Companion plant to Muscari?

Royal Oak, MI(Zone 6a)

I have a large oak tree in my front yard that is surrounded by a circle of Hosta Univitatta. In front of all that, there is a planting of Muscari armeniacum (Grape Hyacinth) that looks nice in early spring before giving way to opportunistic weeds that I pull in the summer. Can anyone offer a companion I can plant amongst the Muscari bulbs? It needs to emerge late enough here in Michigan to allow the Hyacinths to finish blooming, which is usually late May, but crowd out the weeds and maybe cover the spent Hyacinth foliage. Please offer some perennial ideas =)

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Dearborn, MI

Are you thinking annual or perennial? Annuals could be planted after the muscari bloom. If you are thinking perennials, this is the list the Bluestone perennials says will grow in dry shade: www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/results_hlist.html?listid=DRYSHADE&listname=Plants%20that%20tolerate%20Dry%20Shade. Good to use as a reference. Ferns are often late to break dormancy, but if you want a little more color, some perennials they didn't mention that I have had success with are variegated Solomon's Seal (pretty arching stems), brunnera, celadine poppy, and something called either persicaria or tovara "painter's palette (colorful even when not in bloom) or pulmonaria. My absolute favorite for that spot would be something called HAKONECHLOA Macra Aureola. It does come up later, is a short mound of waving grass with the most awesome color to brighten up a shady spot.

Royal Oak, MI(Zone 6a)

Yeah, I asked for perennial ideas. So far, I've added a short Monarda ('Petite Delight'), a couple Bellflower ('Sentimental Blue'), and a couple mini Aquilegia ecalcarata to see how they do.

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54873/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/56019/
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/54823/

The Aquilegia will have to be moved if it grows taller than 12 inches for me. Also, it blooms earlier thanI would love to find some Aquilegia flabellata var pumila for this bed =) 6 inches tall sounds perfect for edging!

AuGres, MI(Zone 5b)

Alyssum, Arabis, Centaurea dealbata, Coreopsis, Dianthus, Digitalis, Forsythia, Gypsophila paniculata, Hemerocallis (yellow cvs.), Iris (rhizomatous white and yellow cvs.), Kniphofia (yellow cvs.), Narcissus, Peonies (white and yellow cvs.), Yellow tulip cultivars, Verbascum (white cvs.), Rhododendron spp. (deciduous and evergreen), Cotoneaster, Berberis, Acer palmatum, Deutzia gracilis, Weigela.


http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/factsheets/bulbs-perennial/Muscaar.htm

Royal Oak, MI(Zone 6a)

Thanks, Loon!! I'll look around and see what else sounds good for that bed.

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