Also referred to as lily of the Nile, spring- to summer-blooming agapanthus has mounds of strappy basal foliage, erect, leafless flower stalks, and mature dimensions of twenty-two to 44 inches tall and broad.
It’s an aggressive grower that requires dividing each 4 to 5 years, and like lavender, prefers a snug-fitting pot when grown in a container.
Agapanthus attracts bees and butterflies, contributing to biodiversity within the residence panorama and surrounding space.
Purple agapanthus rhizomes in packages of three, six, and 9 are available from Eden Brothers.
See our guide to growing agapanthus for cultivation particulars.
2. Anise Hyssop
Edible anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum, is a short-lived mid- to late summer season flowering perennial for Zones 4 to 9 that completes its life cycle in about three years. In very best circumstances it spreads through rhizomes and self-seeding.
Crops entice pollinators with upright spikes of unscented tubular blossom clusters in shades of blue, lavender, or purple. The scalloped foliage is sweetly fragrant with hints of anise and licorice.
Develop in full solar to half shade with common soil and low to reasonable moisture. Quick-growing anise hyssop achieves mature dimensions of 24 to 48 inches tall and 18 to 36 inches broad.
Violet-blue anise hyssop seeds are available from Eden Brothers in one-ounce, quarter-pound, and one-pound packages.
See our guide to growing anise hyssop for extra info.
3. Beardtongue
Beardtongue, Penstemon spp., aka penstemon, is a summer-blooming perennial for Zones 3 to 9.
It’s a pollinator favourite, with tall stalks bearing clusters of downward-facing, tubular blossoms, and is available in a rainbow of colours in addition to bicolor mixtures.
Crops develop in full solar to half shade with sandy, fertile soil and low moisture. Mature dimensions differ from six to 60 inches tall and 12 to 36 inches broad, relying on the kind.
Palmer’s beardtongue, Penstemon palmeri, is a aromatic species with pink flowers and stems as much as 48 inches tall, offering a surprising backdrop in beds and borders.
Palmer’s beardtongue seeds are available from Eden Brothers in packet and one-ounce packages.
Our guide to growing beardtongue has cultivation particulars.
4. Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta, is a short-lived flowering perennial for Zones 3 to 9, yielding three to 5 years of considerable blooms. Many gardeners develop it as an annual.
![A horizontal image of lavender and black-eyed Susan flowers growing in the garden.](https://gardenerspath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lavender-Growing-with-Black-Eyed-Susans.jpg)
The orange-yellow, daisy-like blooms and brown facilities are iconic summer-to-fall flowers that enchantment to pollinators.
Black-eyed Susans thrive in full solar with organically-rich soil.
They develop quick and have low to reasonable water wants as soon as established, making them very best as a companion for lavender.
Mature dimensions are 24 to 36 inches tall and 12 to 18 inches broad.
Rudbeckia x ‘Glitters Like Gold’
Rudbeckia x ‘Glitters Like Gold’ is a prolific hybrid cultivar with distinctive warmth tolerance.
‘Glitters Like Gold’ black-eyed Susan vegetation are available from Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
Our black-eyed Susan growing guide has extra info.
5. Boxwood
Boxwood, Buxus spp., is a woody shrub for Zones 4 to 9 that prefers full solar to half shade, common to fertile soil, and reasonable moisture.
![A close up horizontal image of a formal border outside a brick residence comprised of flowering lavender and pruned boxwood.](https://gardenerspath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lavender-and-Boxwood-Hedge.jpg)
Mature dimensions are 5 to fifteen toes tall and broad.
The shiny, rounded, evergreen foliage is straightforward to prune into topiaries or hedges for formal backyard design schemes.
Nondescript greenish flowers seem in spring adopted by seeds that entice feeding birds.
‘Inexperienced Gem’ boxwood is a compact, winter-hardy hybrid cultivar that prefers full solar and has mature dimensions of two to 3 toes tall and broad.
