I have an area where I am planting some dl and I wanted to add some other things for interest and more year round color. I planted some Russian Sage there but now I am wondering if that was a good idea or not. The soil there is kind of heavy, will the sage do ok? It is rocky and dry there. I do water when it really needs it. I planted some NOID really tough kind of dl there that I think will do ok with the so-so dirt. I am also adding Pink Drift roses, Firepower Nandina, dl Stella for some on and off color and in the spring some lavender iris and some Carlton Daffs. Sound like a plan? or no?

What kind of things do you plant to compliment your dl? Spring color, fall color, and any dl that bloom especially later or earlier than the others? Peak bloom for me is usually the last week of June first week of July. Late this year because our spring was so cool and rainy. I have Yellow Bouquet and it always blooms on Memorial Weekend. I really love it, it is LOADED with blooms and every one is perfect. I also have So Lovely, and it's photos do not do it justice. It is just a plain older one, but it really is nice. It blooms tons and just had it's first bloom of the year 2 days ago. That is kind of nice since most of the others are finishing off. August Frost is also just starting it's blooms and they are beautiful, diamond dusted and has a thin yellow wire edge. Any recommendations for a Stella type dl that is a coral hot pink color? Something short with small flowers that blooms alot?

I have Perovskias in several places in my yard which is heavy clay and get little to no supplemental water. They droop some in the worst of the summer heat and drought, but come back just fine with some rain. I have Coral and Red Drift Roses in close proximity and they do fine, as well. Have Lilies, Sedums, Golden Oregano, Dianthus, Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris, Lantana, and Gerberas interplanted with the Daylilies.

Is the garden full sun or does it get any shade?

I just brought up the thread "Companion Plants". I am interested in this idea too. Maybe you could add your post to that thread so it will all be in one place?

Be careful of the Russian sage I planted some years ago now it likes to spread and is the dickens to dig out where you don't want it growing. Perhaps it could be sunk in the ground in a container or it could be that I am the only gardener with this problem.

well this is on a slope towards the culvert/ditch area between my front yard and my house. I wanted to line the area there and it is south facing, full sun, and poor soil. I am going to put a picket fence there someday, but for right now, I just have to use my imagination lol It will be mowed around, so I don't think it would be too invasive. I have some pineapple mint I was going to put out there too, because it is so invasive it just might live lol I like it too because it greens up at the first sight of spring.

caitlinsgarden said:I just brought up the thread "Companion Plants". I am interested in this idea too. Maybe you could add your post to that thread so it will all be in one place?

that is an older thread, I forgot all about, and I even posted on it. (everyone pretend not to notice that part !)
Combining the threads is a great idea, but I don't know how to do it!

@Calif_Sue might know how to do that.

Your new thread is fine here. You have a specific question, and there are lots of threads that are on similar subjects. It's better if they are more organized, but sometimes it doesn't happen that way. Once a thread gets going, it's not always best to merge threads. Generally the Daylily forum moderators - Char, Sharon, or me, would ask Dave to merge threads. He is the only one that can do it.

Maybe if you post a phot of the area you want to plant, it would help people to know what to suggest. Is it full sun?

sorry, double posted!

well I already have it planted actually, I just wondered if everyone thought those things would go together ok and if the sage would do ok in the clay like soil? It said on the tag that it likes well drained soil and mine is kind of heavy. I'm guessing maybe it rots if it stays too wet. But I think of it as kind of tough plant that would do ok in poor soils. Well drained soil to me usually means richer in compost and was afraid that would rot it. I guess if it croaks, I could replace it with lambs ear, I think it will take poor dirt also and would have the silvery color to it.

@daylilydreams I do think the sage could be invasive in a bed just as the mints are invasive. I did not think it grew on a runner though, does yours? The mints I planted previously were very robust and came up here and there all over by way of runners under the ground. So pots for those! This is an area just right in the ground not really a bed- and I don't care if it gets out of hand a little and the mowing will keep it in check. I wanted to plant things that would be able to kind of take care of themselves and not need alot of pampering. So I chose, mint, sage, drift roses, nandina, daff bulbs, iris and dl. It's just that the dirt is a little heavy there (read-I had to scrape it out with the shovel a little at a time to dig the hole, then sort out the rocks and then backfilled it with good soil). I will mulch over the area and that will help it alot I hope.

