Persian shield companion plants come in different types that perfectly complement each other, making a great combination that stands out in your garden. Their dramatic appearance creates a stunning view that is eye-catching and attractive to pollinators.
These ornamental plants are easy to grow in USDA hardiness zones 8 to 11 as perennials or as annuals in cooler areas.
Let’s see what plants you can add to your list of Strobilanthes dyerianus companions.
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Top Ideas To Use as Persian Shield Companion Plants
1. Curcuma
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Curcuma plants or curcuma longa, are some of the best Persian companions, with beautiful flowers that can last for over a month.
They bring an interesting contrast with the Persians that are more intense but last for a shorter time. Curcuma blooms in summer with bright red, yellow, pink, green, and white flowers. Curcuma is native to Asia and belongs to the ginger family of Zingiberaceae.
In order to grow it, you must provide well-drained soils with lots of organic matter to help stabilize the growth right from the first days.
Grow it under full sunlight for at least six to eight hours daily. Water every once a week in spring and summer to ensure it does not dry out in between the watering schedule, and you can even use soluble fertilizer 20-20-20 once per month.
2. Gardenia
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Grow Persian shield plants alongside gardenias for that perfect look, especially if you want stunning white flowers with strong scents to complement your garden.
You can harvest these flowers for your home’s decor, and they last a good amount of time. These beauties are simply irresistible, however, in case a child or a pet would accidentally ingest it, it may produce mild diarrhea or vomiting.
It has shiny, dark-green leaves and is native to China, Taiwan, and Japan. This plant is a tropical evergreen shrub that grows indoors and outdoors. It has magnificent blooms that smell heavenly and is commonly found in commercial greenhouses and conservation.
Gardenias prefer acidic soils both indoors and outdoors, as when you wish to give it the perfect plant care. Add agricultural sulfur to help lower the pH when growing outdoors and peat base for an indoor plant.
Provide rich, well-draining soils with partial sun and medium shade. Feed gardenias with fertilizer or compost manure every mid-March and again in June. In addition to all this, remember to prune them after the blooms are spent removing the old branches.
3. Impatiens
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Impatiens offer a bold contrast to dark purple leaves, creating a beautiful contrast when growing with a Persian shield.
These flowers bloom in vibrant red, white, pink, violet, purple, coral, and yellow all season long, way past the Persian flowers. There are two main groups of ornamental impatiens – New Guinea impatiens and impatiens walleriana that look different but are the same generally.
They are commonly known as Touch-me-not because they have sensitive seed pods that burst open with a light touch. Plant the impatiens in well-draining soils supplemented with organic matter. Provide light to medium partial shade, keeping them away from direct sunlight. Provide adequate spacing for each plant.
Moreover, in order to see these grow in a healthy manner you need to keep it in control and prune the plants if they become too tall and leggy to encourage bushy growth.
Apply compost manure or a slow-releasing fertilizer during planting. And lastly, it is very important that you do not forget to water them more often to keep the soil moist and protect them from wilting.
4. Lobelia
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Lobelia is one of the most visually stunning plants with brilliant colors and patterns. Grown as companions to the Persian shield, these plants bring breathtaking beauty.
Lobelia is a tender perennial that grows in gardens, containers, and hanging baskets. They have a trailing growing habit or clumping with green foliage, and some have a slight bronze tinge. The flowers are stunningly beautiful in white, sky blue, pink, lilac, and purple.
These flowers would well in partial shade to full sunlight. Water lobelia regularly but don’t allow the soils to get soggy. Add regular fertilizer when planting and every four to six weeks. Pinch the plants when they become long and leggy to encourage flowering and new branching.
In addition, when you are growing it, and wish to see it thrive to its utmost potential, you must add a layer of compost manure to provide nutrients slowly, suppress weeds and keep the soil moist. Moreover, provide it with well-drained soils that don’t get soggy and have a pH of 6.0 to 7.0.
5. Marigolds
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Growing Persian shield backdrop and a marigold’s bed is very attractive. Marigolds are the best companions for many flowers, herbs, and vegetables. They are known to repel harmful nematodes that attack the roots of vegetables like tomatoes, snap beans, and squash. Plant them around the garden to protect your plants from pests, deer, and rabbits.
Marigolds are native to Mexico and Central America and thrive in sunny areas. The foliage has a distinct flavor that deters rabbits and deer, making this plant a great companion to those susceptible.
In addition to all this, there are three main types – French, Signet, and African. The African marigold did not originate from Africa but was imported to Europe through the Northwest Africa trade route. The French marigolds get their name because they are so popular in French gardens.
They provide abundant blooms that can be red, yellow, gold, brass, copper, white, or a combination of these colors.
These plants thrive in full sunlight, withstanding very hot summers, however, they can withstand a variety of soils, but they do best in fertile, well-drained soils. As a result of the latter, you can always try and add compost manure for slow release during the growth period.
Make sure that you would provide adequate sunlight, so they don’t become leggy, you can also deadhead the flowers regularly for more bloom. Lately, water these plants regularly, keeping the soil moist.
6. Lantana
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Choose a sunny location and well-draining soils that are slightly acidic. Mulch the soil with pine needle leaves as an easy way to increase acidity levels. Note that in colder regions, lantana grows as an annual plant or in hanging baskets to shield it from the cold.
Fertilize this plant with a light dose in the spring but don’t overdo it, as it may inhibit their flowering. Provide frequent watering for newly planted lantanas until they are established.This flower is fragrant, attracting butterflies and other pollinators.
This plant is a unique vine-like plant known for its rounded clusters of brightly colored flowers that may be yellow, white, orange, pink, red, purple, or blue. These flowers are mixed within the same cluster creating a stunning bi-color effect.
Lantana is a perfect companion plant as it has stunning lavender, purple, and pink flowers. Planted with the Persian shield plant will create a good contrast as the flowers bloom for longer.
Conclusion
Persian shield companion plants are a while vibe if you like bright blooms that appear at different times of the year. Here are a few tips to remember as you grow these plants:
- There are different ways you can add these Persian companions by creating a mix-and-match theme that contrasts each other.
- The easiest plants to grow from the list above include gardenia, impatiens, marigolds, and lantana.
- All these plants are ideal for small or large gardens, containers, or hanging baskets and can do well in growing zones 8 to 11.
How about adding these vibrant ornamentals to your garden and enjoying these stunning flowers throughout the year? It will be fun to see all the color combinations; try them today!
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