Plants That Help Hide the Drying Leaves of Daffodils

Hardy Geraniums

• Hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) are the perfect camouflage for the foliage of even large daffodils. Bigleaf geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) features large, lobed leaves that overlap when the plants are massed. The geraniums, which are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8, cover the ground, but are not invasive. They also feature pink spring flowers and red fall color. Another species, "Biokovo" (Geranium x catabrigiense "Biokovo"), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, features more delicate leaves and palest pink and white flowers. "Biokovo," like bigleaf geranium, forms an evergreen, weed-suppressing groundcover.

Hellebores

• Large leafed hellebores, like Lenten rose (Helleborus orientalis and hybrids, sometimes known as Helleborus x hybridus), are evergreen and easily rise above and cover dying daffodil leaves. Hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, Lenten rose also bears long-lasting spring flowers in an array of colors including greens, purples, pinks and near yellow. A related species, Christmas rose (Helleborus niger), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, has large, palmate leaves, similar to those of Lenten rose. Christmas rose blooms and sprouts fresh new foliage even earlier and is useful in covering the foliage of early flowering daffodils.

Other Groundcovers

• Daylilies (Hemerocallis spp. and varieties), like the popular rebloomer, "Stella de Oro" (Hemerocallis "Stella de Oro"), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10, are a classic partner for daffodils, because their long, strap-like leaves emerge while daffodils are blooming and grow out as the daffodils die back. Another good camouflage plant is yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdalon), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9. Yellow archangel features green and silver variegated leaves that form a dense groundcover to hide the daffodil foliage. Yellow archangel flowers in early to mid-spring, with blooms that look like small yellow snapdragons.

Considerations

• In part-shade situations, especially under deciduous trees, it is tempting to cover ripening daffodil foliage with traditional shade-tolerant, evergreen ground covers like English Ivy (Helix hedera), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, and common periwinkle (Vinca minor), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 8. Both these species do the job effectively, but both are vigorous growers that have been reported as invasive in many places, escaping into naturalized areas. When good substitutes are available, it is best for home gardeners to avoid potentially invasive plants.