Lilies make perfect partners with other plants and help create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden. Since Lilies appreciate some shade around their roots while keeping their foliage and ravishing blossoms in the air and sunshine, they welcome the company of neighboring plants such as annuals, perennials, bulbs, grasses or shrubs. However, a few rules need to be respected to ensure your Lilies will thrive.

• Choose shallow-rooted companions: Lilies do very well in the company of shallow-rooted plants, which also help to keep their roots cool. Most annuals have shallow roots. On the perennial side, Peonies, Irises and Columbines are examples of shallow-rooted plants that will look lovely with your Lilies.
• Choose low-growing companions: Do not plant tall plants next to your lilies as they will shade the plants and reduce the production of Lily blooms.
• Underplanting your Lilies with a succession of flowers will reinforce the beauty of their spectacular blooms and extend the flowering season of your mixed border. Start with low-growing spring bulbs such as snowdrops, crocus, grape hyacinths, scillas, anemones and narcissi. They will provide color to your borders at a time when your Lilies are not at their best. Many shrubs are exciting in the springtime period, especially before the majority of the Lilies comes into flower. These Lilies will ensure a new revival in these garden locations later in the season. Chrysanthemums and Asters will provide late-season color and hide the base of your Lily stalks as they begin to decay.
• Lilies do not like too much competition and need a lot of space to mature properly. It is recommended to surround them with plants that are not too aggressive or invasive. Don't crowd them too close to these plants.
• Make sure you maintain good air circulation to prevent fungus diseases such as botrytis.
• There is a wide range of companion plants that will bring out the best qualities of your Lilies and share their space with a serene balance. Make sure you select any ornamental grasses, perennials, annuals or shrubs that have the same growing requirements as your Lilies. Most Lilies do best in full sun and well-drained soil, but some varieties prefer partial shade. Most Lilies do well in slightly acidic soil and very alkaline soils would preclude some of them.
• Texture, color, and form are also important in the selection of companion plants. Because of the colors Lilies generally possess (yellow, pink, orange, red and white, with all the possible colors in between), blue and purple-flowering perennial plants make favorite neighbors (Salvia, Echinops, etc.). Plants with gray foliage (Artemisia, Stachys byzantina, etc.) or deep green ferns can accent the beauty of LiLies effectively.
  Lilies always provide an effective contrast against brown-leaved shrubs (Corylus maxima 'Purpurea', Cotinus coggyria 'Royal Purple') or blue-flowering shrubs (Caryopteris clandonensis, Hibiscus syriacus 'Coelestis' and Ceanothus 'Gloire de Versailles').

With such a multitude of companion plants to pair your Lilies with, you are sure to find several combinations that will enhance your landscape and please your eye!

• Great Companion Plants for Asiatic Hybrid Lilies
• Great Companion Plants for Trumpet Hybrid Lilies
• Great Companion Plants for Orienpet Hybrid Lilies
• Great Companion Plants for Oriental Hybrid Lilies
• Great Companion Plants for Martagon Lilies