14 Beautiful Plants To Grow With Tulips Right Now

Plants to grow with tulips not only extend your garden’s visual appeal beyond spring but also introduce beauty and resilience as the seasons shift. While tulips steal the show early on with their vivid blooms, their display is brief. That’s where companion planting proves powerful. By pairing tulips with the right plants, you can ensure a vibrant, thriving garden well into summer. Consider filling in your beds with beautiful patio plants or experimenting with layout options like flagstone paths to enhance both structure and seasonal transitions. Many companion plants not only add texture and overlapping bloom times but also offer benefits like pest control or soil support. With thoughtful planning, your tulip beds can transition gracefully into a lively, purposeful summer garden.

Table of Contents

1. Crocus

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One of the earliest plants to grow with tulips, crocuses are a natural match in both bloom time and visual harmony. These cheerful flowers pop up just before or alongside tulips in early spring, creating a layered carpet of color in your beds. Their petite, cup-shaped blooms bring purples, whites, and yellows to the garden while thriving in full sun or partial shade.

Crocuses prefer well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, and once established, they need very little water. Plant their bulbs in the fall about three inches deep, and let them naturalize over time for repeated early-season color. Their low-growing nature also complements tulips without competing for the spotlight.

2. Grape Hyacinth

Grape hyacinths are charming, low-maintenance plants to grow with tulips that create a striking contrast with their clusters of deep blue or purple bell-shaped flowers. They’re excellent at filling in spaces around tulip stems, giving your beds a more cohesive and vibrant look during early to mid-spring.

These hardy perennials prefer full sun to partial shade and can tolerate a wide range of soil types, as long as the drainage is good. Once the blooming season ends, grape hyacinths go dormant in summer, making room for other plants to shine while their bulbs recharge underground for next spring.

3. Daffodil

Bright and bold, daffodils are classic plants to grow with tulips that bloom in harmony during spring. Their sunny yellow and white trumpet-shaped flowers create a cheerful contrast with tulip hues and add visual depth to your garden beds. Beyond beauty, daffodils offer a practical benefit: they naturally deter rodents and other pests that might dig up tulip bulbs.

Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall, about six inches deep, in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, they need only moderate watering and are relatively drought-tolerant. As the tulip season fades, daffodils maintain the garden’s appeal while helping to protect its health underground.

4. Allium

For a dramatic display that bridges spring and early summer, alliums are standout plants to grow with tulips. Known for their tall, globe-shaped flower heads in shades of purple, white, and pink, alliums emerge just as tulips begin to fade, creating a seamless transition of color and height.

These ornamental onions thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, even tolerating poor conditions. Their natural pest-repelling properties make them excellent neighbors for tulips. Plant allium bulbs 4–6 inches deep in the fall and water sparingly. Their strong architectural form adds structure and a bold focal point to your garden.

5. Pansy

Pansies are cool-season charmers and ideal plants to grow with tulips if you’re aiming for a colorful, continuous spring display. With velvety petals in purples, yellows, and whites, they bring softness and variety to tulip arrangements. Their compact size also makes them perfect for edging borders or filling in gaps between larger bulbs.

They thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer rich, well-drained soil kept consistently moist. Pansies flourish in early spring and, with the right care, continue to bloom as tulips begin to fade. Their overlapping bloom times ensure no bare spots in your garden as seasons transition.

6. Snapdragon

For gardeners wanting vertical interest and vibrant color, snapdragons are standout plants to grow with tulips. Their tall, spiky blooms in bold reds, pinks, and yellows rise above fading tulip foliage, extending your garden’s color story well into summer.

Snapdragons prefer full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a neutral pH. Keep the soil evenly moist and pinch back the first few inches of growth to encourage bushier, more flower-packed plants. These resilient annuals not only provide visual drama but also help maintain a full, lush garden after tulip season ends.

7. Shasta Daisy

Shasta daisies are classic, summer-blooming plants to grow with tulips that help your garden stay lively after spring ends. Their clean white petals and bright yellow centers bring a refreshing brightness that contrasts beautifully with tulip colors. As tulips die back, Shasta daisies take over the spotlight with minimal effort.

