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What to underplant a peony with?
Andy Leeds
Posts: 518
in Plants
This is my inherited pink (maybe Sarah Bernhardt) peony but I'd like to fill some of the space around it with something that would complement it. Something perennial, preferably long flowering (or interesting foliage) and not something that would choke the peony when it emerges in spring.
Any ideas?
Last edited: 18 June 2016 15:51:23
0
Posts
How about a creeping thyme - Thymus serpyllum?
Geraniums , nepata , salvia nemorosa
You do not want anything too large that will swamp the paeony.
or anything too sun loving that will get shaded out
In the sticks near Peterborough
My favorite hardy geranium, sanguineum stratum ( think the last bit right!)
close, striatum. Could be a good choice, will cope with sun or shade.
To my eye that paeony is too 'trussed up'. They're big blousey plants and need to expand a bit.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Hemerocallis are good companions. You can get larger or smaller varieties, a wide range of colours and some will keep their leaves in a mild climate/winter. They do grow larger but it is easy to see the clumps and divide when they near danger point and the leaves don't generally flop too much or invade the space around them unduly.
I'd go for geraniums too. They'll hide some of the (rather abundant foliage ) after the paeony flowers, and add interest to that area. Quite important when you consider they don't flower for very long and the border is narrow. Easier to deal with in a big, deep border as there would be plenty of other planting to look at
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Is this better Nut? ?
Liking the thought of the geranium sanguineum striatum rosemummy, thanks.