Perennial Companion Planting for Coneflowers in Butterfly Gardens

Coneflowers are the iconic butterfly garden perennial growers so often plant to attract the pollinators. It is possible to grow only coneflowers and still have a variation of heights and colors with Echinacea plants.

However, if a gardener wants flowers blooming throughout the growing season, mixing in other perennials, what gardeners call companion planting is a sensible strategy. Consider a Heptacodium shrub, Centranthus ‘Coccineus,’ Calamintha ‘Montrose White,’ Veronica ‘Fairytale’ and candy lilies, botanically X Pardancanda ‘Dazzler,’ for mixing with coneflowers.

Large Deciduous Shrub Heptacodium

A large deciduous shrub will add year-round structure to a butterfly garden. Heptacodium miconiodes grows up to 10′ tall and 8′ wide, which will bloom late in summer overlapping coneflowers hanging on at the end of the season. Commonly called seven-son flower, the Heptacodium has many seasons of interest, from the white fragrant blooms, to the bracts that turn pink, to the purple fruit and golden leaves in fall.

Heptacodium miconiodes is tolerant of drought conditions and salt spray, making it a tough shrub for the garden that borders a sidewalk or street; however, it is only hardy north to zone 5. The deciduous shrub thrives in well-draining soil and full sun but will tolerate dappled shade. Unfortunately, coneflowers in too much shade are liable to flower less often.

Fragrant Centranthus Ruber Coccineus

Another plant with fragrant flowers is the perennial plant, Centranthus ruber ‘Coccineus.’ The deep rose, dense flower clusters are each made up of tiny florets that bloom all summer. The perennial is a bushy plant with green ovate leaves. This cultivar grows up to 36″ tall.

Centranthus ruber ‘Coccineus’ is an easy perennial to grow, requiring little extra watering. It tolerates colder climates to zone 4 but gardeners should watch for species plants that are self-seeding.

Calamintha ‘Montrose White’ Fits Small Gardens

Calamintha ‘Montrose White’ is an idea for mixing with shorter coneflowers in a small garden. Other no nonsense Calamintha are perennials grown with ornamental grasses, which will develop into a sustainable garden. But the plant is also well-used for attracting butterflies, bees and hummingbirds to any style of planting bed.

A short perennial that does not over take other plants, Calamintha ‘Montrose White’ has tiny white blooms from June through October. The cool appearance of the green leaves with the white flowers gives off a minty scent, too, perfect for edging a petite garden that borders a sidewalk or patio. Calamintha ‘Montrose White’ grows 9″ – 11″ tall and 12″ – 15″ wide, it is self-cleaning, not requiring deadheading.

Summer Perennial Veronica Spicata Fairytale

Able to grow between the Centranthus and the Calamintha, Veronica spicata ‘Fairytale’ will reach 16″ tall. The summer perennial has long spiked blooms called terminal racemes packed with individual tubular soft pink flowers. The oblong leaves are silvery green and the upright plant grows from a clump; versus the mat ground cover other Veronica species develop.

Veronica spicata is often called speedwell or woolly speedwell. Veronica spicata ‘Fairytale’ likes full sun, moist well-draining soil, similar to coneflowers and also benefits from cutting back flower spikes as they fade. The plant is hardy to zone 4.

Candy Lilies Planted in Petite Gardens

Another smaller perennial for the petite garden is Candy lilies called X Pardancanda norrisii ‘Dazzler.’ A hardy seedling strain with a short habit, the flowers are large. The mass of colorful multi-petaled saucer-shaped flowers blooming from middle to late summer, the persistent seed heads and the gray-green sword foliage reminding gardeners of bearded iris combine to gain attention in the garden at seasons end.

The Candy lilies require good drainage, less than average moisture and likes summer heat. The tough plant is hardy as far north as zone 5. The X Pardancanda norrisii ‘Dazzler’ plants grow up to 18″ tall but only 8″ wide, perfect for petite garden spaces; unfortunately this plant will not attract butterflies to the garden without help from the Echinacea.

Prairie Plantings of Coneflowers Called Echinacea

The coneflower is the stereotypical perennial for a butterfly garden, envisioned in native prairie plantings or wildflower gardens. With the advent of more unusual flower forms and colors beyond Echinacea purpurea, the purple coneflower species, it is possible for a gardener to attract butterflies and other pollinators by just planting this perennial and still maintain variety.

Echinacea is a dramatic perennial with an upright habit known for growing in dry open prairie environments of the Midwest. It thrives in hardiness zones from 3 – 9. The coneflower’s roots are thick but with short rhizomes and the rough textured leaves are dark green, broad lance- shaped with toothed margins. The coneflower has a single daisy-shaped flower head with a center cone-shaped disk surrounded by petals.

The planting bed for growing Echinacea should have soil that drains reasonably, located in full sun and amended with compost. A good plant maintenance routine includes cutting back stems. This encourages plants to rebloom, opens up the plants to discourage powdery mildew issues and stalls self-seeding if the coneflowers are species plants. Echinacea should be dug and divided once every 3 – 5 years.

Companion Planting with Perennials to Attract Pollinators

Successful gardeners advise growing a variety of plant species in a single planting bed for the health of the garden’s environment, as well as enjoyment. To attract a variety of butterflies, or other pollinators, consider companion planting by choosing several types of perennials.

To complement coneflowers, choose perennial companion plants that thrive, not just survive, in similar growing conditions. Plants with like-minded maintenance needs, like digging and dividing, at the same time also helps save time. Perennials such as Heptacodium, Centranthus, Calamintha, Veronica and Pardancanda are worth considering for combining with coneflowers.