Although contrasting tulips with perennials is an old gardening trick, a variation is seen in the above photograph, where tulips are surrounded by low-growing, spreading perennials.
The white plant (above), which forms a sea around an island of tulips, is rock-cress (Arabis alpina flore pleno), but many others can be used as effectively.
The tulip variety used with this perennial might be the dark red ROMAN EAGLE, a handsome new Darwin.
When using any of the perennials suggested here in a similar fashion to the arabis, plant the colony of tulips first, then follow with three or four plants over the bulbs.
Even if the tulips grow through the plants, there will be no harm. The perennials will eventually spread together, forming a carpet around the tulips.
Phlox Divaricata
Long considered almost essential with tulips but usually used as a border is the lovely blue Phlox divaricata. Instead of using it as an edging plant, try planting wide-spreading colonies with yellow or pink tulips.
White Tulips
Even more striking would be white tulips, such varieties as MRS. GRUELLEMANS and the old standby favorite CARRARA.
Alyssum Saxatile
The perennial Alyssum saxatile, more popularly known as basket of gold, in its less flamboyantly bright variety listed as citrine, is especially effective with lavender tulips.
Darwin Tulips
An attractive display can be made using a dozen or so of Darwin tulips variety DRAMMEN with a basal planting of three plants or so of the pale yellow alyssum.
DRAMMEN is a soft rosy violet tulip that grows about 27″ inches tall. If you prefer a deeper purple, try LAFAYETTE, considered an improvement over the BISHOP.
Ground Ivy or Catmint
Ground-ivy or catmint (Nepeta mussinii) is not a spectacular perennial but it makes a pleasant edging plant and is also suitable for carpeting the ground beneath colonies of tulips.
Nepeta’s foliage is a soft grayish green, and it is not-too-showy flowers are lavender.
Use with it such pink tulips as MARJORIE BOWEN, which has buff and salmon flowers on 24-inch stalks.
DEBORAH, an improvement over the old CLARA BUTT, or for a complete change of pace, the graceful lily-flowered tulip, GOLDEN DUCHESS, a golden yellow.
44659 by Sandra Patch