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Broad and leafy , elephant spike plants are tropical deary that expand as perennials in warmer zones . While they can fare well on their own at moderate temperature out of the sun , these telling specimens still need a little TLC . For example , have you considered growing elephant ear fellow traveller plants ?
Elephant ear industrial plant couple well with flowers such as cardinal , bistorts , and bee unguent . It ’s important to look for plants that do n’t just complement this species ’ color and reckon , as many can help protect elephant ears , too .
Why grow companions with elephant ear plants?
While elephant ear can mature wildly on their own with petty hassle , they ’re only considered dauntless perennial in USDA zones eight through ten . Outside these spots , you ’re likely to find elephant spike need a picayune more accompaniment through careful gardening and companion planting .
While many gardeners may choose fellow plants based on aspect alone , the best familiar can help to promote healthy development in elephant ear . It ’s also a common victim of the spider mite – and can fall prey to fungi such as phyllosticta . It may be prudent to plant companions that can aid stave in off blight , too .
Elephant ears will also need abundant fertilization and watering . These plants wo n’t just demand the besthomemade compostbut will depart to shrivel and droop if alimental levels in the land get down to dissipate . mate elephant ear with ‘ nitrogen fastening ’ plants can ensure your leafy viridity stay healthier for longer .
It ’s also vital to control you grow companion plants that withstand the same get conditions as elephant auricle and that they wo n’t contend with the specie for nutrients or root blank space . Elephant ear demand a equilibrium in ghost and sun , meaning light - lover such as lavender may not accompany them well .
Elephant ears like middling moist soil and slimly acidic soil . The atomic number 20 oxalate institute within these plants is toxic to animals and mass to touch , but it does n’t seem to deter pest nor touch on other growths .
Before companion set with elephant ears , remember that various species can grow to around six feet grandiloquent , with their leaf traverse two to three animal foot . That signify any smaller specimens that need abundant sunlight may get well overshadow . Be thrifty to plant specimens that make out well in the shade or which you may leave to grow along the edge of your elephant ear plot in a margin .
Finally , consider that elephant capitulum plants rarely flower – meaning they may not fetch in many pollinator . It ’s worthwhile looking for plants and flowers that pull inbees , butterflies , andhummingbirdsfrom the open garden so that elephant ears stand up a luck of passing on pollen .
Check out some of our favorite elephant ear varieties !
Elephant ear companion plants you should start growing
While it ’s easy to find companion plants for elephant capitulum that complement their look and tropical demands , lining up companion that can actively benefit their growth can take some originative research . Here are just a few to help you get started .
Chamomile
Chamomile is the ‘ physician of the garden ’ thanks to its incredible antifungal and antibacterial properties , which may help prevent elephant ear from developing blight . Like elephant ear plants , camomile will produce out in the clear with a little spook , meaning you may safely develop it beneath the donee ’s farewell without much concern .
Chamomile can guard off fungal disease and prevent common pests from nibbling at elephant ear leaves . Chamomile is one of the most versatile fellow traveller plantsand will couple up with many other sore plants . It prefers a pH of between 6.5 and 7.5 , which fits nicely with elephant ear .
Alliums
grow Allium alongside elephant spike plants may prove beneficial in keeping invasive pests at bay . Ornamental Allium cepa and garlic acquire pungent scents that can confuse predatory louse , many of which will prey on elephant ear leaves . They ’ll thrive in the same stain pH as elephant ears and choose to be out in the Sunday .
Potential trouble you may happen with genus Allium revolve around soil drainage . Elephant pinna love wet , while alliums call for clear-cut drainage to thrive . view planting alliums close to elephant ears in their own beds or containers with different dirt . You ’ll benefit from the bug protective cover without worrying about either metal money choking from drain incompatibility .
Cardinals
key flowers occupy a perhaps awkward indigence for shade and wet , which is where elephant ear industrial plant can fall to the saving . Gorgeous fundamental flora can easily thrive under broad elephant pinna leaves , occasionally benefiting from sunlight through their gaps ( this wo n’t make them detriment ) .
Cardinals are majuscule for attracting butterfly and hummingbirds , mean the comparatively blue - flowering elephant spike may benefit from a ‘ wingman ’ approach to pollination . Cardinals flourish in alike filth pH and in USDA zones eight and nine .
Ferns
The companionship between fern and elephant ear flora is completely esthetic – mean you ’ll probably require to pair these two type of plant together for a dynamical visual effect . Visually companion planting elephant ears revolves around direct contrast – and ferns are typically sluttish in color and peaky in shape .
Ferns work well as temperate bedmates with elephant ears as they can help to draw focus to your larger plant . They ’re leisurely to manage alongside each other , and they make a great team if you desire to discourage deer from your yard . Deer dislike elephant ear plantsand will generallyavoid fernsunless they ’re starving – make them idealistic to grow together at the bound of your garden .
Bee Balm
As its name suggests , the bee balm is great at attracting pollinator such as bees and butterflies , and its almost superposable soil pH demand draw it up as a gravid comrade to elephant ears . Sometimes known as the raging Citrus bergamia , this industrial plant wo n’t get as magniloquent as the elephant ear , but it will gayly fill the space between leave and beds .
In tax return , the bee balm will benefit from fond shade , though it can also fare well as a perennial in full Sunday . The bee balm and elephant ear will also fare well together in incredibly damp filth .
Bistort
Bistort , sometimes known as the live-bearing knotweed , loves wet as much as elephant ear plant and will readily welcome bees and wasps to help pollinate its rare flowers . This meadowland plant is n’t commonly set up alongside elephant ear in the wild but has like soil and USDA zone demands .
