Complete Gardening
Struggling to make your hydrangeas the true showpiece of your garden? You’re not alone. Many gardeners wonder how to pair plants in a way that enhances the beauty of hydrangeas while supporting a healthy garden ecosystem.
But don’t worry, the answer is simpler than you think. By choosing the right companion plants, you can create a stunning, pest-resistant garden that thrives.
This guide reveals 21 plant companions that will elevate your hydrangeas to their full potential, transforming your garden into a lush, vibrant sanctuary. Ready to make your hydrangeas, and your entire garden, the envy of the neighborhood? Keep reading.
1. Azaleas and Rhododendrons
Why They Work Together: Azaleas and rhododendrons share similar soil and light requirements with hydrangeas, thriving in acidic, well-drained soil with partial shade.
Their evergreen foliage provides year-round structure, while their spring blooms add a burst of color that complements hydrangea flowers.
Benefits:
Soil Compatibility: All three prefer acidic conditions.
Visual Appeal: The layered blooms create a dynamic color palette throughout different seasons.
Habitat: They attract pollinators and beneficial insects, enhancing garden biodiversity.
2. Aster
Why They Work Together: Asters provide daisy-like flowers in a range of colors that can add late-season interest to hydrangea gardens. They thrive in similar soil and light conditions, ensuring compatibility.
Benefits:
Late Season Blooms: Extends the flowering period beyond hydrangeas.
Color Variety: Offers a spectrum of colors to complement hydrangea hues.
Pollinator Support: Attracts bees and butterflies, enhancing garden biodiversity.
3. Ferns
Why They Work Together: Ferns add a delicate, feathery texture that contrasts beautifully with the bold blooms of hydrangeas. They thrive in the moist, shaded conditions that hydrangeas prefer, creating a harmonious and lush garden environment.
Benefits:
Moisture Retention: Ferns help maintain soil moisture, benefiting hydrangeas.
Aesthetic Contrast: Their fine fronds provide visual interest and a soft backdrop for hydrangea flowers.
Ecological Value: Ferns support a variety of small wildlife, enhancing garden biodiversity.
4. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)
Why They Work Together: Japanese forest grass offers graceful, arching foliage that complements the structure of hydrangeas. Its vibrant green or variegated leaves add movement and a sense of tranquility to the garden space.
Benefits:
Textural Contrast: The flowing grass blades contrast with the rigid stems of hydrangeas.
Color Variation: Variegated varieties introduce additional color dynamics.
Low Maintenance: Hardy and adaptable, requiring minimal care once established.
5. Astilbe
Why They Work Together: Astilbe produces plume-like flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, which pair well with the large, rounded blooms of hydrangeas. They thrive in similar moist, shaded environments, ensuring both plants flourish.
Benefits:
Complementary Blooms: Astilbe’s vertical flowers enhance the overall floral display.
Soil Compatibility: Both prefer rich, well-drained soil with ample moisture.
Continuous Interest: Astilbe blooms add texture and color during the same growing season as hydrangeas.
6. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
Why They Work Together: Bleeding hearts add a touch of elegance with their unique, heart-shaped flowers. They thrive in partial shade and moist soil, creating a cohesive and enchanting garden bed alongside hydrangeas.
Benefits:
Unique Aesthetic: Their distinctive blooms offer visual contrast to hydrangea flowers.
Shade Tolerance: Ideal for the same partially shaded areas preferred by hydrangeas.
Seasonal Interest: Blooms in spring provide early color before hydrangeas fully blossom.
7. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
Why They Work Together: Coral bells are prized for their vibrant foliage, which comes in a spectrum of colors from deep purples to bright greens. Their compact size and varied textures make them perfect underplantings for hydrangeas.
Benefits:
Foliage Variety: Adds color and texture diversity to the garden bed.
Drought Tolerance: Once established, they require less water, complementing hydrangeas’ needs.
Attract Pollinators: Flowers attract beneficial insects, enhancing garden health.
8. Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)
Why They Work Together: Lily of the valley offers delicate, bell-shaped flowers and sweet fragrance that pairs beautifully with hydrangeas. Their ground-covering nature fills in spaces, creating a lush and inviting garden landscape.
Benefits:
Fragrance: Adds sensory appeal with their sweet scent.
Ground Cover: Prevents soil erosion and suppresses weeds around hydrangeas.
Shade Compatibility: Thrives in the same light conditions as hydrangeas.
9. Peonies
Why They Work Together: Peonies boast large, showy blooms that can rival hydrangeas. Planting them together creates a dramatic and lush display, especially when their bloom times overlap in late spring and early summer.
Benefits:
Bloom Synergy: Both produce abundant flowers, enhancing visual impact.
Long Lifespan: Peonies are long-lived perennials, providing lasting garden structure.
Pollinator Friendly: Attracts bees and other pollinators, promoting a healthy ecosystem.
10. Ligularia
Why They Work Together: Ligularia offers bold, tropical-looking foliage and vibrant flowers that stand out against hydrangeas. They thrive in moist, partially shaded areas, ensuring both plants receive the care they need.
Benefits:
Dramatic Appearance: Adds a touch of exotic flair to the garden.
Moisture Requirements: Complements hydrangeas’ preference for moist soil.
Seasonal Interest: Blooms in late summer, extending the flowering period of the garden.
