Few flowers are as stunning, resilient, and easy to care for as the daylily is.
Even though they are easy to take care of, you will still want to be intentional about what to plant with daylilies (and what to avoid).
This process is called “companion planting” and it takes into consideration various plant similarities, requirements, and preferences in order to provide a mutually beneficial environment for all of the flowers in your garden.
If you’ve been asking yourself what to plant with daylilies, you’ve come to the right place as I have compiled all of the information you will need in this informative and easy-to-read article!
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What to Plant with Daylilies
When planting daylilies, the best companions are Ladies Mantle, White or Russian sage, Baby’s Breath, False Indigo, Gayfeather, Yarrow, African Lily, Clustered Bellflower, Tickseed, Coneflowers, Plantain Lily, English Lavender, and Bee Balm. Never plant them next to trees or shrubs to avoid the roots running into each other or competing for nutrients.
Expanding on the Daylily Companion Plants
Now that we have the basics covered, I’d like to talk about companion planting in relation to the daylily itself.
Companion planting utilizes traits of plants that can benefit its neighboring plants and flowers.
To begin with, you will want to make sure that no matter what you are planting your daylily with, it does not grow to be too tall.
Daylilies require full sunlight and you could unintentionally create shade by pairing it with a large flower.
You will also want to make sure that the flower you plant with the daylily is also a sun-loving flower, to avoid killing the other plant in the process of trying to grow your daylily.
Of the examples listed above, Russian Sage, False Indigo, Baby’s Breath, and Yarrow are the best options to plant with the daylily.
Russian Sage, which is well known for its resiliency, is one of the top choices. It has a beautiful lavender color which will complement the vibrant petals of the daylily.
As far as companion planting goes, it is an excellent neighbor due to it requiring minimal water and full sun exposure.
It is important to note that Russian Sage, unlike other varieties of sage, is not edible and should not be consumed due to the risk of toxicity.
Russian Sage does best at a soil pH of 7 or higher and, within reason, it will tolerate both acidic and alkaline soil conditions.
Although False Indigo can take a few years to fully develop, it is another plant that goes well with daylilies.
It is important to note that False Indigo can reach a height of three feet, so you want to keep this in mind when you are determining where to plant.
However, it is a plant that is difficult to kill, requires little care, and just like the daylily, it likes to have full sun, minimal shade, and not too much water.
An added benefit is that they attract bees and butterflies and are resistant to common flower diseases.
Falso Indigo is more tolerant of a variety of soil pH levels, preferring a level of 5.5-7.0.
Baby’s Breath is another drought-tolerant flower that would make a good companion for daylilies.
It requires full sun and does not grow to be excessively tall, which minimizes the risk of casting shade on neighboring daylilies.
Similar to the daylily, it prefers soil with a pH of 7.0. Baby’s Breath also attracts beautiful insects such as the butterfly, which help to add life and beauty to your garden.
Like all of the flowers listed above, Yarrow prefers growing under full sunlight in well-drained soil.
There are a few different colors of Yarrow that you can choose from, which gives you plenty of options when adding to your garden’s color scheme.
Just like the daylily, the soil pH preference for Yarrow is 6.5 and does handle slight variations with ease.
Another added benefit of planting this flower with the daylily is that it is a smaller flower, which reduces the risk of providing unwanted shade.
Since the pH level is important for your plants, you’ll want to test your soil’s pH if you don’t already know it.
You can contact your county to see if they offer this service and you can also purchase a testing kit and do it yourself at home.
Frequently Asked Questions About What To Plant With Daylilies
What should I plant with daylilies?
Daylilies grow best with other sun-loving plants. While there are many plants that pair well with the daylily, Russian Sage, False Indigo, Baby’s Breath, and Yarrow are some of the more ideal companion plants.
How far apart should the other plants be from my daylilies?
Daylilies have an extensive root system, which will compete with other plants that also have this type of root system. For this reason, plant your daylilies 12-18 inches apart from other deep-rooted plants as well as with each other. You should never plant your daylilies next to trees or shrubs to avoid casting shade and risking the root systems becoming entwined.
What else should I know about daylilies?
The main takeaway here is that daylilies require full sun and do not do well in long periods of shade. In the beginning, you should water your plants every 2 to 3 days. As it becomes established and its root system takes hold, you can cut back to water 1 to 2 times per week depending on what the weather has been like in your area.
What To Plant With Daylilies
Overall, it is hard to go wrong with daylilies.
It is very easygoing and requires minimal care and, with some strategic placement, it’s easy to grow (even for those who missed out on that green thumb trait).
If you’re not sure and want to play it safe, stick with Russian Sage, Yarrow, Baby’s Breath, and False Indigo for a beautiful color variation in your garden.
Daniel has been a plant enthusiast for over 20 years. He owns hundreds of houseplants and prepares for the chili growing seasons yearly with great anticipation. His favorite plants are plant species in the Araceae family, such as Monstera, Philodendron, and Anthurium. He also loves gardening and is growing hot peppers, tomatoes, and many more vegetables.