Surprise Lily Companions

Ground Covers

• Use ground covers, such as low-growing ferns, creeping jasmine, vinca, English ivy, liriope or ajuga, to mark the area where the surprise lilies are planted. This will prevent you from accidentally digging them up and will also prevent weeds from taking over. Ground covers also offer support for the stems, so strong winds are less likely to break them, and they can also help to prevent mud from splashing up and making the leaves, stems or flowers look dirty. Select a ground cover that is not taller than 1 foot, which is about half the height of most surprise lilies.

Perennials

• Hosta, coreopsis, daylily (Hemerocallis), red hot poker (Kniphofia), Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum), peonies, black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), salvia and verbascum are good companion plants for surprise lilies. Hosta and daylilies work well for shaded areas. The other plants will tolerate some shade, but perform best in full sun. When combining perennials and bulbs, be sure to consider the mature height and width of the perennial, and plant the surprise lilies accordingly. There is nothing wrong with them coming up through the edge of the foliage, but you do not want them planted so close together that the two plants take away from one another.

Trees and Shrubs

• Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum), crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia) and butterfly bush (Buddleia) look good planted in combination with surprise lilies. A circular garden with these trees or shrubs as the focal point would allow a circular bulb garden to be created. Another option is to use the trees or shrubs as a hedge --- in other words, the "bones" of the garden. Always position the surprise lilies so they are easily visible and not hidden behind a plant that is too large.

Bulbs

• Growing bulbs in combination with one another allows you to easily pack more flowers in a smaller area. Select bulbs that flower at different times of the season, and, if possible, require different planting depths. Daffodils, Rhodophiala bifida, x Amaracrinum, Arum, Colchium and fall crocus are good companions for surprise lilies. Planting a combination of these will give you color from early spring right through the fall. Consider the foliage height and the mature height of the bulbs when in bloom when selecting bulbs that will bloom close to the same time. Allow adequate space between the bulbs, and remember that the bulbs will need to be lifted and divided from time to time as they naturalize.