Associating Helianthemums

On a a low wall

The helianthemum is a very easy perennial to grow and requires no watering. As a result, it is not afraid to grow between the gaps in paving, stones, and even on top of a wall. On the contrary, the taller it grows, the more it displays a cascade of flowers and leaves that are highly decorative. If you love colour, you can plant a helianthemum with raspberry pink flowers, such as the variety ‘Hartswood Ruby’, or in red tones like Helianthemum ‘Tomato Red’. As for Helianthemum ‘Elfenbeinglanz’, it will bring a touch of brightness to a too-dark wall. To keep it company from its perch, you can plant a Campanula poscharskyana, a wall daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), a Globularia punctata, an aubrieta, a silver sedum (Sedum ‘Cape Blanco’) or even a red one (Sedum ‘Wildfire’), an Arenaria montana, and a ‘Nana’ wormwood.

Campanulas and a Helianthemum ‘Tomato Red’ create a magnificent cascade of small flowers on a wall

In a dry rock garden

The helianthemum is one of the perennials you might encounter along a path in the garrigues. There’s no doubt it will be wonderful for enhancing a dry rock garden in your garden. The most challenging part won’t be planting it, but choosing your favourite among all the varieties of sun flowers! For example, you might opt for a helianthemum with pink flowers, such as the cultivar ‘Ben Hope’, or one with orange flowers for the variety ‘Orange Double’. As for Helianthemum ‘Wisley Primrose’, it stands out with its leaves in silver-green tones and its delicate lemon-yellow flowers. You can pair it with other rock garden plants like Lavender, a Delosperma, a Sea Thrift, an Erigeron Karvinskianus, a Spurge, lovely Sedums, an Stipa, an Iberis sempervirens, and why not an Agave in a Mediterranean climate.

A stunning combination featuring a Delosperma ‘sutherlandii’, an Erigeron Karvinskianus, and a Helianthemum ‘Bronzeteppich’ at the back of the rock garden

On the edge

With a height of 15 to 25 cm, the Helianthemum will naturally find its place in a sunny border. For an ornamental effect in all seasons, opt for varieties with evergreen foliage such as Helianthemum ‘Wisley Primrose’ or Helianthemum ‘Elfenbeinglanz’. You can also select a variety with double flowers, such as Helianthemum ‘Annabel’ or Helianthemum ‘Sulphureum Plenum’. For a beautiful decorative effect, you can combine it with other perennial plants such as Dianthus, a Wallflower, an Agapanthus, a Coreopsis lanceolata ‘Walter’, a Nepeta ‘Kit Kat’, or a Lavender. Don’t forget a Campanula poscharskyana, some ornamental Allium bulbs, an Euphorbia myrsinites, a hardy geranium ‘sanguineum’, and a sedum.

Helianthemum ‘Elfenbeinglanz’, true Lavender, Campanula poscharskyana ‘Stella’, and Alliums ‘Mont Blanc’

In a perennial bed

Highly floriferous, the Helianthemum will enhance a beautiful border of perennial plants in a well-drained to dry garden. Opt for a compact variety, such as Helianthemum ‘Raspberry Ripple’, which boasts stunning raspberry pink flowers edged in white. If you prefer red tones, Helianthemum ‘Tomato Red’ will surely charm you. As for the sun flower ‘Ben Fhada’, it will bring brightness with its brilliant yellow flowers and light green foliage. For a lovely effect, combine them with other dry-soil perennials, such as Bush Sage, a hardy geranium sanguineum ‘Elsbeth’, a Spurge, Sea Holly, an Agapanthus, a Lavender, and a Nepeta. In yellow tones, you will also find a Coreopsis alpinus ‘Early Sunrise’, a Wallflower, and its large cousin, the Cistus. You can also plant your sun flowers with ornamental grasses, such as Stipa or alongside a Penstemon and a Gaura. The sun flower will also thrive at the base of shrubs like a Ceanothus, a Shrubby Cinquefoil, and a rose bush.

A gold and blue border featuring a Helianthemum ‘Ben Fhada’, a Nepeta ‘Kit Cat’, a Coreopsis alpinus ‘Early Sunrise’, a Lavender, and an Agapanthus

On a bank

Requiring little maintenance, the Helianthemum is perfect as groundcover on a slope. Furthermore, once well established, this perennial plant will thrive without watering. Again, you will have plenty of options among all our sunflowers. And why not mix them together? The ‘Wisley Primrose’ Helianthemum will bring brightness to the garden with its abundant pastel yellow flowering. Not as much as the dazzling white-flowered variety ‘The Bride’. And what about the beautiful raspberry and ruby flowers of Helianthemum ‘Hartswood Ruby’? They will enjoy being planted alongside other groundcover plants such as Lavender, a St John’s Wort, a Creeping Rosemary, a Stachys byzantina, a Campanula poscharskyana, a Wall Daisy (Erigeron karvinskianus), and a Sea Thrift. To extend the flowering period, you can also plant a Winter Heather.

‘The Bride’ Helianthemum, a Sea Thrift, a Erigeron karvinskianus, and a Stachys byzantina,

For further reading

• Find all our helianthemum varieties
• To learn everything about this magnificent plant, read our sheet on helianthemum: planting and growing tips
• Discover all our tips for growing a helianthemum in a pot