In my back yard right now I have Tie Dye Hibiscus and this shrub has bloomed like crazy for me now for a couple of weeks. I cannot believe how many blooms there have been. I understand that each bloom only lasts one day, I think mine have been holding on longer than that because of the cool evenings we've had. The huge blooms really show up across the yard and the bright color is awesome. They are probably a good 3 ft tall, so they stand out over alot of things. It has grown really fast for me too, I just paid $5 for it last summer on a clearance rack at Lowes. Sometimes I pick the bloom of and bring it in the house. I put it in a shot glass with a little water. It will last the day for me if I put it near a window. I have not notice any scent.

Every year at this time, my daylilies sort of fizzle out with the heat for a spell. I do have some re-bloomers here and there, but it is the Zinnias that start stealing the show during the hot summer heat. Every year at this time I regret not planting more, one year I will learn.

For things that bloom with the daylilies, I really like the self sowing flowers like coneflower, balloon flower, Sweet William dianthus, cornflowers, and petunias to fill in the spots between my shrubs and daylilies.

There are so many things for year round interest. I believe the soil you describe is similar to mine. Wish I had pictures handy, but I'm not at home right now. Here are some of my spring and fall flowers to fill out the seasons:

One of my favorite shrubs is the blue mist spirea that is just now beginning to bloom as the daylilies are winding down. The butterflies and bees love it.

I also love crepe myrtles and summersweet because they are blooming now. We sat outside yesterday and watched all the bees on the summersweet.

Two summers ago, I bought casa blanca lilies. They are in full bloom now and are a big hit with everyone who sees them. And you can be twenty feet away and smell them with a slight breeze coming at you.

I always get a little sad when the daylilies get down to the last ones, so these late blooming flowers help brighten up the mood.

Vickie you say your petunias self sow-do they come true to color or all mixed up? I have never had luck with petunias. What does your cornflower look like?

I love larkspur but have not had luck with it either. I am afraid that I pull them up thinking they are weeds, that and I do use Preen some so they probably don't stand a chance. I have burmuda grass and I have not found a way to control it other than the big gun chemicals. I hate that, that it is so invasive and chokes out everything here. It is impossible to pull and the roots are almost woody-very tough. I mainly just stick with perennials that I know are reliable. I have always avoided annuals because they are too slow to make a show and they need water like crazy. Plus they are pricey to replace every year.

Seedfork, I have always liked the pics of the lime green colored zinnia but have never tried planting them. Did have some cherry profusion one year that was HOT! loved it, and also liked the one that looks like a daisy, can't remember the name of it right off. But they bloomed like crazy and stayed neat looking, not tall and sprawling like some of the zinnias do.

I like the tall zinnias also, I plant marigolds to cover the bases when the leaves turn brown down low.

I also like to plant cleome, it can be planted in the back or because it is so airy it can be placed in the middle or sometimes even in the front of a bed even if it is tall.It also serves to help hold up the tall zinnias.

I had daylilies as a border plant and coneflowers and other perennials in the bed. Not a good example because some of the DL's shrunk over the winter.


daylilies in perennial bed


Landscaping with daylilies


daylilies and coneflowers


perennials


daylilies in front of Kniphofia Lily

I have a few iris and asiatic lilies scattered in the beds. I will try to find a pic. So many of mine are close ups

Gerry's picture reminded me of another good plant to go with daylilies. Liatris is a bulb and is a nice plant. Most of my plants are more for seasonal color during the time the dls aren't blooming.

The petunias and Sweet Williams do self-sow and they are just the old fashioned kind in shades of pink and white. I know some folks would not like the red of H. Moses' Fire with the pink petunias, but I love the long bloom season of the petunias.

The coneflowers have dwindled in the past few years so I am going to have to collect seeds and scatter again.

Petunias and H. Moses' Fire


Shasta Daisies 'Becky' and Phlox (H. Outrageous on right)


Conflowers and Garden Phlox


Yarrow 'Tutti Frutti' and Asiatic Lilies ' Tiny Bee'


Garden Phlox in front of daylily row


Lilies 'Casa Blanca' and pink Sweet William (the Sweet William is long blooming and is winding down)

Vickie, I love your clump of Casa Blanca!! May I ask how long it took or did you plant several at one time? I have been wanting to add a white one.

The lilies are pretty. I do love the purple phlox, may have to add that to my list of wants