sowing Annuals -- Flowers that reseed and come back every year.
Companion Plants for Roses -- Annuals and perennials for the rose garden.
Companion Plants for Ornamental Grasses -- Flowers to add some color.
Other Resources
American Daffodil Society -- Information on daffodil culture.
John Scheepers Beauty from Bulbs -- Daffodils, tulips, lilies and minor bulbs.
Seeds
