Sea Berry Companion Plants

Shrubs

• Plant low-growing shrubs that won’t create root competition for your seaberry shrub. The Rheingold arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis “Rheingold”) grows slowly to 5 feet tall with a similar spread. This evergreen shrub has a compact, rounded form and yellow-orange new growth that turns green-gold in summer. It is hardy to zone 2 and grows well in average soil and full sun. The Eastern ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) is hardy in zones 2 to 7 and thrives in dry to wet sites and full sun to partial shade. This deciduous shrub grows from 5 to 8 feet tall with a wider spread and blooms in late spring with white-to-pink flowers. It tolerates drought and turns yellow-bronze in autumn.

Ornamental Grasses

• Ornamental grasses have shallow, fibrous root systems that help prevent run-off around seaberry shrubs. These attractive plants grow to a maximum size, so they rarely require pruning. Companion choices include broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), a 4-foot tall species that grows in upright clumps of green foliage. Broomsedge turns red, purple and orange in autumn and produces silvery-orange inflorescences. It is hardy in zones 3 to 9 and thrives in full sun and sandy, dry soil. Ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinaera) grows from 2 to 5 feet tall and blooms with white and pink flowers in summer. This upright grass tolerates drought, salt and light shade. It is hardy in zones 4 to 9 and has green and white striped fronds.

Ground Covers

• Ground covers prevent weed growth around a seaberry without creating root competition. Hardy varieties include the Siberian cypress (Microbiota decussate), a 2-foot tall evergreen that spreads up to 12 feet. Siberian cypresses have feathery foliage that turns copper or maroon in fall. They are hardy in zones 2 to 8 and tolerate a range of site conditions. Plant trailing arbutus (Epigaea repens) in the light shade cast by a sea berry shrub. This evergreen grows to 4 inches tall and forms a mat of gray-green foliage. Hardy in zones 2 to 8, trailing arbutus thrives in sandy, acidic soil.

Perennials

• Choose sun-loving perennials that bloom at different times during the growing season for constant color. Yarrow (Achillea spp.) is hardy in zones 3 to 9 and prefers full sun and well-draining soil. It blooms with yellow, red, white and pink flowers in spring and grows to 3 feet tall. The blanket flower (Gaillardia X grandiflora) blooms with orange and red blossoms from early summer through fall. This 3-foot-tall perennial prefers sandy, dry soil and full sun and is hardy in zones 2 to 10. The silver-rod (Solidago bicolor) flowers in fall with branches of white blossoms. This perennial wildflower grows well in dry, poor soils and reaches heights to 3 feet.