‘Inexperienced Gem’ boxwood shrubs are available from Nature Hills Nursery in #1 and #5 containers.
Learn more about boxwood cultivation in our information.
6. Coneflower
The daisy-like coneflower, Echinacea spp., is a mid- to late summer season blooming perennial for Zones 5 to 9 with edible flowers in orange, pink, purple, crimson, white, or yellow.
It grows in full solar to half shade places with sandy loam and low moisture.
Relying upon the kind, heights can attain as much as 48 inches with a selection of as much as 18 inches.
Coneflower is a pollinator magnet that pulls bees, useful bugs, and butterflies to its nectar, and songbirds to the seed-laden cones at season’s finish.
Crops have an distinctive tolerance for drought, warmth, and poor soil. Deadheading encourages optimum blooming.
Purple coneflower seeds are available from True Leaf Market in one-gram, one-ounce, four-ounce, and one-pound packages.
Read more in our coneflower growing guide.
7. Coreopsis
Aster-like Coreopsis spp., aka tickseed, is an early summer season flowering perennial for Zones 4 to 10 that may be grown as an annual elsewhere, with cream, pink, crimson, or yellow jagged-edged flowers atop wiry, leafless stems.
Crops thrive in full solar with lean soil and reasonable water. Mature dimensions are one to 3 toes tall with an equal unfold.
Drought- and heat-tolerant Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Double the Solar’ boasts brilliant yellow semi-double blooms and a compact 12 to 14-inch type for a placing distinction to spikes of lavender.
‘Double the Solar’ coreopsis seeds are available from Burpee in packages of 150.
Study extra about growing coreopsis in our guide.
8. Creeping Juniper
Creeping juniper, Juniperus horizontalis, is a low-profile, low-maintenance perennial woody evergreen for Zones 4 to 9. Mature dimensions are as much as two toes tall with a selection of as much as 10 toes.
Relying on the kind, the foliage could also be blue, inexperienced, or purple. Blue cones or berries could also be produced when a female and male plant are rising within the neighborhood of each other.
Creeping juniper thrives in full solar to half shade with well-draining sand, loam, or clay soil and reasonable moisture. They provide a wealthy textural counterpoint to lavender.
‘Wiltonii’ Creeping Juniper
Wiltonii’ is a cultivated selection that matures to a top of 12 inches with a selection of 5 to 6 toes.
‘Wiltoni’ juniper vegetation are available from Fast Growing Trees in one- and three-gallon containers.
Read our guide to growing creeping juniper for additional info.Â
9. Daylily
The star-shaped perennial daylily, Hemerocallis spp., grows in full solar to half shade in Zones 3 to 9.
Intensive hybridization has produced a diversified coloration palette, together with orange, pink, crimson, and yellow. Heights vary from one to 6 toes with a selection of two to 4 toes.
A really accommodating summer season bloomer, the daylily tolerates some shade however produces fewer blooms with out full solar. It thrives in organically wealthy, moist soil however tolerates some drought and oversaturation.
‘Primal Scream’ is a cultivar that sports activities brilliant tangerine-orange blossoms with a golden shimmer that sway atop 34-inch stems for a dramatic distinction to lavender.
Count on a selection of 18 to 24 inches.
You could find ‘Primal Scream’ available from Burpee in single naked root packages.
Study extra about daylily cultivation in our information.
10. Ice Plant
The ice plant, Delosperma cooperi, is a succulent, ground-covering perennial for Zones 6 to 10. Mature dimensions are 4 to six inches tall and 12 to 24 inches broad.
Cultural necessities embody full solar, lean, gritty soil, and low moisture.
The foliage is needle-like and evergreen. Aster-like orange, pink, purple, crimson, or yellow flowers bloom from summer season to fall.
Delosperma cooperi ‘Fire Wonder’
‘Fireplace Marvel’ has vibrant crimson petals with yellow facilities for a daring splash of coloration in blended groupings beneath and round your lavender shrubs.
Mature heights are six to eight inches with a 20- to 24-inch unfold.
