Companion plants for dahlias in containers not only help to attract useful pollinators for dahlias but also keep harmful pests away and also increase the aesthetic appeal. You may have a little difficulty finding out details about dahlias’ companion plants.

Garden Bliss Companion Planting with Dahlias

If that is the case, you can stop worrying because today we have the list of all the companion plants for dahlias that you can grow in containers or pots.

Check out the descriptions of these plants below.

List of Companion Plants for Dahlias in Containers

1. Sneezeweed

Because their long-blooming daisy-like blooms bloom at the same time and complement each other nicely, sneezeweed aka Helenium Autumnale is an ideal companion plant to dahlias. You would be adding a uniqueness to your outdoors as these would be great placed in pots. 

The Allergics Delight Sneezeweed

– Highlighted Characteristics

Its tall stems offer color and structure to the garden during the summer, and its arrow-shaped leaves keep their look throughout the season. This drought-tolerant perennial also comes in several colors, including yellow, orange, and red, so it may easily complement any combination of Dahlia flower colors. It attracts butterflies and bees, which means that they would add a growing medium together, as these pollinators would boost the growth.

2. Snapdragon

The Snapdragon is an excellent companion plant for Dahlias and adds a distinctive appearance to any garden. This low-maintenance plant grows well in soil with adequate drainage and moderate rainfall.

The Snap and Pop of the Garden

– Highlighted Characteristics

Throughout the hot summer months, this blooming perennial in red, yellow, and orange adds vivid color with delicate blossoms.

The plant may grow to be about three feet tall, giving it an ideal backdrop for cascading dahlias blossoms. Moreover, it attracts pollinators, providing a lovely scene of nature in the yard.

3. Zinnia

When Dahlias and zinnias are planted together, they make an exceptional potting partner. The zinnia plant may provide contrast and texture to your potted dahlias. These flowers are one of a kind, and they are one of the most loved species, because of their colorful and vibrant varieties. In order to see them thrive, make sure that the soil is fertile and that the pots that they are growin in, are placed in a location to see full sun. 

Vibrant Colors of Summer Zinnia

– Highlighted Characteristics

It comes in a variety of colors, sizes, and forms are drought-tolerant and fast-growing, and require just modest irrigation. Its vibrant flowers will liven up any yard, patio, or front porch. It attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds while keeping pests away from dahlia plants, resulting in larger, brighter flowers.

4. Turtlehead

A potted companion plant for dahlias, turtlehead or chelone lyonii, may reach two feet in height and has white blooms with a beautiful pink and yellow center that bloom from late summer to October. You can keep the plant in moist conditions when it comes to the soil, and it will thrive, you may tend to water it making sure that the soil is always moist. 

Unusual Beauty of the Turtlehead

– Highlighted Characteristics

It prefers medium moisture in partial to full shade and performs best when planted in groups or drifts since it self-seeds. Turtlehead is a terrific contrast to the brilliant colors of dahlia displays, and it looks great running around the boundaries of gardens or containers.

5. Lantana

Because of its drought tolerance, brilliant colors, and capacity to attract pollinators, lantana makes a great potted companion plant for dahlias. Its hardy evergreen foliage adds decorative appeal while also creating much-needed microclimates within garden beds by storing moisture and chilling the air around developing dahlia plants. 

Tropical Bliss of Lantana

– Highlighted Characteristics

This plant can withstand intense heat and provide various applications in both beauty and functionality. When cultivated as a companion plant, lantana keeps dangerous bugs away from Dahlia flowers, which is why, in this case, it would mean that the characteristics that is most look up to, is the fact that the plants will be kept safe.

6. Floss Flower

The Floss Flower or Ageratum Houstonianum is a traditional potted partner for Dahlias, adding bright color and texture to any garden design. It adapts well to many climates, and only requires normal watering. When you are growing them, remember that the roots of this plant are very fragile, which means that they will be prone to become weak if the soil has logged some water at the bottom.

Whispering Beauty of Floss Flowers

– Highlighted Characteristics

It’s a low-maintenance perennial with velvety petals in white, pink, blue, lavender, and purple that attract butterflies and hummingbirds all season. When planted alongside Dahlias, it will give a wonderful contrast and fullness with its mounding structure that may reach up to two feet tall.

7. Rosemary

Professional gardeners recommend rosemary as an ideal potted companion plant for dahlias. Its gently conical form and silvery needle-like leaves not only give a nice aesthetic contrast, but also helps to avoid pests such as cucumber beetles, spider mites, and slugs, perhaps stopping them from harming your dahlia plants. 

