What to Plant with Calibrachoa

Calibrachoa, commonly known as Million Bells, is a vibrant, cascading flowering plant often used in containers, hanging baskets, and garden borders. To create visually stunning arrangements and promote healthy growth, choosing the right companion plants is essential. This guide will explore the best options for what to plant with Calibrachoa.

How to Combine Calibrachoa with Other Plants

Combining Calibrachoa with other plants can create a vibrant garden when planned carefully. Use well-draining soil enriched with organic matter to support healthy roots and blooms. Space plants properly to prevent overcrowding and ensure airflow. Fertilize regularly for continuous blooms and deadhead spent flowers to encourage new growth, keeping your display lush all season.

Color Combinations

Thoughtful color combinations can create different visual effects depending on your desired style. For a cohesive and harmonious look, consider a monochromatic scheme using varying shades of the same color. If you want bold contrast, complementary colors—such as pairing purple Calibrachoa with yellow blooms—can create a striking effect. For a more balanced yet dynamic display, a triadic color scheme using three evenly spaced colors on the color wheel, like red, yellow, and blue, can provide a vibrant mix.

Growth Habits

When combining plants, matching growth habits is crucial to maintaining balance and preventing competition. Select plants with similar growth patterns and care requirements to avoid overcrowding and nutrient deficiencies. Calibrachoa’s trailing habit pairs well with other mounding or trailing plants that won’t overpower each other in containers or garden beds.

Sunlight and Watering Needs

Sunlight and watering needs should also guide your plant choices when pairing with Calibrachoa. These plants thrive in full sun, receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, and require moderate watering to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. To simplify care, choose companion plants with similar sun exposure and watering preferences, such as petunias or million bells.

The 5 Best Companions For Calibrachoa

The five best companion plants for Calibrachoa are Petunias, Lobelia, Sweet Alyssum, Verbena, and Geraniums, as they all share similar sunlight and watering needs while offering complementary growth habits and colors. Each of these plants enhances the visual impact of Calibrachoa while ensuring a balanced and thriving garden display.

Petunias

Petunias make an excellent companion for Calibrachoa because they share similar care requirements, thriving in full sun with moderate watering and well-draining soil. Their larger, trumpet-shaped blooms contrast beautifully with the smaller, bell-shaped flowers of Calibrachoa, creating a balanced and eye-catching display. Available in a vast range of colors, from soft pastels to bold, saturated hues, Petunias can be used to create monochromatic schemes or bold contrasts. 

Lobelia

Lobelia’s delicate, trailing blue or purple flowers create a beautiful contrast against the vivid hues of Calibrachoa. This low-maintenance plant shares Calibrachoa’s preference for full sun and well-drained soil, making them easy to pair in both containers and garden beds. Lobelia’s soft, airy blooms fill gaps effectively in mixed arrangements, preventing bare spots and adding texture. Its cascading growth habit is particularly striking in hanging baskets where it spills gracefully alongside trailing Calibrachoa.

Sweet Alyssum

Sweet Alyssum adds a fragrant, low-growing ground cover that pairs perfectly with Calibrachoa in containers and garden beds. Its tiny clusters of white, pink, or purple flowers create a soft, cloud-like effect, contrasting nicely with the bold Calibrachoa blooms. Sweet Alyssum’s spreading habit makes it ideal for the front of mixed planters where it can gracefully spill over the edges, complementing Calibrachoa’s trailing nature. Besides its beauty, Sweet Alyssum is also a magnet for pollinators like honeybees and butterflies, contributing to a healthier garden environment.

Verbena

Verbena’s low-growing, spreading habit and clusters of small, colorful flowers make it a perfect match for Calibrachoa. It shares a love for full sun, moderate watering, and well-drained soil, ensuring both plants thrive with minimal care. Verbena's continuous blooming throughout the season pairs well with Calibrachoa’s long-lasting flowers, keeping containers or garden beds vibrant for months. The vibrant pinks, purples, and reds of Verbena blend beautifully with Calibrachoa’s varied colors, while the trailing growth habit helps create a spilling effect in mixed planters and hanging baskets.

Geranium

Geraniums offer a bold, upright contrast to the trailing nature of Calibrachoa. Their large, rounded flower clusters provide a dramatic focal point in mixed planters while blending harmoniously with Calibrachoa’s smaller blooms. The combination of Geranium’s vertical growth and Calibrachoa’s cascading habit creates a balanced design ideal for container gardening. Like Calibrachoa, Geraniums prefer full sun and well-draining soil, making them easy to care for together. They also come in a wide range of colors, including reds, pinks, and whites, giving plenty of options for creative pairings.

Create Stunning Displays with Calibrachoa

Choosing the right companion plants for calibrachoa can transform your garden or container into a vibrant, thriving display. Pair calibrachoa with petunias, lobelia, or verbena for a visually stunning effect while ensuring similar care requirements for all plants. By following these planting tips, you can create a beautiful and healthy garden space with calibrachoa at its heart.