I just moved into a new place and planted some alpine forget-me-not seeds in a border that was looking bare. I'm also planning to add tulip bulbs this autumn. I'm curious about what I can plant in this space once the forget-me-nots die back. Ideally, I'm looking for something low maintenance. I was thinking about cranesbill geranium but I'm not sure if it will start growing too early and compete with the forget-me-nots. Any suggestions for plants, especially those that bloom in pinks, whites, or blues, would be great since the area gets a good amount of sun.
5 Answers
If you're thinking about geraniums, I recommend the hardy cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum). It loves sunny spots, gently spreads, and comes in pretty pale pink and white varieties. It’s a solid choice for your garden!
Alpine strawberries make a great ground cover, especially in sunny beds. They stay green through winter and then produce cute white flowers followed by tiny strawberries in summer! Just keep in mind they mainly bring green leaves during off-seasons, but they’re lovely.
Sedum Autumn Joy is a fantastic option. It stays in a rosette stage while your tulips and forget-me-nots bloom, then it really fills out in mid-summer. You can leave the seed heads for the birds in winter too, and when spring comes around, you can divide them to double your plants. It's pretty easy to care for and looks great!
Check out Cerastium, also known as Snow in Summer! It spreads nicely, self-seeds, and loves sunny areas. I've planted it alongside forget-me-nots, and it takes over the flowering as the forget-me-nots start to fade. Plus, the silvery leaves look lovely in the sunshine!
You might want to leave the forget-me-nots alone and not deadhead them; that way, they'll self-seed for next year! For some good companions, consider Bergenia crassifolia. It's super resilient and blooms in pink during the winter or early spring. Other low-maintenance options include Saponaria, Nepeta, Salvia, Scabious, and more geraniums, especially because they attract pollinators! Just a tip: when you plant your tulip bulbs, make sure to dig deep as per the label's instructions. Squirrels can be quite pesky with digging!