Top 5... perennials partners for spring bulbs
Try a dazzling companion to brighten borders
1 Doronicum Cheerful, pert, yellow daisies over fresh oval foliage lasts for weeks. Makes a good cut flower. Grows in any soil in sun or part shade. Cut down stems after flowering to encourage new shoots. H: 60cm (24in).
TIP For dwarf bulbs use the compact variety ‘Little Leo’ 2 Russell lupins Not so much a planting partner as bulb replacement, as the emerging lupin foliage quickly fills the spaces left after the final tulips have finished in late April. Spires of blossom in an astonishing range of colours. H: 1.2m (4ft).
TIP Protect young growths of lupin from slugs 3 Primula Primroses and polyanthus are ideal partners for shade-tolerant daffodils and muscari. Wide variety of colours and heights, but the wild, pale-yellow primrose still takes some beating. H: 30cm (12in).
TIP Plant primroses wide enough apart to enable bulbs to grow through 4 Lathyrus vernus A bushy perennial producing purple-blue pea flowers on emerging shoots between March and May. A range of varieties from white, pale pink, cerise to electric-blue. Will grow in any soil as long as it’s not too wet or dry. H: 45cm (18in). TIP As it dies down in summer use summer perennials to fill the gap 5 Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ Although most wallflowers are re biennial and grown as bedding, ‘Bowles’s Mauve’ is more perennial, especially when grown in well-drained, poor oor soil in full sun. It’s an ideal eal partner for tulips. H: 75cm5cm (30in).