These hardy perennials thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, preferring a slightly acidic pH. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings, and deadhead spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering. Their long-lasting blooms and tidy growth habit make them reliable anchors for a well-structured garden bed.

8. Zinnia

Zinnias are bold and cheerful plants to grow with tulips, offering a seamless seasonal handoff from spring into summer. Available in a spectrum of vivid colors, zinnias fill the space left behind as tulips fade, ensuring your garden never loses momentum or vibrancy.

Zinnias thrive in full sun and prefer well-drained soil. Start them from seed or transplants after the last frost, and water at the base to avoid mildew. Their heat tolerance, fast growth, and abundant blooms make zinnias a perfect partner to extend the beauty of your tulip beds deep into the warmer months.

9. Daylilies

Daylilies are one of the most dependable plants to grow with tulips, offering wave after wave of vibrant blooms as spring transitions into summer. Their trumpet-shaped flowers open daily in rich shades of orange, red, yellow, and pink, bringing energy and fullness to garden beds once tulips fade.

These perennials thrive in full sun but tolerate partial shade and prefer well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Daylilies are low-maintenance and drought-resistant once established. Their bushy foliage also works well to cover the dying tulip leaves, keeping your garden neat and colorful without much effort.

10. Nasturtium

Nasturtiums are colorful, edible plants to grow with tulips that bring both style and substance to your flower beds. Their bright red, orange, and yellow blossoms cascade elegantly around taller tulip stems, creating a soft, flowing look as spring fades into summer.

Best grown in full sun and poor, well-drained soil, nasturtiums actually bloom better with less fertility. Water them moderately and let the soil dry slightly between sessions. As a bonus, their peppery leaves deter aphids and other pests, offering a layer of natural protection for your tulip bulbs and surrounding blooms.

11. Hostas

If you’re looking for leafy contrast, hostas are ideal plants to grow with tulips—especially in shadier parts of your garden. While tulips offer bright, upright blooms, hostas contribute bold, textured foliage that creates a rich green backdrop once the tulip flowers fade.

Hostas prefer partial to full shade and thrive in rich, moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH. Their broad leaves help disguise the withering tulip foliage, keeping the bed looking clean and polished. Regular watering, especially in dry summer heat, ensures they remain lush and healthy through the season.

12. Marigold

Marigolds are sunny, hardworking plants to grow with tulips that add color and pest protection in equal measure. Their golden-yellow and orange blooms brighten summer beds while acting as a natural deterrent to harmful insects like aphids and nematodes.

These tough annuals do best in full sun and well-drained soil. Water regularly, but allow the soil to dry slightly between sessions to prevent root rot. Deadhead spent flowers to keep new blooms coming. Marigolds not only enhance the tulip display but also help maintain a healthier, more balanced garden environment.

13. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum is one of the most charming and fragrant plants to grow with tulips, ideal for edging beds or filling spaces between taller blooms. Its tiny clusters of white, pink, or purple flowers form a soft groundcover that contrasts beautifully with the structured form of tulips.

It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained soil kept consistently moist. With a sweet, honey-like scent, alyssum attracts beneficial pollinators while enhancing the visual appeal of your tulip beds. Trim it back after the first flush of flowers to encourage new growth and continued blooming.

14. Dianthus

Dianthus, also known as “pinks,” rounds out the list of smart plants to grow with tulips with its delicately fringed blooms in shades of red, pink, and white. Their spicy fragrance and compact habit make them excellent companions along borders or near shorter tulip varieties.

These perennials prefer full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. Moderate watering is key—avoid soggy conditions to keep roots healthy. After blooming, shear plants back to promote a second flush of flowers later in the season. Dianthus adds lasting color and elegance to your tulip-filled garden.

Conclusion

Choosing the right plants to grow with tulips ensures your garden stays lively, layered, and intentional well beyond the spring bloom. Companion plants like hostas, marigolds, daylilies, and zinnias not only add fresh textures and vibrant color—they also offer natural pest control and seasonal structure. For gardeners who love a seamless transition from spring to summer, pairing tulips with summer-friendly choices like those in our beautiful patio plant guide or placing them near flagstone walkways can elevate both beauty and functionality. With a little planning, your tulip garden won’t just fade—it’ll flourish, setting the stage for a full season of color, interest, and joy.

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