Perennials That Go Well With Geraniums

Alkaline Soil in Full Sun

• Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) go well with geraniums planted in slightly alkaline soils in full sun. Baby’s breath grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet and blooms in white or pink, depending on the hybrid. They produce tiny, delicate-looking flowers in the spring and summer. “Bristol Fairy” (Gypsophila paniculata “Bristol Fairy”) grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet and blooms in white. “Viette’s Dwarf” (Gypsophila paniculata “Viette’s Dwarf”) grows to 1 to 1 ½ feet tall and blooms in pink. Sweet Williams are short-lived perennials that bloom in the spring and summer, producing single- or double-form flowers in pink, red or white. They range in size from 4 inches to 2 feet, depending on the cultivar. Both species are hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Baby’s breath can become invasive and should be planted only where it can be easily controlled.

Neutral Soil in Full Sun

• Blue daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) and daylilies (Hemerocallis hybrids) go well with geraniums planted in soil with a neutral pH. They grow and bloom best in full sun exposure, but will also grow in partial shade. Blue daze grows to a height of 6 inches to 3 feet, depending on the cultivar, and blooms in blue from spring to first frost. It is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. Daylilies are generally hardy in USDA zones 2 to 10, but this varies depending on the hybrid. They are available in heights ranging from 9 inches to 3 feet. Their blooming period may be spring, summer, fall or from spring to fall, depending on the hybrid. “Moontraveller” (Hemerocallis “Moontraveller”) grows to a height and width of 1 ½ to 2 feet and blooms in lemon yellow from late spring to first frost. “Pardon Me” (Hemerocallis “Pardon Me”) grows to a height and width of 1 to 1 ½ feet and produces cranberry red, yellow-throated flowers from spring through summer and sometimes again in the fall.

Neutral to Alkaline Soil in Partial Shade

• African, Barberton, gerber or Transvaal daisies (Gerbera jamesonii) and garden or summer phlox (Phlox paniculata) go well with geraniums planted in partial shade with neutral to slightly alkaline soil. They both prefer organically rich soil. Transvaal daisies grow to a height of 1 to 1 ½ feet and bloom from spring to first frost. The flowers can be single- or double-form and are available in a wide variety of colors. They are hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. Garden phlox grows to a height of 1 ½ to 5 feet, depending on the cultivar, and blooms in the summer and fall. They produce clusters of small pink, purple or white flowers. Garden phlox is generally hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9, but this varies slightly depending on the cultivar.

Neutral to Alkaline Soil Foliage Plants

• Coleus (Coleus x hybrida or Solenostemon scutellarioides) and dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) are foliage plants that go well with geraniums. They will grow in neutral and slightly alkaline soil. Coleus are hardy in USDA zones 9 to 11 and prefer organically rich, fast-draining soil. They will grow well in full sun to full shade, depending on the cultivar. Their height ranges from 6 inches to 3 feet, depending on the cultivar, and their foliage can be a wide variety of colors. Dusty miller grows to a height of 6 inches to 2 feet with furry, silver-gray foliage. They are hardy in USDA zones 8 to 10, can be grown in full sun or partial shade and are not particular about soil type.