The Perfect Companion Flower For Peonies That'll Help Them Thrive

Companion planting has been helping us grow crops and flowers since ancient times, with many gardeners still swearing by the Native American "Three Sisters" planting method that originated around 3,000 years ago. Although this practice may be old, it may be new for you, and learning all about what goes with what can be pretty overwhelming. There are loads of benefits of companion planting, from weed suppression to pest repellent, but it does take some planning. You need to consider the needs of both plants and their root systems. Plus, you need to be aware that some plants simply don't like being near each other. Thankfully, if you have some peonies in your yard you want to support with companion plants, you don't need to dig deep into scientific papers and botanical research to figure it all out — that's our job. You just need to know that you should plant geraniums in your garden to help out your peonies.

Geraniums (Geranium spp.) are bright, versatile blooms that can be grown in a range of conditions. They are great for dotting in around bigger plants or in places that other, pickier blooms may not thrive. With about 300 species of these flowers available, you have a great selection to pick from when choosing a companion plant for your peonies. Geraniums range in size and color, from dainty small blooms such as geranium 'Ballerina' (G. cinereum 'Ballerina') that stays around 6 inches in height, to taller, more striking varieties, such as giant herb Robert (Geranium maderense), which can reach 3 feet. Geraniums come in hues of pink, purple, white, and blue, and their foliage provides you with seasonal interest throughout the year.

There is a lot to like about these easygoing blooms, but when you consider their companion planting skills, like definitely turns to love! These pretty flowers boast the ability to defend your peonies throughout the seasons. One issue with peonies, especially tree peony varieties, is that they are known to get a bit leggy after a few years. This leaves their stems vulnerable to damage. By planting tough, little geraniums around them, you can provide them with an extra layer of protection. They help break up some of the weather conditions that may impact your peonies and support erosion control. Furthermore, as a mixture of plants in a garden makes the individual plants more resilient, adding geraniums may boost the overall health of your peonies. 

Of course, there are loads of ground covers for flower beds that you could use for this. Many other small plants will create this protection for your peonies, but there are a few things that make geraniums stand out amongst the rest. Firstly, these little flowers are tough. They are extremely easy to grow and are not picky at all about where they are put. Plus, they are drought tolerant once they settle in, meaning you don't have to worry about the amount of water they are getting. When picking companion plants for your prized blooms, it is always better to go as low-maintenance as possible. You want the additions to work with you and your garden, not against. Furthermore, as geraniums tend to have shallow roots and peonies have deeper roots, they are not fighting against each other for nutrients. 

Although most geraniums are pretty happy to be planted anywhere and will probably thrive alongside your peony, it is helpful to pick a suitable variety to use as a companion. Firstly, when shopping for your companion geranium, you need to make sure you are getting the hardy kind, and not tender geraniums (Pelargonium spp.). Although annual geraniums are often used in companion planting alongside vegetables as trap crops, the hardy geranium will provide your peony with support year after year.

It is also helpful to buy smaller geraniums to plant alongside your peonies to ensure the companion plants will not take over. The bigger varieties, such as the 3 foot cultivar mentioned earlier, may start to block your peony from sunlight or nutrients. Geraniums in the cinereum group are great options for companion planting, as these stay quite small. For example, geranium 'Ballerina' (G. cinereum 'Ballerina') and geranium 'Laurence Flatman' (G. cinereum 'Laurence Flatman') both grow in small mounds around 6 inches high. As they like the sunshine, they are perfect for planting alongside peonies. When selecting your geranium, you should also consider your USDA Hardiness Zone and any other climate conditions that impact the plants.