Mediterranean minimalism has sent me (and my Pinterest feed) into a design frenzy. I need lavender in my yard and I need them now!
Maybe it’s the lovely scent you get as you walk the lavender-lined avenues, or the delight of seeing all the bees and butterflies flocking to their tall, slender flowers. Either way, it’s safe to say I’m obsessed and you should be too.
Lavenders love a sunny, well-drained spot in the yard, and I mean just that space. But when it comes to knowing which plants will look good and meet lavender care routines and soil preferences, I could use a little inspiration. To avoid any planting pitfalls, I’ve picked the brain of a true plant expert to reveal her top plants that look great next to lavender!
1. Black-eyed Susan
(Image credit: Amazon)
The first flower on our pro’s list of what to plant with lavender in borders is the sweet and sunny Black-eyed Susan.
“Black-eyed Susans are native wildflowers that bloom profusely in the late spring to early fall months, displaying golden-yellow daisy-like flowers,” says plant expert Sidney D’Amico of Fast Growing Trees. “Their bright green broadleaf foliage contrasts beautifully with the gray-green narrow leaves of lavender plants, adding appeal and intrigue to your yard.”
Just like lavender, black-eyed Susan (or Rudbeckia hirta) is fantastic for pollinators, making it an ideal eco-friendly planting option and one of the best plants for attracting butterflies. Sydney explains: “The nectar from the flowers attracts a range of pollinators such as butterflies and bees, and when the seed heads are left to dry on the flowers, they also attract songbirds!”
Look for Sydney’s favorite variety ‘Goldsturm’ Black-eyed Susan. Just like lavender, it likes well-draining, sunny locations.
Rudbeckia seeds – Black-eyed Susan
2. Coniferous flower
(Photo credit: Giuliana Gonzalez 500px/Getty Images)
Another pollinator favorite, expert Sydney reckons cones are a must-have companion to lavender.
“Purple have similar planting requirements to lavender, such as enjoying full sun and being drought tolerant, making them the perfect companion plants for garden designs,” says Sidney. ‘Echinacea’ is a hardy flowering perennial that blooms from mid-summer to frost, producing daisy-like flowers with large cones in the center. Their large cones are infamous for attracting a range of visitors to your garden, ranging from butterflies and honeybees to songbirds like cardinals!’
But how do professionals use cones in the design of flower beds? Sidney says, “To create a striking contrast of bloom colors, choose a red or orange blooming Coneflower variety like ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ to plant next to your lavender. Coniferous flowers look best when planted and on a table, so plant them in threes for a complete look.
Echinacea ‘Rainbow Marcella’ is another favorite of ours, featuring beautiful orange and pink ombre petals and a deep red center. Or for a beautiful, cottage-inspired option, Echinacea ‘Beautiful Umbrellas’ is hard to beat.
Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower
Price: $49.79
Size: One container
3. Rosemary
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With its wonderful flavor and equally sensational aroma, it’s no surprise that rosemary is on Sydni’s list of companion plants for lavender.
If you’re looking for a stylish, low-maintenance garden, you can’t go wrong with a combination of rosemary and lavender. Sydney says: “Like lavender, rosemary thrives in poor soils and is drought tolerant, making it ideal for low-maintenance gardeners. Its highly aromatic foliage makes it ideal for planting next to lavender to create an herb or aromatic garden to line the borders of beds.
Rosemary’s evergreen foliage means it’s also ideal for adding year-round interest to sun beds. Plus, as Sydney points out, come spring, scattered rosemary flowers will add a cheery accent to your beds before your lavenders start blooming. “Although rosemary plants aren’t particularly known for their flowers, they do produce small, dainty purple flowers in the axils of their leaves that appear in spring and pair well with lavender’s long flower spikes,” says expert Sydney.
To make the most of your lavender and rosemary combination, Sydni has a pro trick to make sure you maximize the impact of this aromatic duo. She says “Plant your rosemary and lavender plants in alternating masses to line the borders of driveways or patios to create a garden design that smells as good as it looks!” Just be sure to plant them in well-draining soil . Neither rosemary nor lavender like standing in water, so adding grit or sand to the soil around your plants will help them thrive in heavier soils.
4. Muhly Grass
(Image credit: Amazon)
With its famous pink or white hues, muhly grass is unmistakable in late July and creates a sensational pastel summer color palette when paired with white or purple lavender.
“Muhly grass is a native, ornamental flowering grass that explodes with clouds of color as it blooms in late summer to early fall,” says plant expert Sydney. “Their delicate tufts of flower brooms floating above the leaves create a misty, cloud-like appearance that adds intrigue to your garden. The difference in leaf and flower texture between lavender and muhly grass is striking when planted together in a garden design and is sure to add appeal and appeal to your landscape.
Muhly grass is also great for deer-prone gardens, as Sydney explains. “Not only is it beautiful, muhly grass is also pest and disease resistant, as well as deer grazing resistant, meaning it’s perfect for low-maintenance gardeners!”
For an expert-approved plant, look for Sydni’s favorites Pink Muhly Grass and White Cloud Muhly Grass, and always remember to plant them behind your lavenders, as they will grow up to 4 feet tall.
Price: $39.95
Size: 1 gallon container
5. Butterfly bush
(Image credit: Jacky Parker Photography/Getty Images)
Named for its ability to attract countless butterflies with its abundant flowers, the butterfly bush, also known as buddleia, is fantastic for adding height to your lavender beds.
Expert Sydney says: “Butterfly bushes come in a range of flower colours, ranging from bright purples to hot pinks and even bi-colours! Their abundant blooms are full of nectar that attracts tons of butterflies to your garden from summer through fall.
Fantastic for filling in larger gaps in beds, butterfly bushes are fast growing shrubs that will quickly utilize extra space in your new butterfly garden. Sydney warns that “butterfly bushes grow very quickly, especially in warmer climates, so be sure to choose a compact variety if you don’t want your bush to get too big. Since butterfly bushes are also easily propagated by seed, kill overblooming blooms to prevent them from reseeding.
When it comes to choosing the right variety, there are hundreds of colors to choose from. Some of Sydney’s favorites include Miss Molly Butterfly Bush, CranRazz™ Butterfly Bush, Pugster Blue® Butterfly Bush and Birthday Cake™ Butterfly Bush.
Proven winner Miss Molly Buddleia
Price: $48.57
Size: a 2-gallon pot
