Plants That Grow Well With Lilies
Lilies grow best in full sun but can tolerate part shade. They should not be planted in shade gardens or surrounded by tall plants that shade them out. Most lilies like moist, but not soggy soil; too much water can make the bulbs rot. Established lilies can be drought resistant. Good lily plant companions will have medium-light water requirements. Lily bulbs do not like to be crowded out, so aggressive spreaders and ground covers are generally not good companions for lilies.
Companions for Lilies
The following suggestions make suitable lily plant companions in the garden. Annuals Shallow rooting annual plants that grow well with lilies are:
Cosmos Dianthus Dill Geraniums Marigold (shorter varieties) Pansy Snapdragons (dwarf) Zinnias Asters Moss roses New guinea impatiens
Bulbs Good bulb companions for lilies are:
Dahlia Hyacinth Daffodil Tulips Allium Snowdrops Gladiolus Canna Anemone Liatris Iris
Perennials Perennial plants that grow well with lilies include:
Peony Violet Daylilies Poppy Dianthus Daisy Cranesbill Primrose Penstemon Columbine Aster (compact varieties) Gaillardia Coral bells Lavender Rudbeckia Hibiscus Hyssop Coneflower Salvia Beebalm Veronica Artemisia Corn flower Lamb’s ear Meadow rue Garden phlox Russian sage Sedums
Shrubs As late long as they do not provide too much shade and are planted far enough away, certain shrubs can beautifully accent lilies. Good shrub companions for lilies are:
Roses Azalea Korean spice viburnum Hydrangea Weigela Rose of Sharon Bush honeysuckle Smoke bush
Be sure to give lilies plenty of space of their own, and don’t crowd them with companion plants. Lily bulbs are soft and tender, and the strong, aggressive roots of other plants can pierce these bulbs, damaging or even killing them. Lilies also will not come up in the spring if weeds or plants are too dense above the bulb. If lilies are too overcrowded or overshaded, they can be more susceptible to fungal diseases.
