Extending Iris Season with Companion Plants

Irises put on a spectacular spring show, but once they're done, you're left with a sea of green swords. The fix? Interplant with companions that bloom before, during, and after iris season.

Reblooming Daylilies: Reliable Color

Mickey Gazaway of Pike Nursery recommends reblooming daylilies like 'Stella de Oro' or 'Happy Returns'. These cultivars flower heavily in early summer, then repeat sporadically until frost. Their strappy foliage blends with iris leaves, and they're tough, drought-tolerant perennials.

Annuals for Instant, Long-Lasting Blooms

Scatter cosmos or zinnia seeds directly in the iris bed each spring. Both germinate quickly, bloom all summer, and won't compete aggressively with iris rhizomes. Cosmos add airy height; zinnias bring bold, cut-flower colors. Since they're annuals, you can change the palette yearly.

Design Tips

• Plant daylilies in drifts behind or between iris clumps.
• Sow annual seeds in pockets of bare soil after iris bloom.
• Deadhead annuals to prolong flowering.

With this mix, your iris bed transitions from a one-act play into a full-season performance — green structure in spring, color through summer, and tidy foliage into fall.