Aromatic and Medicinal Flower

– Highlighted Characteristics

This plant will benefit from frequent trimming throughout the season to guarantee consistent new growth and little care throughout time. Rosemary can be planted in the same container as Dahlias, in addition, the best feature is that due to the pungent smell that it releases in the air, a big number of pests will be staying away from both of the plants which are potted next to one another. 

8. Pelargonium

Pelargonium is a fantastic companion plant for dahlias, and anybody wishing to freshen up their yard should try it. It has lovely blooms that range in color from vivid reds and purples to delicate pastels like white and pinkish hues. This not only creates a visually appealing show, but it also draws butterflies and other pollinators to the garden.

The Staple of Hanging Baskets

 

– Highlighted Characteristics

It provides texture, color, and diversity to any garden and is drought-hardy, allowing it can survive extended periods without rain or frequent watering. In the months of spring season, you will see them shooting their little blossoms and beautifully opening up. This is what adds vibrancy to anywhere that you have placed them.

9. Coneflower

Because both plants thrive in sunny planting situations and comparable soil conditions, the coneflower is a good companion plant for dahlias. The tall, spiky blossoms of the coneflower contrast well with the huge petals of the dahlia. Furthermore, the coneflower is drought-resistant, making it suitable for planting dahlias in pots with it.

The Majestic Coneflower Blooms

– Highlighted Characteristics

Its compact nature makes it an excellent choice for space-saving gardens or balconies where several plants must fit into small spaces. Their unique shape is what gives them a graceful and a cheerful ambiance at the same time. In addition, they are low-maintenance flowers, which will thrive well along with your other flowers.

10. Common Switchgrass

The Common Switchgrass aka Panicum Virgatum is a hardy and adaptable ornamental grass that works well in pots with growing Dahlias. Under ideal conditions, its erect habit with cascading leaves develops quickly into a clump that can reach up to four feet tall and two feet wide in only one growing season.

The Versatile Common Switchgrass

– Highlighted Characteristics

This native North American annual has panicles of little yellow blooms in midsummer that turn red before putting to seed in the fall. Although they are often seen around meadows, or prairies, but the way that they grow so tall is what makes them unique, in addition to growing all together, would look aesthetically pleasing. 

11. Crocosmia

Crocosmia, while beautiful on their own, offer a balanced visual show when combined with dahlias because of their vivid colors and distinct textures. Its remarkable endurance for severe temperatures, as well as its capacity to handle light conditions ranging from entirely shaded gardens to full sun, provide it a versatility that few other plants have.

Flaming Beauty of Crocosmia

– Highlighted Characteristics

It requires minimal maintenance and thrives on basic feedings and detaching, making it a great choice for container gardens that require little attention.

On the other hand, another reason why they are found to be unique is because they have little flowers, toward which a number of pollinators especially bees would love to come and visit. When these pollinators come, they will also help bloom up your other garden plants.

12. Cosmos

Cosmos makes an excellent potted partner for dahlias. Its feathery lacy foliage adds complexity and color to the landscape. Planting bigger types of this plant will make dahlias stand out, while cosmos’ compact nature will soften their look. 

Starry Night Sky of Cosmos

– Highlighted Characteristics

It is a fast-growing annual flower with five-petaled blooms in pink, white, and purple that thrives throughout the summer months until fall arrives. You should plant cosmos near dahlias while they are frost-resistant seedlings for the greatest aesthetic effects.

13. Bee Balm

The hardy perennial bee balm is an appealing and aromatic companion plant for dahlias. It not only has excellent-smelling blossoms that add a splash of early summer color to any garden, but it also attracts pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In the hotter months, the lance-shaped leaves of bee balm can serve to shade the roots of dahlias.

The Pollinators Paradise Bee Balm

– Highlighted Characteristics

This plant will flourish properly potted into nutrient-rich soil combinations, watered frequently, and given enough sun exposure. On another note, remember that this plant would also be the one to protect different pests from laying their eggs and hatching larvae off into your garden, especially if you have planted some dahlia. 

14. Aster

Aster is one of the most popular dahlia companions and a fantastic choice for cheering up any landscape. It blooms in a range of hues, including white, purple, pink, and blue, and has daisy-like blooms. This plant prefers full sun to moderate shade and well-drained soil. At the same time, you must also make sure that you would fertilize this plant properly. 

The Fall Classic Aster in Garden

 

– Highlighted Characteristics

This is a hardy perennial, which means it will return year after year provided the proper circumstances are met. Whenever the plant has established itself, the flowering process would occur in late summer and can linger into the fall, depending on the weather and locale.

