Peonies are showstoppers – for about three weeks in late spring. Then the blooms fade, and you are left with mounds of green foliage that gradually turns yellow or spotty by late summer. That is where companion plants come in.
The right neighbors extend the beauty of your peony bed, hide fading leaves, add complementary colors, and even improve plant health by promoting airflow. But not every plant plays nicely with peonies. Some compete for water, create too much shade, or just look awkward next to those big, round blooms.
This guide walks you through the best companion plants – flowers, foliage, and groundcovers – that pair beautifully with peonies. You will learn what to plant, what to avoid, and how to create a layered garden that looks good from spring through fall.
What Makes a Good Peony Companion Plant?
A good companion for peonies is not just about looks. It must also respect the peony’s needs:
- ☀️ Sunlight match: Peonies need at least 6 hours of sun. Companions must tolerate or love full sun. Shade‑loving plants will struggle.
- 💧 Watering match: Peonies prefer deep, infrequent watering and do not like soggy soil. Companions must also be drought‑tolerant once established.
- 🌱 Non‑competitive roots: Peony roots spread wide but are not aggressively invasive. Avoid plants with dense, matting roots that choke peonies.
- 🌸 Bloom time complement: The best companions bloom either before peonies (early spring), with peonies (late spring), or after peonies (summer into fall). This creates continuous color.
- 🍃 Foliage function: Good companions hide peony leaves as they decline in summer. Look for plants that fill in and stay fresh through August.
🌿 For more on peony growing conditions, see our guide: [Best Place to Plant a Peony Bush](internal link – Growing Conditions Article 1).
Best Flowers to Pair With Peonies
These flowering perennials share the same sun and water needs and bloom alongside or after peonies.
| Companion | Bloom Time | Color | Height | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catmint (Nepeta) | Late spring – summer | Lavender‑blue | 12–18″ | Soft, airy texture contrasts peony balls. Blooms long. |
| Salvia (perennial) | Late spring – summer | Purple, blue, pink | 18–30″ | Spiky flowers add vertical interest. Very drought‑tolerant. |
| Geranium (cranesbill) | Late spring – summer | Pink, purple, white | 12–18″ | Mounding habit fills around peony base. Low maintenance. |
| Lady’s mantle (Alchemilla) | Late spring – early summer | Chartreuse (foliage) | 12–18″ | Frothy blooms and scalloped leaves hide peony stems. |
| Iris (bearded) | Mid‑late spring | Many colors | 24–36″ | Blooms just before or with peonies. Sword‑like leaves add structure. |
| Allium (ornamental) | Late spring | Purple, white | 24–48″ | Giant globe flowers echo peony shape at different height. |
| Delphinium | Early – mid summer | Blue, white, purple | 3–5′ | Backdrop plant. Blooms as peonies fade. Needs staking. |
| Coreopsis | Summer – fall | Yellow, gold | 12–24″ | Long bloom season after peonies. Fine foliage contrasts. |
Best bet for beginners: Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ or ‘Six Hills Giant’ – foolproof, drought‑tolerant, and hides peony foliage perfectly.
🌸 For variety inspiration, see our peony varieties guide and types of peonies flowers.
Best Green Foliage Plants Nearby
Foliage plants provide structure before peonies emerge and after they fade. Use these as a backdrop or edging.
| Foliage Plant | Height | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Boxwood (Buxus) | 1–3′ | Formal evergreen backdrop. Plant 2–3 feet behind peonies. |
| Hosta | 12–24″ | Large leaves contrast peony texture. Use in shade – but peonies need sun, so place hostas where they get afternoon shade (east side). |
| Heuchera (coral bells) | 8–12″ | Colorful foliage (purple, lime, amber). Great edging plant. Needs afternoon shade in hot climates. |
| Artemisia ‘Silver Mound’ | 12″ | Silvery, soft foliage contrasts green peony leaves. Very drought‑tolerant. |
| Dwarf ornamental grasses | 12–24″ | Fine texture, movement, and winter interest. Examples: ‘Blue Fescue’, ‘Little Bluestem’. |
Placement tip: Put foliage plants in front of peonies or along the bed edge. They will not block sun from peonies but will fill the lower visual layer.
🪴 For more garden design ideas, see our landscape planning guide.
Companion Plants for Long Bloom Seasons
Extend color from early spring through fall with a succession of bloomers around your peonies.
| Season | Bloomers | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Early spring (before peonies) | Daffodils, tulips, crocus, glory‑of‑the‑snow | Provide color when peonies are just emerging. Bulbs finish before peonies leaf out fully. |
| Late spring (with peonies) | Catmint, salvia, allium, iris, lady’s mantle | Enhance and surround the peony show. |
| Early summer (as peonies fade) | Coreopsis, lavender, shasta daisy, daylilies | Take over when peony blooms drop. |
| Summer – fall | Rudbeckia, echinacea, aster, sedum, ornamental grasses | Extend interest into autumn. |
Example succession planting (sunny bed):
- Spring bulbs (daffodils) – plant between peonies.
- Peonies bloom (late May).
- Catmint and salvia bloom alongside peonies.
- After peonies fade, coreopsis and echinacea fill in.
- Fall: Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and ornamental grasses.
📅 For seasonal peony care, see our spring care checklist.
Plants That Help Hide Spent Peony Foliage
This is the smartest companion planting trick. By midsummer, peony leaves often look tired – yellowing, spotted, or scorched. The right neighbors grow tall enough to cover them.
Best “hiding” plants:
- Catmint (Nepeta) – Grows 18–24 inches tall and wide. Plant in front of peonies; it will flop forward and hide lower leaves.
- Geranium ‘Rozanne’ – A sprawling perennial that covers ground and peony stems.
