Tulips and alliums are perfect companion plants in gardens, as they prefer full sun and well-draining soil. Their blooming seasons don’t overlap, making them a great combination. Planting allium alongside tulips provides variation in height and texture, opening up just when tulips begin to fade, making beds timed for continuous color. Tulips bloom in spring and come in a wide range of vibrant colors.
Some popular choices to plant with tulips include crocus, grape hyacinth, daffodils, allium, pansies, snapdragons, shasta daisies, sunflowers, zinnias, daylilies, and late tulips. Irises can also make a wonderful partner plant, adding color to the garden with ease. Alliums and daffodils are perfect companions for tulips, enhancing beauty and pest control. Layering heights with companions like ferns creates depth and retains color.
Tulips are highly prized in mid-spring but have drawbacks, such as the risk of dying. It’s advisable to plant both tulips and alliums every autumn for a great display each spring. If the plant is something like Purple Sensation or one of the other medium ones, it should be fine. However, be aware that any of the giganteum tulips may not be suitable for all gardens.
In summary, tulips and alliums are perfect companion plants in gardens, with their blooming seasons not overlapping. Planting allium alongside tulips provides variation in height and texture, making them a versatile and low-maintenance option.
📹 Planting Alliums & Tulips in the Garden! 🌷💚🥰 // Garden Answer
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What can I plant on top of tulips?
Brunnera is a shade perennial that pairs well with spring bulbs like tulips, as it blooms around the same time and has large leaves that cover the bulbs’ foliage during dormancy. Both plants thrive under tall deciduous trees like oaks, providing ample sunlight before the trees leaf out and providing shade once they are fully covered in foliage. The plant, known as ‘Jack of Diamonds’, has extra-large leaves that easily cover the spent tulips’ foliage. It grows taller than most spring bulbs, providing a pretty backdrop for shorter, brightly colored spring flowers. The plant is named after its star-shaped, light blue flowers.
Do allium bulbs multiply?
Allium bulbs germinate after 12 weeks and can grow quickly under suitable conditions, multiplying over 3+ years. As perennials, they bloom beautifully for the first year and return year after year. To plant allium bulbs, it is recommended to plant them in rows of 10 in a well-suited environment. For optimal growth, plant them in close proximity to each other. More information on planting allium bulbs can be found in a blog post.
What to layer with tulips?
- Choose the right bulbs: Larger bulbs with the latest flowering time, such as late tulips or pheasant’s eye narcissi, flower the longest.
- Choose smaller bulbs with earlier flowers, like early miniature daffodils or mid-season daffodils, flower earlier.
- Choose the smallest bulbs with the earliest flowers, like crocuses or snowdrops.
- Choose a large container with drainage holes, cover it with broken pieces, and select spring-flowering bulbs like crocuses, daffodils, and tulips.
- Spread a layer of gravel over the surface to deter weeds and water well to settle the compost. Place the pot outdoors in a warm, sunny spot.
What do alliums repel?
Planting plants that repel pests and insects is a great way to keep your garden healthy and thriving without the need for chemical repellants. Some of the most effective pest-repelling plants include Alliums (Perennial), Basil (Annual), Catnip (Annual), Lavender (Perennial), Chrysanthemums (Semi-Perennial), Mint (Perennial), Citronella grass (Annual), Lemongrass (Annual), Marigolds (Annual), and Petunias (Annual).
Alliums, including leeks, chives, and shallots, can help repel aphids, cabbage worms, slugs, and carrot flies. Basil is effective against deterring mosquitos, flea beetles, and cabbage webworms and is also fragrant. Catnip, on the other hand, is a fragrant herb that repels mosquitos and other insects. Lavender is known for its fragrance and repellent properties, but it should be planted in sunny areas or dried bouquets around the home. Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrum, which helps repel various pests, such as ants, roaches, ticks, lice, fleas, bedbugs, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and more.
Mint is another fragrant and effective mosquito repellent, but be careful where you plant it as it spreads voraciously. Instead of planting in the garden, plant mint in pots near doorways or window boxes. Mint is a weed when planted in beds but can be cut back, trimmed, or divided and shared. Citronella grass is a natural alternative to DEET that can be rubbed on the skin and is safe for children. Lemongrass is a tropical herb that grows three to five feet tall and contains citronella. Marigolds have a scent that deters insects and small rodents, and they can be planted in flower beds or vegetable gardens to keep rabbits and mosquitoes at bay.
Petunias are annual flowers that repel aphids, beetles, tomato worms, and squash bugs. However, their slight licorice fragrance can attract slugs and caterpillars. Planting Petunias in flower beds, vegetable gardens, or decorative hanging baskets on the front porch can help maintain a healthy and thriving garden without the need for chemical repellants.
What flowers go best with tulips?
The native bluebell, Hyacinthoides non-scripta, is a great companion for tulips, growing in the foreground with tulips like ‘Irene’, ‘West Point’, and ‘Ronaldo’. Plant tulips among large bluebell clumps for a meadow-like display. Tulips can also work in areas of dappled shade, flowering before trees come into leaf. Light up the edge of a woodland scheme with yellow and white tulips, and team them with a mass of spring flowers and foliage plants.
Do alliums prefer sun or shade?
