What plants combine with peonies?

Surrey, United Kingdom

I love peonies and have a large bed full of peonie plants. They look glorious when in flower but for most of the year the bed is just green leaves. Any ideas for other plants I could combine/inter plant to give the bed some zing? I have chalk soil and the bed gets full sun.

15 Jul, 2009

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Answers

Inverglen

Each year we have trailing nasturtiums scrambling through some of our beds and the orange and yellow flowers certainly brighten up the garden. Lots of zing !! And now they seed themselves and come back each year

16 Jul, 2009

Spritzhenry

There are Verbenas in so many colours now - they go well with Petunias...but only for the summer, I'm afraid. I change my containers in the autumn anyway to make a different display!

I think you can take cuttings off them, but I haven't tried.

16 Jul, 2009

Spritzhenry

Im so sorry for that very silly answer - it was very early this morning, when I couldn't sleep and I mis-read your question.

I would think about taller perennials, such as Delphiniums, Phlox paniculata, Leucanthemums, Dictamnus, even Artemisia 'Guizho'...those sorts of plants which will grow upwards and show up well - you'd need several in each group to make an impact, if you have room. They all flower after the Paeonies. I hope this more sensible answer helps. -)

16 Jul, 2009