You could find ‘Fireplace Marvel’ vegetation available from Burpee.
11. Marigold
The edible dwarf French marigold, Tagetes patula, is a summer season annual for Zones 2 to 11 that prefers full solar, fertile soil, and medium moisture.
Mature heights are six to 12 inches with a selection of six to 9 inches.
Cultivars can be found in shades of orange, crimson, yellow, and bicolor mixtures and should have a number of rows of petals surrounding a outstanding middle crest.
Their petite stature makes them well-suited to develop as floor cowl round lavender.
‘Naughty Marietta’ French Marigold
‘Naughty Marietta’ has brilliant yellow petals, maroon facilities, and mature heights of eight to 10 inches with an equal unfold. It blooms from summer season to fall.
Naughty Marietta seeds are available from Botanical Interests in packages of roughly 140 seeds.
You may be taught more about French marigolds in our information.
12. Portulaca
Summer time-flowering portulaca, Portulaca grandiflora, aka moss rose, is a low-profile perennial succulent with brilliant, rose-like single- or double-petaled flowers in orange, pink, crimson, white, and yellow hues.
It’s hardy in Zones 10 to 12 and could be grown as an annual in different areas.
Crops thrive in full solar with lean to fertile, gritty soil, and low water. Mature dimensions are as much as 9 inches tall with a selection of eight to twenty inches, relying on the cultivar.
Double Combine is a mix that gives a wealthy coloration palette, together with canary, carmine, fuchsia, ivory, and peach flowers. Crops might self-seed in very best circumstances.
You could find seeds available from True Leaf Market in a wide range of packet sizes.
Discover more about portulaca in our growing guide.
13. Pink Scorching Poker
Perennial crimson scorching poker, Kniphofia spp., aka torch lily, has upright spikes of downward-facing, tubular, brilliant orange and yellow flowers.
It’s suited to cultivation in Zones 5 to 9 and blooms from spring by means of summer season.
Crops favor full solar, sandy loam, and reasonable water. Mature dimensions are 12 to 72 inches tall and 12 to 36 inches broad.
Drought-tolerant ‘Redhot Popsicle’ is a cultivar with mature dimensions of 15 to 18 inches tall and 18 inches broad.
Kniphofia ‘Redhot Popsicle’
It’s a modestly proportioned backyard pal to your lavender that pulls butterflies and hummingbirds.
‘Redhot Popsicle’ vegetation are available from Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
14. Pink Valerian
Pink valerian, Centranthus ruber, aka Jupiter’s beard, is a perennial for Zones 4 to 9 that produces a number of clusters of star-shaped, tubular pink, crimson, or white summer season to fall blossoms favored by hummingbirds and different pollinators.
Some gardeners discover the perfume candy whereas others describe it as disagreeable so you might want to plant it out in a meadow as a substitute of beneath a kitchen window.
The woody stems attain mature heights of 24 to 36 inches with a selection of 12 to 24 inches. Crops favor full solar, common soil, and medium moisture.
They tolerate drought nicely and should fail to thrive in humid areas.
Centranthus ruber ‘Coccineus’ has aromatic magenta-red flowers and mature dimensions of 24 to 36 inches tall and broad, making a daring assertion when planted with lavender.
‘Coccineus’ crimson valerian is available from Nature Hills Nursery.
15. Rosemary
Rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus syn.Rosmarinus officinalis is an edible perennial subshrub suited to cultivation in Zones 8 to 10, with some cultivars hardy to Zone 6.
Cultural necessities embody full solar, common soil, and low to reasonable moisture. Mature dimensions are 4 to 6 toes tall with a six- to eight-foot unfold.
The fragrant, savory, needle-like foliage of rosemary is accented by spikes of tiny blossoms in shades of blue, pink, or white from late winter to late spring and typically once more in late summer season.
Drought-tolerant rosemary requires minimal water as soon as established and is well-suited to xeriscaping.
You could find packets of rosemary seeds available from Eden Brothers.