Alliums prefer sun or shade, but most varieties can tolerate some shade. They are best planted in October, but can be planted later if needed. Planting in October provides the longest flowering time, while planting later may result in shorter blooming times. Allium bulbs should be planted in autumn for optimal results, but can be planted as late as December if they are healthy. Planting too late may affect other bulbs in the area and hinder growth.
Dried out bulbs can grow as long as they are not mouldy. Firm, plump bulbs are likely to be successful in spring, while shrivelled and dry ones should be thrown away. Alliums should be planted in a location that receives the most sun, but can be planted later if necessary.
What not to plant with alliums?
Alliums, such as asparagus, can hinder the growth of legume plants like beans and peas, reducing harvest yields. They also have antibacterial properties that can inhibit nitrogen-fixing bacteria on legume roots. Instead, beans and peas can be grown with cucumber, eggplant, radish, and marigolds, which deter common pests. Corn and tomatoes, while making salsas, are not good garden partners due to vulnerability to corn earworms and competition for nutrients in the soil. Both plants are heavy-feeding and can compete for nutrients, making them less suitable for gardening.
Can you plant tulips and dahlias together?
Dahlias and tulips have a symbiotic relationship, making them ideal bedfellows. When choosing companion plants for dahlias, start with sun-loving plants in well-drained soil. Consider height, space needs, air flow, and root space. Add flowering time, cutting garden characteristics, and pest control needs. With trial and error, your dahlias will make new friends, and your garden will be filled with beautiful blooms. By incorporating these factors, your garden will be filled with beautiful blooms.
Why avoid allium?
An allium intolerance is a condition where the body reacts to certain substances, such as garlic or leeks, with less severe symptoms. It can cause cramping or diarrhea, while an allium allergy may cause difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis. If stomach problems or itchiness occur after eating allium-rich foods, it may be an intolerance. It is crucial to consult a doctor if you suspect a food reaction, especially if you suspect an allergy. After ruled out any major underlying health conditions, at-home health tests and elimination diets can be used to identify any intolerances.
What flowers to arrange with tulips?
Tulips are a beautiful combination of flowers, especially roses, hyacinths, and daffodils. These flowers are similar in color and shape, making them a visually appealing combination. Daffodils, another spring flower, can be paired with tulips in the same color. Greenery can be used alongside tulips, including eucalyptus greens, field greens, and baby’s breath. A penny can also help keep tulips fresh and prevent drooping, making a tulip arrangement more attractive. Despite the common misconception, incorporating a penny in a vase of tulips can help maintain their beauty and longevity.
What do you put in with tulips?
To maintain the health of your tulips, ensure they receive plenty of fresh water, ensuring they are topped up to three-quarters full in your vase. Change the water every second day and add flower food, such as lemon juice, a coin, or half a teaspoon of sugar. Trim the stems on an angle every second day when changing the water to encourage growth. Avoid giving too much sun to your tulips, as it can cause them to wilt faster once they open. Place them in a spot away from direct heat and sunlight to ensure they stay healthy and happy.
📹 How to plant allium bulbs for beginners
Lee Burkhill from Garden Ninja & Garden Rescue shows you exactly how to plant Allium bulbs for bright pops of purple flowers in …
I’m so happy that I used golf pegs around the spaces where I planted my tulip bulbs. The bed is overgrown with weeds and without the pegs the risk is high I’d accidentally dig them up when tidying it. I’ve already been quite this year. I have put in a few tomatoe seeds and will do more as the weeks progress. Soon I’ll be planting some early potatoes in their potatoe grow bags. I plant most of my fruit and veggies in containers, especially my fruit bushes. for, should I decide to move, I can take them with me. I placed them all close to the house on a concrete path that leads to nowhere and I’m quite successful. The wall is West-facing, so they all get a lot of light and I think the bricks and the surface reflect the warmth. Growing my own fruits and veggies have saved me a small fortune last year. The only downside to that is, that they are all seasonal. However, I remember times when you could only buy seasonal in the shops, so I re-learned the art of making preserves, which is fun for the grandchildren. It’s also interesting to pair crops. Not all of them like each other, but if you grow the perfect partners together, they benefit from each other and can deal with pests much better, if they get any at all. Thanks to your website and your way of explaining things, I really got into gardening. Thank you, Lee 🙂
Lol, I just ordered some late last fall. Now I had to listen to see if I did it right. The bulbs arrived a bit late and the ground was freezing. Luckily I found areas that I could still dig—barely. I still had a couple and they will just have to keep the glad bulbs company until then. I usually like to put bonemeal down, but not enough time so I’ll give them a pinch this spring. Can’t wait to see them. They might not be in all the right places because of frozen ground, but they are in. Thanks for instructions, I think they’ll be ok.
Great tips Lee as ever a wicked guide! Have you tried the red mohican allium? Gives a lush blast of colour abit like the drumstick variety,my faves are schubertii&christophii,they’re like fireworks exploding mid border,got to admit though,any allium is a favourite of mine,your bees are certainly gonna get spoilt for choice.
Hi Lee, another great article. Quick question, I have lots of problems with growing any bulbs, not just Alliums, the pesky squirrels dig them up all the time, sometime they eat them, sometimes they just dig them up for fun! I have thought about putting chicken wire over the bulbs but that’s a big task if I’m planting 100’s of bulbs across the borders. Have you got any other tips to keep the squirrels away? Thanks Jini