18 Gorgeous Plants to Pair with Peonies in Your Garden

With their sumptuous romantic blooms peonies are gardening royalty. But every queen needs her court! Choosing the right companion plants can enhance a peony’s beauty while extending your garden’s interest over time.

When selecting plants to pair with peonies, consider bloom time, color, height, and growing needs A thoughtful supporting cast spotlights the peony’s glory while creating a cohesive vignette Read on for 18 splendid options to complement peonies’ charms!

Spring Bloomers

Early risers pair nicely with peonies by preceding their bloom. Plant bulbs like:

• Crocuses – Cheery purple, white or yellow cups.

• Daffodils – Yellow trumpets herald spring.

• Hyacinths – Fragrant blue, pink or white clustered bells.

• Tulips – Elegant cups in a rainbow of hues.

Perennials like:

• Iris – Ruffled blooms in purple, blue, yellow and white.

• Lilacs – Fragrant purple, pink or white panicles.

• Lupines – Spikes of blue, white, pink or yellow.

Accent peonies with airy flowers like:

• Columbines – Delicate nodding blooms in many colors.

• Bleeding Hearts – Arching sprays of pink hearts.

Summer Blooming Companions

To extend color after peonies fade, plant:

• Roses – Choose complementary colors.

• Lilies – Elegant trumpets, like white ‘Casa Blanca’.

• Delphinium – Tall spires in blue, purple, pink or white.

• Coneflowers – Daisies in pink, white, yellow or red.

• Daylilies – Happy yellow, melon or peach blooms.

• Salvia – Spikes of purple complement pink peonies.

Foliage Accents

Peonies pair nicely with plants chosen for leaf color, shape or texture:

• Hostas – Broad leaves add bold texture.

• Ferns – Lacy fronds contrast the peony’s form.

• Heucheras – Ruffled leaves in green, red and bronze.

• Astilbes – Feathery plumes in shades of pink, red and white.

• Japanese Maples – Delicate, lacey leaves.

• Lady’s Mantle – Ruffled chartreuse foliage.

Groundcovers

Plant low carpeting plants under and around peonies:

• Ajuga – Purple, burgundy or green leaves.

• Vinca minor – Trails with glossy green leaves.

• Sweet woodruff – Lacy green mat studded with white flowers.

• Creeping thyme – Fragrant gray-green carpet.

• Snow-in-summer – Silver foliage topped with white blooms.

• Dianthus – Grass-like foliage with pink flowers.

Structural Elements

Add height and visual interest with:

• Obelisks – Support climbing vines like clematis.

• Arbors – Frame a gateway into a garden room.

• Trellises – Provide a backdrop for peas or morning glories to climb.

• Birdbaths – Attract wildlife to your garden.

• Garden art – Sculptures and decorative accents.

Design Tips

• Place taller plants behind peonies to avoid obstructing their view.

• Repeat colors from the peony flower in companion plants.

• Combine leaf shapes for variety – pair peonies with fine, feathery foliage.

• Incorporate fragrance through herbs like lavender and rosemary.

• Use annuals like cosmos and zinnias for quick color between peonies.

• Include pollinator-friendly plants to encourage bees and butterflies.

Extending Bloom Time

A common peony companion planting strategy is to choose plants that bloom at different times, for continuous color:

• Plant early bulbs to precede peonies.

• Add summer perennials to follow peonies.

• Incorporate evergreen shrubs for winter structure.

• Use spring-, summer- and fall-blooming trees near peonies.

Matching Colors

Some pleasing peony and companion color combinations include:

• Pink peonies with white iris, roses and delphinium

• Red peonies with yellow daylilies and coreopsis

• White peonies with purple salvia and catmint

• Yellow peonies with blue hydrangea and lobelia

With a tapestry of complementary plants, peonies will truly reign over your garden kingdom in full regal splendor. Let your creativity run wild as you design a worthy peony plant pairing ensemble!