Bistort can further protect elephant ear flora by attracting ladybugs which arefantastic insect predators . In turn , elephant pinna can help nicety bistort where necessary , though this fellow will also flourish in the sun .
Coleus
There are many different type of flame nettle , but most will pair well with elephant capitulum plant thanks to their share need for wet and humidness . While it ’ll develop to a maximum of three feet tall , flame nettle will benefit from the immense shade offered by elephant ear leaves .
Perhaps most interestingly , this duple human action works best as a justificative perimeter against visiting cervid . Deer wo n’t show much sake in elephant earsor touch coleus . You could grow a moist , slightly shaded margin against deer visitor by set coleus and elephant ear together towards the edge of your yard .
Rosemary
Rosemary is one of several herbaceous plant companionsthat ’s probable to protect elephant ears against various hemipterous insect and pests , though you ’ll need to grow it in a separate pot . They have conflicting drainage needs , but you could easily make a rosemary ( andoregano ) border that fly high in the full sun . Rosemary wo n’t apprize the shade of elephant ear parting , so keep your elephant ears back a fiddling while rosemary takes forethought of would - be invader .
Rosemary thrives in the same USDA zones as elephant ear plants and will stave in off slugs and escargot that will otherwise slither their way into elephant auricle pots . Use rosemary and other fragrant herb to welcome pollinators should elephant ears flower .
Fuchsia
Fuchsia is a beautiful anthesis works you may safely develop alongside elephant spike , though it will necessitate a little more drain than some varieties . Annualfuchsias attract hummingbird , which may prove helpful to elephant capitulum otherwise shin to pollenate .
fuchsia prefer fond tone to being out in the open , and as they only mature to around two feet tall at the turgid , will likely do good from a little coverage under the leafage of elephant capitulum . Unfortunately , both fuchsia and elephant ears will suffer from mite attack , intend you ’ll need to look for a third or fourth associate to stave off trespassing pests .
Lemongrass
leave you flora lemon grass clear away from the span of your elephant ears ’ leaves , this specimen will facilitate you take care of spider mites . Lemongrass produces a aroma that actively dissuade these minibeasts .
Lemongrass likes the full sunlight but will rise in moist , loamy soil along a similar pH mountain range elephant ears choose . Like elephant ears , lemongrass oil is also extremely toxic to mammals , meaning it ’s a good choice to grow as part of a repellant perimeter .
Chives
Chives provide excellent protectionfor elephant ear plants against invasive wanderer mite ; in return , these perennial will fare well under big leaves for fond shade . They ’ll grow well alongside elephant pinna in USDA zone nine but may take soil that drain a footling cleaner .
Chives will also readily welcome bees to your garden and avail cross-pollinate elephant ears . Growing chives will also help you to keep your elephant ear bed alimental - rich , cover the soil and aid to get growth .
A word of warning – chives can sometimes grow to be a short competitive – meaning it ’s deserving trialing a few growths first to experimentation . or else , try growing chives much as you would with rosemary companions – in disjoined container alongside your elephant ears as a protective border .
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabiis , much like cive , ideal for fight back back against wanderer jot and other gadfly , and it ’s a good catch for elephant ear plants in terms of soil type and pH. However , Kohlrabi wo n’t gain from elephant ear folio masking , so acquire them a picayune clear of their couplet .
Kohlrabi is n’t particularly resistive against slug and snail , meaning it may be wise to grow them alongside rosemary and oregano in separate containers to perimeter your elephant ear plants .
Peas
Some pea plant plant can knead well as companions alongside elephant ears as they will add more nitrogen to the soil . They ’re known as ‘ N methadon ’ alongside many different mintage of noodle plants . Pea plants will appreciate the extra shade elephant spike leaves can provide , though a piddling extra sun wo n’t go awry .
pea tend to prefer soil that run out well , but they also savour wet . It ’s worth try out with your elephant pinna first and then potentially moving to containers . Peas can pull pests that lounge in the soil , so believe tot up a third companion works such as a fragrant herb or genus Allium ( in another container or in the soil if possible )
Plants you should avoid growing alongside elephant ears
Elephant ear are highly sensitive to nutrients in their land , meaning they will never grow well alongside exact or competitive plants , even if they resist to benefit from their protection or company . Here are a few you should always avoid pairing up .
Mint
Mint is great at attracting pollinator and repelling common trespassing insects thanks to its firm smell , but it ’s notorious for lead over a patch of soil if consecrate the opportunity . Elephant ears ’ intense motivation for nutrients will go unheard if mint is left to propagate wildly over the same plot , effectively killing your plants .
It may be safe to develop quite a little away from your elephant auricle but do so in individual containers to avert choking out other plants in your garden .
Potatoes
Potatoes do n’t tend to provide many benefits growing alongside elephant spike plants , and much like lot , they can compete fiercely for water and nutrient . Potato roots circularise thick and fast , intend you may not even see the damage before it ’s too late .
Other nightshades , such as aubergine , may help deter spider mites , but plants in this fellowship tend to bully their way into nutrition . Even if you farm them in container outside of elephant ears , they still wo n’t fetch many benefit .
Is it worth growing companion plants with elephant ears?
While elephant capitulum plants can grow well on their own with moist soil and plenty of sun , they may need a helping handwriting to hike soil food and keep pests at bay . Given the somewhat embarrassing need of this plant , finding the gross filth - mates is n’t always unsubdivided .
Try look for plants and veg that share the same soil indigence and which stand to benefit from great deal of tint . In restoration , always use rich , homemade compost andnitrogen - hike up plantsto ensure your elephant spike get the alimentation they excellently ask .
