21 Companion Plants to Grow With Petunias This Season (2024)

Full of color and life, petunias are a garden classic and are grown by all types of gardeners. With hundreds of varieties to choose from, there is a petunia out there for anyone. Noted for their lasting blooms and low-maintenance tendencies, they will thrive just about anywhere.

Petunias can be grown in flower beds, vegetable gardens, containers, and hanging baskets. Although they look amazing on their own, petunias really shine when planted with certain plants. Companion plants are plants that look best and provide numerous benefits for one another. This is a common practice that gardeners have done for decades.

Petunias are a great addition when creating custom arrangements that suit your area. You can choose plants that need full sun that complement each other. Consider growing plants that get taller than petunias to create different heights in your container, flower bed, or hanging basket.

If you are looking to add some contrast or height to an area where you have planted petunias, consider adding companion plants. In this article, we are going to dive into popular companion plants that thrive when grown with petunias.

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Companion Planting Benefits

Companion planting is a long-practiced method of pairing plants that benefit each other in containers, hanging baskets, gardens and landscapes. Planting different species of plants is beneficial in a number of ways.

Petunias have a tendency to attract insects that might harm other plants. When planted in vegetable gardens, petunias are a tasty treat for harmful insects. The harmful insects nibble on the petunias instead of the garden vegetables. You may have bug-infested petunias, but you’ll have less damage with your vegetables.

On the other side, petunias also attract beneficial insects. Pollinators love the sweet nectar that petunias produce and will attract pollinators to your vegetable garden, flowerbeds, and containers. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees all love petunias and will attract them all summer long.

Companion plants not only create biodiversity, but they cover and fill space that you may consider leaving empty. Filling spaces with companion plants will help keep weeds from emerging from the empty spaces.

Salvia

	botanical name Salvia spp.
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-10

A popular choice for planting with petunias, salvia will grow above petunias giving the area you plant some contrast in height. Salvia produces stalks of flowers that come in red, pink, purple, white, and yellow. Salvia will bloom from spring to fall similar to petunias’ bloom window.

Plant salvia behind petunias to display a contrast of color all season long. Plant salvia in the center of a container or hanging basket and have cascading varieties of petunias around it. Salvia prefers full sun and moist soil conditions, which makes it a perfect companion for petunias.

Snapdragons

	botanical name Antirrhinum majus
	plant type Annual,Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-6 annual, 7-10 perennial

Snapdragons are a beloved short-lived perennial that is typically grown as an annual. They have a unique bloom that resembles the nose of a dragon. The stems have towers of blooms that come in yellow, white, purple, pink, and red.

Snapdragons love well-draining soils and can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Planted with petunias, they give a pop of color from spring to fall. Petunias typically don’t get taller than 12 inches which pairs well with tall snapdragons. Petunias will cover the long stems of snapdragons giving your area more color and fullness.

Lantana

	botanical name Lantana camara
	plant type Perennial, annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 1-8 annual, 9-11 perennial

Lantana is a beautiful tropical plant that blooms all season long. Lantana can be grown about anywhere in your space as long as it has enough sunlight. Just like petunias, they worship the sun and perform their best in full sunlight.

Lantana produces small clusters of flowers that contrast well with the large blooms of petunias. Not to mention lantana and petunias attract pollinators of all kinds. Lantana may attract pollinators, but due to their aroma, they tend to ward off rabbits in deer. Lantana may protect your petunias from being nibbled if planted together.

African Daisy

	botanical name Osteospermum spp.
	plant type Perennial, annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-36”
	hardiness zones 1-9 annual, 10-11 perennial

A great choice in containers or in the ground, African daisies produce big, bright blooms. African Daisies prefer full sun but can tolerate partial shade. Partial shade will cause African daisies to produce fewer flowers.

Plant in the center of containers to give more height and contrast or behind petunias in a flower bed. Be sure soils are well draining and moist. African daisies don’t particularly like dry soils and do best in evenly watered soils.