See our rosemary growing guide for extra info.
16. Salvia
Salvia, Salvia spp. is a hardy perennial for Zones 3 to 10 with spikes of tiny blue, orange, pink, purple, crimson, yellow, or white flowers from spring to fall which can be very engaging to pollinators.
Cultural necessities embody full solar to half shade, sandy loam, and low to reasonable moisture.
Mature dimensions are one to 5 toes tall and two to 4 toes broad. The spiked type enhances that of lavender, and you’ll enhance the visible worth by mixing colours.
‘Flare’ boasts brilliant crimson blossoms, prefers full solar, and reaches mature dimensions of 18 to twenty inches tall with a selection of 12 to 16 inches, for a compact backyard companion.
‘Flare’ seeds are available from Burpee in packages of 75.
Learn more about growing salvia in our guide.
17. Sedum
Sedum, Sedum spp., aka stonecrop, is a genus of succulent annuals, biennials, and perennials with fleshy foliage and sometimes star-like flowers. There are varieties for Zones 3 to 10.
These summer-to-fall bloomers favor full solar to half shade, lean, gritty soil, and low to reasonable moisture.
Relying on the kind, they mature to heights of three to 24 inches with a selection of 24 to 36 inches. From floor covers to upright vegetation, choices swimsuit varied backyard settings.
‘Lemon Drop’ is a placing floor cowl selection with scalloped foliage and clusters of brilliant yellow, starry flowers.
The species is appropriate for Zones 4 to 9 and matures to 6 inches tall and eight to 12 inches broad, making a fairly accent when grown with lavender.
‘Lemon Drop’ vegetation are available from Nature Hills Nursery in #1 containers.
Learn more about how to grow stonecrop in our guide.
18. Small Globe Thistle
The spiky, lavender blue, ball-like flowers of small globe thistle, Echinops ritro, add motion and texture to the backyard as they jiggle within the breeze from mid to late summer season.
Suited to Zones 3 to eight, they like full solar, common to lean soil, and low moisture.
Mature heights are 36 to 48 inches tall with a selection of 24 to 30 inches. With its complementary coloration and kooky form, small globe thistle makes a placing lavender companion.
As a low-water, low-maintenance species, Echinops ritro is particularly suited to xeriscaping.
Small globe thistle seeds are available via Amazon in packages of 25.
You may learn more about small globe thistle cultivation in our guide.
19. Yarrow
Yarrow, Achillea spp., is a water-wise semi-evergreen perennial for Zones 3 to 9 with flattened flower heads consisting of plenty of tiny pink, crimson, white, or yellow blossoms.
It flowers in late spring by means of summer season and prefers full solar, lean, unfastened soil, and low water.
Crops have distinctive warmth and drought tolerance. Mature heights are two to 4 toes with a selection of 1 to 3 toes.
The flattened type provides dimension and texture to gardens containing spikes and daisy heads.
‘Moonshine’ is a neon yellow hybrid that pops like sunshine within the backyard, particularly when paired with purple spikes of lavender.
Mature dimensions are a compact 18 to 24 inches tall and broad, making it a uniform, well-behaved neighbor.
‘Moonshine’ yarrow is available from Nature Hills Nursery in #2 containers.
You’ll discover more information about growing yarrow in our information.
Pretty Lavender and Mates
With 19 companions for lavender, it’s time to take out the garden planner and resolve methods to incorporate your favorites into an present or fully new design.
![A horizontal image of coneflowers growing with lavender in a meadow.](https://gardenerspath.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Lavender-Growing-with-Coneflowers.jpg)
Contemplate options like type, texture, and coloration to differ your backyard scheme. With vegetation in hand, transfer them round and resolve methods to group them earlier than unpotting and planting.
Range the heights so as to add depth and repeat a coloration or species at common intervals to unify the association.
What companions do you develop together with your lavender? Inform us within the feedback under.
If you happen to discovered this text informative and need to learn more about lavender cultivation, we suggest the next: