If you have an eye for flowers, you’ve certainly seen two different varieties growing in the same spot. The garden owner must have used annuals and perennials of contrasting colors and played with seasonal blooms to create a harmonious flower garden. However, can you really plant different flowers in the same spot and get the desired effect?
You can plant different flowers in the same spot, which means planting different flowers in the same patch of ground. Different flowers planted in the same spot should complement each other’s color and not inhibit each other’s growth or blossoming by hindering sunlight, air, or nutrients.
Of course, planting different flowers in the same spot does not necessarily imply them being in the same hole. That’s why I’ll start by telling you what planting different flowers in the same spot really means and whether you can plant different flowers in the same spot and achieve the desired plant growth and attractiveness. Let’s get the discussion going.
What Does Planting Different Flowers in the Same Spot Mean?
Planting different flowers in the same spot will sound like putting two flower seeds or bulbs in the same hole, almost on top of each other. However, that’s not exactly the case.
Even when flowers grow close to each other, some distance, however minimal, is put between the flower seeds or bulbs.
In practice, planting different flowers in the same spot could mean one of these two options:
Planting Different Kinds of Flowers in the Same Patch of Ground
Planting different types of flowers in the same patch of ground means the flower seeds or bulbs are placed in the ground close to each other.
They could be a few inches away from each other or next to each other, depending on how well the type of flowers can withstand closeness.
If flowers are planted in the same hole, it must be a large hole where different seeds or bulbs can be placed separately from each other. Otherwise, a separate hole is made for each flower.
This method of planting flowers is similar to the idea used in companion planting, especially in vegetable gardens. The original idea of companion planting is that growing different plants together helps control pests and diseases, aids pollination, boosts fertility, and provides an optimal growing environment.
In flower gardens, companion planting has a primary esthetic purpose before other benefits. You’ll need to be creative with flower color complementarity. Flower companion planting also works best when they bloom in different seasons, such that the two or more types of flowers are not competing for resources, and the garden has flowers blooming most of the time.
Planting Two Bulb Flowers in the Same Hole
A Q&A post on the New Mexico State University website suggests that you can actually plant flower bulbs in the same hole. But the bulbs should be planted at different depths depending on the sprouting and blooming seasons. For example, tulips should be deeper than crocus or iris.
However, doing this will mean the flowers will start crowding one another with time, mutually tainting growth for each other and forcing the flower gardener to remove them, or at least some of the flower types.
That leaves anyone wondering if planting different flowers in the same spot is advisable. Let’s give you a straightforward answer in the next section.
Can You Plant Different Flowers in the Same Spots?
Everyone agrees that planting different flowers in the same hole is a bad idea. That’s because both the roots and foliage of the flowers take up space that can’t be taken up by another plant.
Even when plants grow together, they are simply next to each other, though they appear to be in the same spot. If one should invade the other’s space, proper growth is compromised.
However, it is possible to plant different flowers in the same spot if “same spot” means in the same patch of ground.
Planting flowers in different holes in the same patch of ground comes with a wide array of benefits, including the following:
- The flowers have enough room for growth and blooming.
- It is easier to apply fertilizer.
- Flowers in separate holes have better room to receive the required air, sunlight, water, and nutrients.
- Well-spaced flowers facilitate proper air circulation, eliminating the conditions for root rot, fungus growth, and disease contagion between flowers.
To reap the above benefits, there are some tips you should bear in mind when planting different flowers in the same spot.
Tips for Planting Different Flowers in the Same Spot
We mentioned earlier that companion planting in flower gardens has primarily an esthetic function. As such, when deciding about flowers that can be planted in the same spot, it is important that these flowers look good together.
Nonetheless, aesthetics is not the only factor one should consider when companion-planting your flowers.
There are several other factors to consider, which should be taken as tips for planting different flowers in the same spot:
- Ensure you only plant together flowers with the same moisture and sunlight requirements. For example, do not pair taller flower plants that cast a shadow on shorter sun-loving flower plants. Inadequate sunlight can cause flower plants not to grow roots or bloom.