15. Blazing Star

Blazing star is a low-maintenance plant that works well as a companion plant for dahlias. It is not only easy to care for, but it also provides natural bug defense due to its appealing leaf and scented proximity to other plants. This member of the aster family, with its vivid flowers and durability, would make a fantastic addition to your garden.

A Sight to Behold Blazing Star

– Highlighted Characteristics

It grows well in sunny places with wet-rich soil, produces spikes of purple blooms, and its perennial nature allows it to return year after year. It is a plant that doesn’t require fertilization, and this is a key characteristic that it has. 

16. Black-eyed Susan

The black-eyed Susan is a lovely dahlia companion plant in a container. When you grow dahlias with this plant, the latter would start to produce daisy-like blooms with yellow petals and black centers, producing a wonderfully brilliant color palette. Its drought tolerance has the extra benefit of requiring just minimum watering when the weather is dry.

The Cheerful Black Eyed Susan

– Highlighted Characteristics

This hardy annual grows best in wet, well-drained soil, may be grown in full sun or light shade, and is extremely low-maintenance. Don’t worry, they aren’t like other plants that would grow in a little number, on the contrary, they are ones that would spread almost 36 inches wide, as they are self sowing, and in pots, they would look gorgeous.

17. Allium

Allium is an excellent-potted companion plant for dahlias and provides a distinctive, sculptural aspect to the landscape. It not only adds aesthetic appeal but its leaf and blossoms are very aromatic. Allium bulbs can be planted in groups alongside dahlias in the autumn, with blossoming taking place five to six weeks later.

Ornamental Onion of Unique Allium

– Highlighted Characteristics

After planting, each bulb of this plant develops into one of the more densely packed globe-shaped clusters of star-like white, pink, or purple blooms and green blades atop long stalks. In addition, any of the allium varieties that you choose to plant, will not disappoint you in repelling the unwanted pests away. 

18. Agapanthus

Agapanthus is a blooming perennial pot plant that makes an appealing and complimentary companion to dahlias. It thrives in full light, wet, rich soil, and moderate watering. You should pinch out fading blooms as they begin to fade from mid-summer onwards to retain a compact form. For best growth results, use a mild organic fertilizer, and they will start their beautiful journey as you feed them once in early fall and again in early spring.

The Blue Green Agapanthus

– Highlighted Characteristics

Its elegantly placed strap-like leaves provide an eye-catching show, while the towering flower heads in colors of white, blue, and purple add variety and interest throughout the season. They add beauty and uniqueness to your outdoor area.

19. Anise Hyssop

Anise Hyssop is one of the most excellent dahlia companions, providing both beauty and function. It grows about two feet tall and broad and offers a lush border or color when used in masses. Its blossoms attract bees and other pollinators that are essential to the health of neighboring Dahlias. Anise Hyssop also tolerates poor soils with low fertility.

The Anise Scented Hyssop

– Highlighted Characteristics

It is a North American native with square stems and aromatic leaves, as well as lavender-blue flower spikes in late summer. In addition, the shapes of the flowers that they have are the ones that add value, as it would even start repelling snails and slugs away from your garden, which would be a very beneficial to any plant that’s next to it in a different pot as well.

20. Thyme

Thyme is a splendid dahlia companion plant, giving both decorative and practical advantages. It has tiny, purple blossoms not only give a dash of color to the garden, but this culinary herb is also recognized for enhancing soil health by repelling pests and nutrient leaching. Furthermore, being a low-growing plant, it will not compete with dahlia’s development.

The Low Maintenance Thyme

– Highlighted Characteristics

Its lovely perfume attracts bees and other helpful pollinating insects, which aid in the conservation of biodiversity in the landscape. In the first months of spring, you will see this herb bloom up little flowers of white, and the taller they get, the more fragrant they will be. The latter is the reason that will add their aroma to the outdoors. 

Conclusion

There are so many companion plants for dahlias in containers that you have seen in this list. To summarize these plants,

  • There are some plants such as snapdragon, sneezeweed, etc. that attract pollinators and also enhance the beauty of your garden.
  • If you wish to keep pests away from your gahlia garden then you can grow zinnia, lantana, rosemary, etc. in containers.
  • Turtlehead, crocosmia, etc. are some examples of beautiful flowering plants that will help you ornament your garden that contains dahlias.
  • If you are living in a place where drought-tolerant plants are necessary, you can cultivate pelargonium, coneflower, etc.

As you have read this article, know you have a strong build up knowledge about the best variety of flowering plants that you can plant next to your dahlias, in various containers or pots.

5/5 - (5 votes)
Evergreen Seeds