What to Plant with Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a popular choice for the garden, thanks to their bright yellow blooms and their ability to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. However, sunflowers can also provide a great backdrop for a variety of other plants. If you're wondering what to plant with sunflowers, here are a few ideas to get you started.

H2: Annual Flowers

Annual flowers are a great choice to plant with sunflowers, as they provide a pop of color and can be changed up every year. Some ideas for annuals that pair well with sunflowers include:

- Zinnias: With their bright and varied blooms, zinnias make a great companion for sunflowers. They come in a range of colors, from pinks and purples to oranges and yellows.

- Cosmos: Another colorful annual, cosmos come in shades of white, pink, and red. They have a light, airy look and can provide a nice contrast to the more solid sunflower blooms.

- Marigolds: These sunny yellow or orange blooms make a great complement to sunflowers. Plus, they're known for their ability to repel pests like aphids and nematodes.

H2: Perennial Flowers

If you're looking for plants that will come back year after year, perennial flowers are a great choice. Here are a few perennials that look great with sunflowers:

- Black-eyed Susans: These yellow and black blooms are a popular choice for gardens, and they pair perfectly with sunflowers. They bloom from mid-summer to fall, and can help extend the flowering season in your garden.

- Coneflowers: Coneflowers (also known as Echinacea) come in a variety of colors, from pink to orange to white. They're known for their ability to attract butterflies and bees, making them a great companion for sunflowers.

- Salvia: This plant produces spikes of blue or purple flowers, which can provide a nice contrast to the yellow of sunflowers. They're also known for their ability to attract hummingbirds.

H2: Vegetables

Believe it or not, some vegetables can make great companions for sunflowers. Here are a few to consider:

- Cucumbers: Sunflowers can provide a trellis for cucumber vines to climb up, saving space in your garden. Plus, the shade from the sunflowers can help keep the soil cool and moist, which cucumbers love.

- Beans: Like cucumbers, beans can climb up sunflower stems and save space in your garden. They also help fix nitrogen in the soil, which can benefit the sunflowers.

- Squash: Sunflowers can provide a large, sturdy base for squash plants to grow on. Plus, squash vines can help shade the sunflowers' roots, which can help keep them cool and moist.

In conclusion, there are many great options for what to plant with sunflowers. From annual and perennial flowers to vegetables, there's something for everyone. Experiment with different pairings and see what works best in your garden.