- Daylilies – Their grassy foliage grows up and around peony leaves. Plant daylilies on the south or west side of peonies – they love heat and sun.
- Lady’s mantle – The scalloped leaves spread wide, obscuring the peony base.
- Calamintha (lesser calamint) – Airy, mint‑like foliage that grows through peonies without choking them.
How to arrange: Plant hiding companions in front of peonies, spaced 18–24 inches from the peony crown. Do not plant directly on top of peony roots.
🍂 For more on post‑bloom peony appearance, see our fall cleanup guide.
Best Companion Plants for Small Gardens
When space is tight, choose multi‑tasking companions that do not crowd peonies.
| Plant | Why It Works for Small Gardens | Spacing |
|---|---|---|
| Catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ | Compact (15″ tall), long bloom, hides peony foliage | 18″ apart |
| Dwarf salvia ‘May Night’ | Spikes add height without width | 12–18″ apart |
| Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ | Fine texture, yellow blooms, low spread | 12–15″ apart |
| Dwarf daylily ‘Stella de Oro’ | Reblooms all summer, compact | 18″ apart |
| Heuchera (any) | Colorful foliage, small footprint | 12″ apart |
Small garden layout (4×4 foot bed):
- Center: 1 peony (‘Little Red Gem’ dwarf).
- Front edge: 3 catmint ‘Walker’s Low’.
- Back corners: 2 dwarf daylilies ‘Stella de Oro’.
- Fill gaps with 2 coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’.
This gives you color from May through September in a tiny space.
For more small space ideas, see our peonies in pots guide.
Color Combination Ideas With Peonies
Use companion plants to create color themes around your peonies.
| Peony Color | Companion Colors | Example Pairings |
|---|---|---|
| Pink peony | Purple, blue, white, silver | Catmint (blue) + salvia (purple) + artemisia (silver) |
| White peony | Any color – especially blue, yellow, purple | Blue salvia + yellow coreopsis + lavender |
| Red peony | White, silver, pale pink, blue | White iris + silver artemisia + blue catmint |
| Coral peony | Blue, purple, soft yellow | Nepeta (blue) + coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ (yellow) |
| Yellow (Itoh) peony | Blue, purple, white | Blue salvia + white shasta daisy + catmint |
Design tip: Use repetition. Plant the same companion (e.g., catmint) throughout the bed to unify different peony colors.
🎨 For more color advice, see our guide: Pink, White, or Red? Choosing the Right Peony Bush Color.
Plants You Should Avoid Near Peonies
Not every plant is a good neighbor. Avoid these:
| Plant | Why to Avoid |
|---|---|
| Large trees | Shade and root competition. Keep peonies 15+ feet from oak, maple, birch. |
| Aggressive spreaders (mint, bishop’s weed, goutweed) | Overrun peony roots, impossible to remove without digging up peony. |
| Roses | Similar diseases (black spot, powdery mildew). They share problems and look messy together. |
| Tall, dense shrubs (lilac, weigela) | Shade out peonies when mature. |
| Thirsty plants (hydrangeas, astilbes) | Peonies hate wet soil; these need constant moisture. |
| Black walnut trees | Juglone (chemical) from walnut roots can kill peonies. |
| Invasive vines (bindweed, ivy) | Strangle peony stems. |
The worst offender: Mint. Never plant mint near peonies – it spreads underground and wraps around peony roots.
For more on peony health, see our troubleshooting guides.
Shade vs Sun Companion Pairings
Peonies need sun. But the companions can have different light tolerances if placed correctly.
Full sun companions (6+ hours – for planting on south/west sides):
- Catmint, salvia, coreopsis, daylily, lavender, ornamental grasses.
Part‑shade companions (3–5 hours – for planting on east/north sides of peonies):
- Hosta, heuchera, lady’s mantle, geranium, astilbe (but astilbe needs moisture – not ideal near peonies).
Placement rule:
- Plant sun‑loving companions on the sunny side of peonies.
- Plant part‑shade companions on the side that gets afternoon shade (east side of a building or tree). Do not put them where they shade the peony.
☀️ For more on sunlight, read our guide: Do Peonies Need Full Sun or Partial Shade?.
Simple Layered Garden Bed Layout Example
Here is a complete, ready‑to‑use layout for a 10×6 foot sunny bed featuring 3 peonies.
Back row (north side – tallest):
- 3 peonies (‘Sarah Bernhardt’, ‘Festiva Maxima’, ‘Kansas’) spaced 3.5 feet apart.
Middle row (between and slightly in front):
- 4 catmint ‘Walker’s Low’ – spaced between peonies.
- 3 salvia ‘May Night’ – alternating.
Front row (along edge):
- 5 coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’.
- 3 lady’s mantle.
Edging (optional):
- Creeping thyme or sedum.
Spring bulbs (planted in fall among peonies):
- 20 daffodils – scattered.
What you get:
- Early spring: Daffodils.
- Late spring: Peonies + catmint + salvia + lady’s mantle.
- Summer: Coreopsis takes over as peonies fade.
- Fall: Cut back perennials, peony foliage removed after frost.
Maintenance: 30 minutes of fall cleanup, 30 minutes of spring staking and fertilizing. That is it.
🏡 For more landscaping ideas, see our front yard peony landscaping guide.
🌸 Quick Answer: What are the best companion plants for peonies?
The best companions include catmint (Nepeta), salvia, coreopsis, daylilies, lady’s mantle, and ornamental grasses. These share peonies’ sun and drought tolerance, bloom before/after peonies, and hide fading foliage. Avoid mint, large trees, and thirsty plants. Plant companions at least 18 inches from peony crowns.