Guara

	botanical name Oenothera lindheimeri
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 15”-48”
	hardiness zones 5-9

Also known as wandflower, it is a low-maintenance plant that is a great choice for beginner gardeners. Its long stems are dotted with numerous pink blooms that continuously bloom. Plant behind petunias to add some height and color.

Guara doesn’t come in as many colors as most, only white and pink. When paired with petunias, Guara will stand out and enhance your space with a flood of color and lasting blooms.

Asters

	botanical name Symphyotrichum spp.
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-48”
	hardiness zones 3-8

Although asters are late bloomers, they are a great addition to locations where petunias are grown. Asters produce purple, blue, and white daisy-like flowers from August to October.

They are typically sold as seasonal plants during the fall but are long-living perennials when planted into landscapes.

Candytuft

	botanical name Iberis sempervirens
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12”-18”
	hardiness zones 3-9

With similar growing conditions to petunias, candytuft will complement petunias with their delicate blooms. Pair with lower-growing, cascading varieties of petunias for a flood of color. Candytuft is lower-growing and could easily be covered by mounding petunia varieties.

Since candytuft is a woody subshrub, they are best grown in landscapes or flower beds. Plant petunias in front or between candytuft for a beautiful contrast of color. Be sure to plant with candytuft that’s in full sun so petunias can thrive.

Lobelia

	botanical name Lobelia erinus
	plant type Perennial, annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-9”
	hardiness zones 3-9 annual, 10-11 perennial

Lobelia is a compact, spreading plant that produces a dainty flower from summer to fall. Since lobelia is a spreading plant, they are best paired with mounding varieties of petunias. Blooming in purple, white, pink or lilac with a tiny white “eye” in the center of each flower.

Lobelia will spill over the edges of containers and hanging baskets providing a flood of continuous color. Plants can become leggy in late summer and benefit from pruning. Deadheading isn’t necessary but can help keep the plant clean and neat.

Tomatoes

	botanical name Solanum lycopersicum
	plant type Annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 1-11

Are you surprised to see a vegetable on the list? Surprisingly, petunias thrive next to vegetables and are proven to be beneficial to vegetables and fruits. When tomatoes are companion planted with petunias, they will enjoy the pollinators that the petunias attract.

You plant your petunias anywhere near your tomatoes, no matter if they are in the garden or in containers. Petunias and tomatoes both enjoy the sun and are happy with regular waterings.

Lettuce

	botanical name Lactuca sativa
	plant type Annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-9”
	hardiness zones 1-11

Lettuce and petunias, who would have thought? Plant petunias next to lettuce to help keep bugs away from your lettuce. Bugs will choose to nibble on the petunias, then snack on the tender leaves of lettuce.

Not only do petunias deter bugs, but they will add a pop of color to a sea of green lettuce. Petunias will fill in empty space between and around lettuce to help prevent weeds from emerging.

Strawberries

	botanical name Fragaria x ananassa
	plant type Annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6”-9”
	hardiness zones 5-10

Strawberries are an excellent companion plant for petunias. Or rather petunias may they be a better companion plant for strawberries! Petunias attract the pollinators necessary for the fruit production of strawberries.

Petunias and strawberries have about the same requirements for sunlight and soil moisture. Planted together and they will cover the ground and prevent the growth of weeds.

Blueberries

	botanical name Vaccinium angustifolium
	plant type Woody Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12”-14”
	hardiness zones 3-10

Blueberries are a great companion for petunias which also produce a tasty fruit to enjoy. The bright growth of the blueberries will compliment petunias very well. The petunias will keep bugs away from your blueberry bushes.

Petunias and blueberries have similar growing conditions. Blueberries enjoy 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day, which is exactly what petunias enjoy as well. Blueberries like very moist soils, and petunias will help cover the soil to help trap soil moisture for the blueberries.

Garden Peas

	botanical name Pisum sativum
	plant type Annual vegetable
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12”-48”
	hardiness zones 3-11

Traditional garden peas are an excellent vegetable to grow in the garden. But they don’t offer much visual appeal. They are stringy green plants that produce delicious vegetables, but that’s about where it ends.

