Look at the list of best Dahlia Companion Plants that not only complement these pretty blooms but also protect them.
If you are looking for the Dahlia Companion Plants in Pots and Garden then these options are for you that suits them well. These good neighbors enhance the beauty of dahlias and shield them from deterring pests.
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Dahlia Companion Plants in Pots and Gardens
1. Artemisia (Artemisia)
USDA Zones: 3-8
This perennial plant has soft, silver leaves that won’t overshadow your dahlias’ big flowers. Artemisia is often chosen as a companion because it complements the dahlias’ bold colors. Its light, cloud-like appearance adds a calming touch.
Artemisia also helps keep slugs away. It needs plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil, just like dahlias, so it won’t add extra work to your gardening routine.
2. Anise (Pimpinella Anisum)
USDA Zones: 4-11
People often choose anise because it keeps aphids away. It grows under most dahlia flowers and looks nice next to them. When it starts to grow, it looks round and feathery. Later on, it sends up tall stems with small white or slightly yellow flowers shaped like umbrellas.
Anise plants like lots of sunlight and some protection from strong winds so they don’t break. That’s why they go well with dahlias. They smell in a way that keeps aphids away and brings in wasps that eat the aphids. It’s good for both plants.
3. Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum)
USDA Zones: 2-11
They both share similar growing conditions. For example, cilantro also enjoys up to 6 hours of morning sunlight instead of afternoon sun and non-clay, crumbly soil. Cilantro is loved for its smell that keeps aphids away and its delicate leaves, looks good under a group of dahlias.
4. Coastal Lavender (Limonium latifolium)
USDA Zones: 4-11
During the initial stages of growth, a cluster of robust leaves will carpet the soil beneath your dahlias, effectively filling any vacant spaces. As mid-summer approaches, coastal lavender will gracefully emerge, adorning the scene with its clusters of purple, pink, or white blossoms, complementing the dahlias beautifully.
Coastal lavender isn’t just a charming addition to the garden; it’s also a favorite for cutting, thanks to its distinctive foliage and upright form. Incorporate this lovely perennial among your dahlias, and you’ll consistently have a stunning mid-summer floral arrangement to brighten up your kitchen table!
5. Geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
USDA Zones: 10-11
Geraniums showcase big flower heads on stiff stems and dark, tough leaves, giving them that cozy cottage look. They’re great companions for your dahlias. Geraniums grow in a round shape and like lots of sunlight. They fit well under dahlias that stand tall and alone.
Also, because Japanese beetles like geraniums more than dahlias, you can plant geraniums close to your dahlias to keep the beetles away from your beautiful flowers.
6. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
USDA Zones: 2-11
Cosmos flowers are big about 4 inches wide, that keep popping up from the middle of summer until fall. They have spiky leaves and can look nice planted under dahlias. It comes in lots of colors and sizes. You can trim them to keep them bushy or let them grow freely in the garden. They need almost the same conditions as dahlias to grow well, so they’re a good and pretty plant to have nearby.
7. Peonies (Paeonia officinalis)
USDA Zones: 3-9
Peonies are classic and charming, growing like small bushes and producing lots of pink or white flowers. They go great with dahlias in a cottage-style garden. Since they bloom early, they add color when dahlias haven’t started flowering yet. Later on, their big, dark leaves contrast nicely with the colorful dahlias.
You can plant peonies in front of or behind dahlias, depending on the type you have. Make sure to leave some space between them to prevent fungus and allow air to circulate. Like dahlias, they might need support to keep them standing tall.
8. Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium)
USDA Zones: 4-9
Even though we usually think of dahlias as tall plants in the garden and focus on what can go underneath them, some other tall flowers can be planted behind them for a stunning effect. One of these is Joe Pye weed. It grows in tall bunches, and its pretty mauve-pink flowers can reach heights of up to 7 feet.
Joe Pye weed has a sweet vanilla scent, which can add fragrance to the garden where dahlias might not have much of a smell. Plus, its flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. Just like dahlias, it needs soil that drains well, regular watering, and lots of sunlight. You might need to support it with stakes to keep it standing tall. This plant takes up quite a bit of space, so it’s a good choice for larger gardens where you want to fill in the area behind the dahlias.
