Matchmaking in the Garden

Many perennials are especially well suited to cover the unattractive foliage of bulbs after they are finished blooming.

Take candytuft for instance. This low growing, sprawling plant has white flowers that look terrific with red tulips. In the fall, you can lift the bulk of the perennial, dig a hole to plant the bulbs and let the stems fall back in place. The tulips will come up through the mass next spring.

Peonies develop into a vase shaped fountain of leaves by summer, but in early spring they can play backstage to a perimeter of daffodils.

Lady’s mantle is a shade-loving perennial that creates a mound of velvety, soft-green, beautifully shaped leaves and a froth of small chartreuse flowers spring through summer.

Heartleaf brunnera is another good plant for woodland conditions that thrives with moisture. It has clusters of tiny sky-blue or blue-violet flowers that look like forget-me-nots. The heart-shaped leaves start out small and rapidly gain a mature size of up to five inches. Purple tulips would complement this perennial well. Mauve shades will be replacing orange as the hottest colour in the garden this year.

Bleeding heart has arching sprays of heart-shaped flowers and fern-like leaves. Grape hyacinth planted beneath would make an attractive contrast.

A perennial called Cushion Spurge is related to the poinsettia and has bright yellow-green bracts in May. Its succulent-shaped leaves are a good match for almost any bulb colour. Daylilies do a great job of covering deteriorating bulb leaves with their long, strappy foliage. White narcissus would make a classic contrast to this tough perennial.

Plant breeders have been having a heydey with coral bells in past years, introducing ivy-shaped leaves in shades of green, red, bronze, silver, deep purple and yellows. Silver-leaved varieties make a stunning combination with really dark tulips like ‘Queen of the Night’.

Last but not least, keep in mind the broad spectrum that ornamental grasses provide with regard to matchmaking opportunities with bulbs.