11. Japanese Anemone
Why They Work Together: Japanese anemones provide delicate, airy flowers that bloom in late summer and fall, filling the garden with color after hydrangeas have finished their peak bloom. Their tall stems add vertical interest and movement.
Benefits:
Extended Bloom Season: Ensures continuous color in the garden throughout the growing season.
Vertical Element: Adds height diversity, creating a layered garden design.
Low Maintenance: Once established, they require minimal care.
12. Salvia
Why They Work Together: Salvia attracts pollinators with its vibrant spikes of flowers, which contrast nicely with hydrangea blooms. Its aromatic foliage adds another sensory layer to the garden.
Benefits:
Pollinator Attraction: Supports bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Color Contrast: Bright flower spikes complement the softer tones of hydrangeas.
Drought Resistance: Offers resilience during dry periods, balancing hydrangeas’ water needs.
13. Impatiens
Why They Work Together: Impatiens thrive in the same shaded conditions as hydrangeas, providing continuous color from spring to fall. Their bright, cheerful flowers can fill gaps and add a playful element to the garden design.
Benefits:
Continuous Blooming: Offers year-round color, depending on the climate.
Shade Tolerance: Perfect for underplanting with hydrangeas.
Variety of Colors: Enhances the color palette with a wide range of hues.
14. Variegated Hostas
Why They Work Together: Variegated hostas bring a splash of color to the garden with their patterned leaves, which can range from creamy whites to bold yellows. Their varied textures and colors provide a striking contrast to the solid blooms of hydrangeas.
Benefits:
Foliage Interest: Adds visual intrigue with unique leaf patterns.
Shade Compatibility: Thrives in the same environments as hydrangeas.
Low Maintenance: Easy to care for, making them ideal companions.
15. Spiderwort (Tradescantia)
Why They Work Together: Spiderwort offers vibrant, trailing flowers that add a whimsical touch to the garden. Their ability to thrive in partial shade makes them excellent companions for hydrangeas.
Benefits:
Colorful Blooms: Adds bright, eye-catching flowers to the garden bed.
Trailing Habit: Fills in spaces around hydrangeas, creating a fuller look.
Easy Care: Requires minimal maintenance and is resilient against common garden pests.
16. Foxglove (Digitalis)
Why They Work Together: Foxgloves offer tall, elegant spires of tubular flowers that can add vertical interest to a hydrangea-dominated garden bed. They thrive in similar soil conditions and can create a stunning contrast with hydrangea blooms.
Benefits:
Vertical Interest: Adds height and structure to the garden design.
Extended Bloom Time: Blooms in mid to late summer, overlapping with hydrangeas.
Attracts Pollinators: Provides nectar for bees and hummingbirds.
17. Liriope (Lilyturf)
Why They Work Together: Liriope, also known as lilyturf, is a hardy ground cover that can add a grassy texture to the base of hydrangeas. Its spikes of small flowers provide subtle color without competing with hydrangeas.
Benefits:
Ground Cover: Suppresses weeds and maintains soil moisture.
Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established.
Versatile Appearance: Complements various garden styles with its evergreen foliage.
18. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
Why They Work Together: Sweet woodruff is a fragrant ground cover that thrives in shaded areas, making it an excellent companion for hydrangeas. Its delicate white flowers add a subtle beauty to the garden.
Benefits:
Fragrance: Adds a pleasant scent to the garden environment.
Shade Tolerance: Perfectly matches hydrangeas’ light requirements.
Soil Health: Improves soil structure and moisture retention.
19. Bergenia
Why They Work Together: Bergenia, also known as elephant’s ears, features large, glossy leaves and clusters of pink or white flowers. Its robust nature makes it a great companion for hydrangeas, providing both foliage and bloom contrast.
Benefits:
Foliage Texture: Adds bold, leathery leaves that contrast with hydrangea blooms.
Hardiness: Tolerates a variety of conditions, making it resilient in the garden.
Early Spring Blooms: Provides color when many other plants are just beginning to grow.
20. Toad Lily (Tricyrtis)
Why They Work Together: Toad lilies produce exotic, orchid-like flowers that add an unusual flair to hydrangea gardens. They thrive in the same moist, shaded environments, ensuring both plants can flourish together.
Benefits:
Unique Flowers: Adds an exotic and artistic touch to the garden.
Shade Compatibility: Perfectly suited for the same light conditions as hydrangeas.
Long Bloom Season: Extends the flowering period into late summer and fall.
21. Dianthus (Pinks)
Why They Work Together: Dianthus, commonly known as pinks, offer fragrant, colorful flowers that can add a delightful contrast to hydrangeas. They thrive in well-drained soil and partial shade, complementing hydrangea growth.
Benefits:
Fragrance: Adds a sweet scent to the garden.
Colorful Blooms: Provides vibrant colors that enhance the overall garden palette.
Pollinator Attraction: Draws beneficial insects to the garden.
Creating a thriving garden around hydrangeas involves thoughtful selection of companion plants that complement their beauty and support their growth.
By integrating a diverse range of species that share similar environmental needs, you can cultivate a garden that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also ecologically balanced and resilient.
Whether you prefer the lush greenery of hostas, the delicate blooms of bleeding hearts, or the vibrant hues of salvias, these 21 plants offer endless possibilities to enhance your hydrangea displays and create a garden space that flourishes throughout the seasons.