Planting petunias will add pops of color and give the aphids something else to nibble on. As peas begin to finish their lifecycle, petunias will continue to bloom and fill in the space where peas once thrived.

Dracaena Spike

	botanical name Dracaena
	plant type Perennial, annual
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-24”
	hardiness zones 3-7 annual, 8-11 perennial

Spike is a dramatic plant that has sword-shaped leaves. This plant does not produce any flowers, just long, narrow leaves. It thrives in full sun with well-draining soil but can tolerate drier soils at times.

Place in the center of pots for added dramatic height. Spike can be planted directly into the ground and should act as a backdrop to more colorful flowers. Plant with cascading varieties of petunias to create a custom pot or hanging basket.

Fountain Grass

	botanical name Pennisetum alopecuroides
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18”-24”
	hardiness zones 4-10

A beautiful ornamental grass that produces pink, copper, or purple flower spikes above the leaves. Grown best in full sun, they are an excellent pair for petunias.

The tall stems tower above shorter flowers. If you are looking to make the petunias the vocal point, fountain grass is a great option.

Periwinkle

	botanical name Vinca minor
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 12”-48”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Periwinkle goes by many names but is usually just called vinca. A versatile ground cover that has glossy, leathery green leaves and violet-blue flowers. You can also find them in white flower varieties and variegated foliage.

Plant in containers with mounding petunias and watch as the vinca cascades down the sides. In some parts of the United States, periwinkle is considered invasive. Contact your local extension office to learn the status of periwinkle in your state.

Celosia Spicata

	botanical name Deeringia spicata
	plant type Annual
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 3-11

This annual has an upright spreading habit and has showy blooms that can reach heights of 4 feet or more. They provide color all season long with their bottle-brush blooms.

They enjoy the full sun, similar to petunias. Petunias will cover the leggy stems of the Celosia and provide a flood of color.

Geraniums

	botanical name Pelargonium x hortorum
	plant type Annual, perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 12”-24”
	hardiness zones 3-9 annual, 10-11 perennial

A popular bedding and potted plant, geraniums have similar requirements as petunias and pair well in flower beds and containers. Geraniums come in a number of colors, from white, red, pink, orange, and purple. The long stocks produce clusters of colorful flowers above the dark green foliage.

Geraniums love the sun and the heat and are at their peak during mid-summer. Petunias will keep blooming right beside geraniums adding color during the hottest days.

Coneflower

	botanical name Echinacea
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24”-36”
	hardiness zones 3-9

Similar to daisies in appearance, coneflowers are a beautiful perennial that continuously blooms all season. They are best planted in areas that receive sunlight all day.

They will thrive if given regular waterings. You can plant in the center of the container or in the back on petunias for lasting color.

Dusty Miller

	botanical name Jacobaea maritima
	plant type Perennial, annual
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 3-7 annual, 8-11 perennial

Dusty miller is a compact, old-fashioned plant that has been around for decades, and for good reason. They are excellent filler plants that procure silvery leaves with green undertones. Planted with petunias, dusty miller gives contrast to the green leaves of the petunias.

Dusty miller loves the heat and will thrive in dry conditions. It’s able to produce small yellow flowers in midsummer but aren’t considered showy and is hardly noticeable. Similar to petunias, dusty miller benefits from mid-summer pruning.

Creeping Jenny

	botanical name Lysimachia nummularia
	plant type Perennial
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 24”-48”
	hardiness zones 3-11

Considered to be an invasive plant, creeping jenny is a popular trailing plant used in containers and hanging baskets. A great choice when planted with mounding petunias to give a spiller-filler-thriller effect to containers. With yellow to lime green foliage, it will stand out and complement bright flower colors well.

Creeping Jenny is a hardy perennial that can grow in colder and warmer regions of the United States. Be cautious, as creeping jenny is invasive and if allowed, will spread quickly into unclaimed areas.

Plants To Avoid

There are endless options for companion plants that benefit or complement petunias but are there any plants you shouldn’t plant with petunias? Avoid the following as their growth conditions may not be similar, or they may compete for nutrients when planted near each other.