The prairie shrub prefers dry or lean locations. Ideal companion plants should not only have similar soil requirements, but also tolerate the blazing sun very well. You can read about which ones you can combine the magnificent candle with here.
To the point
- Can be combined with flowering plants and grasses
- Plants of different heights give a perennial bed more structure
- some companion plants reproduce well by self-seeding
- Companion plants are not difficult to care for
- many companion plants are a good source of food for insects
Table of contents
- Location of the prairie shrub
- Combine magnificent candle | UH
- K-R
- Companion plants from P – Z
- Planting plan for combination with magnificent candles
- Planting plan bed
- Zinc tub planting plan
- frequently asked Questions
Location of the prairie shrub
The prairie candle (Oenothera lindheimeri), as the name suggests, is a sun-loving plant. Your location should and can therefore be in full sun. The perennial is particularly suitable for planting on the south-facing balcony. In addition, the soil should be permeable, low in nutrients and humus. Also be careful not to water the plant too much.
Combine magnificent candle | UH
Argentine verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
Argentine verbena is one to two years old, but only partially hardy. However, sowing is possible without any problems.
- Height: 80-120cm
- Width: 30-40cm
- Blossom: Umbel-shaped, blue-violet coloring
- Flowering time: July – October
- Sheet: lanceolate, serrated edge, medium green
Blue diamond (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
The blue rue has been conquering home gardens for several years because it is very easy to care for. It should just have a location that is somewhat sheltered from the wind.
- Height: 100-120cm
- Width: 40 – 80 cm
- Blossom: loosely spike-shaped, blue to violet coloring
- Flowering time: July – October
- Sheet: lanceolate, deeply cut, silvery, tomentose
Blue fescue (Festuca cinerea)
Grasses such as blue fescue can be ideally combined with the magnificent candle in the perennial bed as they provide a visual break. The blue fescue develops very well in dry locations and has a blue-green color in the full sun.
- Height: 10 – 25 cm
- Width: 20-30cm
- Blossom: Panicle-shaped, upright, yellow-brown coloring
- Flowering time: June July
- Sheet: pointed, entire, coarse, very narrow, blue-green
Don't cut back the blue fescue until early spring. This means that the stalks provide good winter protection for the nest.
Heather carnation (Dianthus deltoides)
Although the heather carnation is decorative in the perennial bed, it is not that easy when it comes to controlling weeds. Their cushion-like spread makes it difficult to remove weeds without easily damaging the plant.
- Height: 5-20cm
- Width: 20-30cm
- Blossom: plate-shaped, pink in color
- Flowering time: June August
- Sheet: lanceolate, narrow, rounded, dark green
High sedum (Sedum telephium)
The sedum with its many varieties offers insects fresh nectar in autumn, especially in the perennial bed, and should therefore not be missing in any garden.
- Height: 30 – 70 cm
- Width: 40 – 70 cm
- Blossom: umbel-shaped, dark pink
- Flowering time: August – October
- Sheet: oval, toothed, green
Planting takes place in autumn or spring. If you want to divide and propagate the plant, you should also do this in spring.
K-R
Carthusian carnation (Dianthus carthusianorum)
The Carthusian carnation is well suited for extreme locations. It copes with drought just as well as with persistent rain. It is therefore ideal for combining with the magnificent candle.
- Height: 10 – 60 cm
- Width: 10 – 80 cm
- Blossom: cup-shaped, purple-pink coloring
- Flowering time: June – September
- Sheet: grassy, dull, dark green
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Catnip is attractive to some cats. Insects also benefit from the richly flowering perennial.
- Height: 25-40cm
- Width: 20 – 40 cm
- Blossom: spiked inflorescence, white, purple or bluish colors
- Flowering time: July September
- Sheet: needle-shaped, gray to silvery coloring
Globe thistle (Echinops)
The perennial, which is particularly popular with insects and birds, is suitable for any perennial bed in the garden or as a potted plant on the balcony and terrace. It can be wonderfully combined with other perennials.
- Height: 60 – 100 cm
- Width: 60-80cm
- Blossom: ball-shaped, violet to bluish
- Flowering time: August September
- Sheet: elongated, broadly lanceolate, green to gray in color
The globe thistle can easily be propagated by division. But seeds can also be collected from October onwards, although only pure flowers should be used.
lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Real lavender is ideal for dry locations and can therefore be combined very well with the magnificent candle. Lavender is not difficult to care for and it can bloom again after it has been pruned after the first flowering.