9. Yarrow (Achillea)
USDA Zones: 3-9
Yarrow has feathery leaves and clusters of yellow, white, or pink flowers that sit flat on top. It fits well both among and below the towering dahlias. The stems are about four times taller than their leaves, so depending on the type of dahlia you have, they can blend together or stand out.
The distinct shape of yarrow’s flowers complements the big, round blooms of dahlias, making them a great team in the cutting garden. They bloom simultaneously and need similar growing conditions, making yarrow and dahlias a perfect match.
10. Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
USDA Zones: 7-11
Snapdragons display small blooms in various shades, such as yellow, pink, red, white, peach, orange, violet, and purple. They are good for areas where dahlias are planted as they flower early. When dahlias are still growing, snapdragons add color until mid-summer.
They need the same sunlight, soil, and pH levels as dahlias. They also grow upward like dahlias, so they’re often planted together. While snapdragons can live for many years, people usually plant them as annuals, meaning they only last for one season. Remember this if you want your garden to bloom every year.
11. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
USDA Zones: 3-10
Daylilies are simple to look after and can grow in many different conditions. They come in lots of bright colors and continue blooming until fall.
Their long, thin leaves look great next to the darker, classic shape of dahlias, so they make a good match in a mixed garden bed. Just keep an eye on them because, in some places, daylilies can be invasive. You’ll need to trim them regularly to keep them in check.
12. Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
USDA Zones: 10-11
This fast-growing annual herb attract aphids which are a significat threat to dahlia. You can plant nasturtium near dahlia as a trap crop. Nasturtiums also lure bees and butterflies, both of them are good for this preety blooms.
Similar to dahlia, nasturtium prefers well-draining soil and sunlight.
TIP: When planting both alongside, choose low-mounding cultivars as long-winded vines or understory plant.
Read: Nasturtium Companion Plants
13. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
USDA Zones: 5-9
Sweet alyssum adds a carpet of tiny white flowers to your garden all season long. When planted in pots, it spills over the edges, filling and flowing beautifully. Its small size and fluffy appearance look nice next to the bold dahlias in any garden.
Trim it back every month or so, and sweet alyssum will keep blooming as long as the dahlias do. It also helps keep the soil around the dahlias cool and moist during hot weather.
14. Cranesbill (Geranium)
USDA Zones: 4-10
When you add cranesbill to your garden, you’ll get lots of cup-shaped flowers that rise above a carpet of green leaves. This plant grows quickly and spreads out, creating a nice layer under your dahlias, keeping the soil cool and damp.
In warmer areas, the leaves of cranesbill stay green throughout the winter, acting like a ground cover. It starts blooming in spring and keeps going until late summer, adding lots of color to your garden while your dahlias are just starting to grow.
15. Tulip (Tulipa spp.)
USDA Zones: 4-10
If you want flowers to brighten up your garden before the dahlias bloom, tulips are perfect. They come in lots of different sizes and colors and are simple to grow. Tulips bloom in spring and early summer and fade away just as dahlias start to show off.
You can tuck the tulip leaves under or braid them so they’re not as visible when the dahlias grow bigger. We don’t cut the stalks of tulip bulbs until they turn completely brown, which works well with dahlias. So, dahlias and tulips make a great pair in the garden.
16. Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)
USDA Zones: 3-10
Fountain grass is a good choice for planting next to dahlias. It has long, thin leaves that come in purple, burgundy, or green. Plus, it grows feathery flowers that stick around until fall. This grass has a relaxed, breezy look that contrasts nicely with the bold dahlias. It grows best in sunny spots.
17. Lady’s Mantle (Alchemilla)
USDA Zones: 3-8
Lady’s mantle is a perennial plant that grows in clumps and has big, scallop-shaped leaves with small yellow flowers. It is usually grown in front of borders when you want other flashy flowers like dahlias to stand out.
If you don’t remove the old flowers and split the plant yearly, the lady’s mantle can spread across your garden and cover the ground. Many gardeners like this because it creates a nice carpet effect in the garden.
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