"paghat" wrote in message
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One problem with companion plant groundcovers with bulbs is the companions
will often need watering through summer when some if not most bulbs are
dormant & regular watering would cause them to rot.

I've found ornamental strawberries can get by without TOO much summer
watering, plus can bloom spring through autumn.
http://www.paghat.com/strawberrylipstick.html

Campnula poscharskyana, or Serbian bellflower, also thrives with spring
moisture & summer droughtiness, & in my zone blooms for about six months
right into the heart of autumn.
http://www.paghat.com/campanula10.html

Dwarf lemon thyme is a good groundcover companion for the sorts of tulips
that need it very dry in summer.

Ballotta nigra 'Variegata' is a loosely trailing groundcover; the root
remains a clump but the branchings can cover a four by four foot area, & I
have it planted with two-foot or taller tulips.
http://www.paghat.com/horehoundvar.html

Several other herbs do well in lots of sun without need of too much
watering & remain short enough & not too densely rooted that they do well
well over bulbs. Such as Tricolor marjorum:
http://www.paghat.com/marjoram.html


Companions that don't require water?

Dianthus, Campanulas, Lavendulas, rock soapwort, salvia, violas (rampant
self seeder), herbaceous pontentilla (very sprawly and long lasting) are all
things I found work well with the bulbs. I assume this is full sun. I
don't water any of these and they don't seem to need it.