- Height: 30 – 60 cm
- Width: 25-40cm
- Blossom: grape-shaped, violet to bluish color
- Flowering time: May – August
- Sheet: oval, wrinkled, intense mint scent, gray-green
rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Rosemary is frost-resistant in temperate regions. In dry beds it can even be used in late spring or Bloom in early summer.
- Height: 100-200cm
- Width: 60-70cm
- Blossom: panicle-shaped, light purple color
- Flowering time: April June
- Sheet: needle-like, leathery, hard, dark green above, silvery below
Give the rosemary light winter protection, for example with a winter fleece or wrap it thickly with pine branches. As a result, it usually survives the winter outdoors much better.
Companion plants from P – Z
Pechnelke (Lychnis viscaria)
The pitch carnation does not need any pruning. This means that it can multiply easily by self-sowing in the perennial bed.
- Height: 40-50cm
- Width: 25-30cm
- Blossom: panicle-shaped, purple-pink coloring
- Flowering time: May – July
- Sheet: linear, tapering, intense green
sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sage is a decorative flowering plant if the shoot tips are not cut regularly. To prevent flowering perennials from aging, they should be cut back in spring.
- Height: 50-100cm
- Width: 60-70cm
- Blossom: panicle-shaped, pink to purple in color
- Flowering time: May – July
- Sheet: linear, tapering, intense green
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
The coneflower is an old medicinal plant with decorative flowers. Even the seed head is visually attractive and can remain until winter.
- Height: 40-50cm
- Width: 40-50cm
- Blossom: panicle-shaped, violet-blue, yellowish color
- Flowering time: June August
- Sheet: ovoid, elongated, silvery to gray-green
Beach rye (Leymus arenarius)
The beach rye not only looks visually attractive, the leaves rustle quietly in the wind and give you the feeling of visiting the beach. Although the plant prefers the climate of temperate beach regions, it can overwinter without any problems.
- Height: 100 – 130 cm
- Width: 200-300cm
- Blossom: panicle-shaped, yellowish color
- Flowering time: July August
- Sheet: band-shaped, piercing, stiff, frosted, blue-gray
Quaking grass (Briza media)
The quaking grass does not spread much. After flowering, you can use the delicate grass for dry bouquets or flower arrangements, for example.
- Height: 10 – 40 cm
- Width: 30-40cm
- Blossom: simple, panicle-shaped, green-brown coloring
- Flowering time: May – August
- Sheet: narrow, lanceolate, rough, fresh green
Planting plan for combination with magnificent candles
As an example of the possibilities for planting the prairie candle in a bed or in a zinc pot for the terrace or balcony, we have put together two planting plans for you here.
Properties of the magnificent candle:
- Height: 80 – 150 cm
- Width: 50 – 90 cm
- Blossom: panicle-shaped, pink to white in color
- Flowering time: June – September
- Sheet: spatulate, elliptical, green
Prairie candle is one of the many bee-friendly perennials. You can plant them in your garden together with other plants and thus contribute to the preservation of wild bees and other insects.
Planting plan bed
The prairie candle looks particularly great in herbaceous beds, along roadsides or in wildflower meadows and impresses with its appearance. We have put together an idea for you of what a perennial bed with the sun-loving plant could look like.
Zinc tub planting plan
Zinc tubs are a popular design element in the garden, terrace or even on the balcony. They are available in a wide variety of sizes and therefore offer individual planting options. The magnificent candle can also be easily combined with other plants in the zinc tub, we will now show you an example of this.
The magnificent candle is more susceptible to aphids outside the bed. Therefore, check more often and plant herbs such as sage or lavender next to it and the lice will largely stay away.
frequently asked Questions
Yes, you can plant the magnificent candle in a bucket or pot. When growing in a container, make sure you keep enough distance when combining them with other plants. In the bucket or pot, the root ball needs winter protection so that the roots are not damaged by frost. During frost-free periods you should water the magnificent candle in winter.
Yes, light basic fertilization is ideal for both the magnificent candle and its companion plants. To do this, work horn shavings into the perennial bed in spring. Further fertilization per year is no longer necessary.
You can promote a second flowering of the candlestick and accompanying flowering perennials if you remove the inflorescences shortly after they have faded. However, avoid this for perennials such as carnation species that are intended to reproduce through self-sowing.