- When pairing flowers that bloom together, combine complementary colors and shapes. Same color flowers may look good, but a flower’s color will pop better if combined with complementary colors.
- Consider companion-planting flowers that bloom in different seasons. That way, they are not competing for the same resources like soil nutrients, sunlight, and air.
- Pair flowers that bloom in spring with those that flower in summer. That way, you have flowers blooming in your garden all the time. Besides, different blooming seasons will help disguise fading foliage in a seasonal flower when the other is blooming.
- Learn how flowers you plant in the same spot deal with pests. Research has shown that plants affected by one pest can be protected by closeby plants that are not affected by the pest. The plant that’s not affected by the pest repels them when they fall on their foliage, making the pest not reach the desired plant.
With these tips in mind, it would be interesting to find out which different flowers can be planted in the same spot and why.
Flowers That Can Be Planted in the Same Spot
Before picking the flowers you want to plant in the same spot, you should take some time to determine which flowers will work best together without fighting for resources like light, water, and nutrients or hindering each other’s bloom.
Here are some examples of flowers that can be successfully planted in the same spot:
Geraniums and Roses
Roses are common flowers and come in varied colors. They blossom well in well-draining soil and sunny locations. However, roses are prone to pests like beetles and aphids. Because of this, pairing them with strong-smelling flowers like geraniums can help keep the pests away.
Some modern roses bloom regularly, but most roses bloom from spring through fall. Geraniums have dark green leaves and varied flower colors. They blossom in spring through summer, meaning that pairing them with roses gives your garden a more extended period of bloom throughout the year.
Tulips and Catnips
Tulips are early spring bloomers. They bloom well with neutral dry soil and good afternoon sunlight. Their varied colors and cup shapes make them stand out, which is why planting them in the same patch of ground with catnips is a good idea.
Catnips, like tulips, are perennials. Planted together with tulips, the bushy catnips with faded violet flowers provide an excellent backdrop for the bright colors of tulips to stand out. Since they remain vibrantly green all year, catnips will help conceal the dead leaves of tulips when they begin to wither and take their winter rest, waiting to sprout again in spring.
Daisies and Petunias
Daisies and petunias both come in a wide range of colors. Planting them together requires good attention to colors so that they can complement each other. Since most daisies have a yellow center, contrasting colors of petunias will work well, like yellow with purple.
While daisies bloom in late spring, petunias flower earlier, meaning that you can enjoy a brightly colored garden for a longer period.
You’ll need a nutrient-rich patch of ground to plant petunias and daisies together. Both flower plants need plenty of soil nutrients, full sunlight, and well-draining soil to bloom well.
Brunnera and Tulips
Brunnera, commonly called ‘forget me not,’ is another perennial flower that goes well in the same spot as tulips. Instead of planting Brunnera flowers beside tulips, you’ll often see tulips standing tall above Brunnera bushes in their diverse colors. However, like catnips, the little, delicate, blue Brunnera flowers also make a good background alongside tulips.
When tulips sleep after their spring bloom, Brunneras will keep your garden alive with their lovely blue bloom that goes from spring to late summer. Even when the flowers fade, their heart-shaped leaves will give your garden a beautiful view until the flowers blossom again.
The two different flowers are also great in the same spot because Brunneras do well in partial shade while tulips love the afternoon sunlight. So, tulips can blossom above the Brunnera without compromising their growth.
Conclusion
Can you plant different flowers in the same spot? Yes, you can. But that means planting each variety next to each other in the same patch of ground, not in the same hole.
Spacing flowers allows good air and sunlight passage and optimal water and nutrient distribution, thus supporting better flower growth.
If you plant different flowers in the same spot, ensure the plants grow well together and will not inhibit each other’s growth and beauty by blocking sunlight or creating an undesired contrast.
