Hydrangeas are stunning, versatile shrubs that can be the focal point of any garden. However, pairing them with the right companion plants can enhance their beauty, improve garden health, and create a more balanced, harmonious landscape.
Whether you’re looking to add texture, color contrast, or extend seasonal interest, selecting the right plants to accompany your hydrangeas will make a big difference.
In this guide, we’ll explore what plants go well with hydrangeas, focusing on 20 ideal companion plants that thrive alongside these beloved garden shrubs.
Benefits of Companion Planting with Hydrangeas
Enhancing Visual Appeal: Companion planting allows you to play with colors, textures, and plant forms, creating stunning visual contrasts that make your garden more attractive. For example, combining the soft, rounded shapes of hydrangeas with the feathery, delicate leaves of ferns can create an eye-catching display.
Promoting Garden Health: By choosing plants with complementary growing requirements, you can create a healthier garden environment. Some plants, such as ground covers, can help retain soil moisture, which is beneficial for water-loving hydrangeas.
Extending Seasonal Interest: Companion plants can bring blooms to your garden when hydrangeas are not in season, extending the garden’s visual appeal throughout the year. Early-blooming plants, such as hellebores, can provide interest in the spring, while fall-bloomers like sedum add late-season color.
Best Companion Plants for Hydrangeas by Function
1. Ferns (e.g., Lady Fern, Japanese Painted Fern)
Why They Work: Ferns add a delicate, feathery texture that contrasts beautifully with hydrangeas’ large blooms. Both thrive in shaded, moist environments.
Best Variety: Lady Fern, Japanese Painted Fern.
2. Hostas
Why They Work: The large, broad leaves of hostas create a bold contrast to the fluffy hydrangea blooms, and they thrive in similar conditions (partial shade and moist soil).
Best Variety: Blue Angel, Frances Williams.
3. Brunnera (Siberian Bugloss)
Why They Work: Brunnera has heart-shaped leaves and tiny blue flowers, offering a delightful texture contrast next to hydrangeas. It thrives in the same partially shaded and moist conditions.
Best Variety: Jack Frost, Alexander’s Great.
4. Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Why They Work: Heuchera provides a variety of colorful foliage in shades of purple, bronze, and green, making it an excellent low-growing contrast to hydrangeas.
Best Variety: Palace Purple, Plum Pudding.
5. Liriope (Lilyturf)
Why They Work: Liriope’s grass-like leaves and spiky flower stalks add texture and year-round structure as a ground cover, complementing hydrangeas.
Best Variety: Variegata, Big Blue.
6. Ajuga (Bugleweed)
Why They Work: Ajuga forms a dense carpet of foliage in shades ranging from green to burgundy, with small blue flowers in spring, providing excellent coverage under hydrangeas.
Best Variety: Black Scallop, Burgundy Glow.
7. Lamium (Dead Nettle)
Why They Work: Lamium is a vigorous ground cover with silver or variegated leaves and small pink, purple, or white flowers that thrive in shade, making it a perfect hydrangea companion.
Best Variety: Pink Chablis, Beacon Silver.
8. Astilbe
Why They Work: Astilbe produces tall, feathery flower plumes in pink, white, and red, offering vertical interest and contrasting texture to hydrangea’s large, round blooms.
Best Variety: Fanal, Bridal Veil.
9. Foxglove (Digitalis)
Why They Work: Foxglove’s tall spires add dramatic height and formality to hydrangea beds, and their soft pastel flowers are a great color complement to hydrangeas.
Best Variety: Camelot Series, Dalmatian Series.
10. Japanese Anemone (Windflower)
Why They Work: Japanese anemones bloom in late summer to fall, extending the garden’s interest after hydrangeas bloom. Their elegant white or pink flowers complement hydrangea blooms.
Best Variety: Honorine Jobert, September Charm.
11. Daylilies
Why They Work: Daylilies provide bright, colorful blooms during the summer that contrast well with hydrangeas, and they thrive in full sun, making them good companions for sun-loving Hydrangea paniculata.
Best Variety: Stella de Oro, Happy Returns.
12. Peonies
Why They Work: Peonies produce large, showy blooms in spring, offering an early-season contrast to hydrangeas’ summer flowers. Their soft petals and bold colors make them a great companion.
Best Variety: Sarah Bernhardt, Coral Charm.
13. Boxwood (Buxus)
Why They Work: Boxwood provides an evergreen structure to your garden, offering a neat contrast to the billowy form of hydrangeas.
Best Variety: English Boxwood, Winter Gem.
14. Azaleas/Rhododendrons
Why They Work: Rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in early spring, before hydrangeas, and their evergreen foliage provides a year-round backdrop for hydrangeas.
Best Variety: Northern Hi-Lights Azalea, PJM Rhododendron.
15. Pieris Japonica (Andromeda)
Why They Work: Pieris Japonica is an evergreen shrub that produces cascading white or pink flowers in early spring, adding interest before hydrangeas bloom.
Best Variety: Mountain Fire, Variegata.
Best Companion Plants for Hydrangeas by Garden Design Style
16. Roses
Why They Work: Roses and hydrangeas together create a romantic, classic garden look. The structured rose flowers contrast beautifully with hydrangea’s larger, more informal blooms.
Best Variety: David Austin English Roses, Knock Out Roses.
17. Delphiniums
Why They Work: Delphiniums add height and vertical interest with their tall spires, offering a contrast to hydrangeas’ rounded form. Their cool colors blend well in cottage gardens.
Best Variety: Pacific Giants, Magic Fountain.
18. Hellebores
Why They Work: Hellebores bloom early in the spring, providing interest when hydrangeas are still dormant. Their unique, nodding flowers contrast nicely with hydrangea foliage.
Best Variety: Ivory Prince, Winter Jewels.
19. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
Why They Work: Bleeding Hearts add a delicate, whimsical touch to shade gardens with their heart-shaped flowers, blooming in spring before hydrangeas begin flowering.
Best Variety: Old-Fashioned Bleeding Heart, Valentine.
20. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa)
Why They Work: Japanese forest grass offers simple, flowing foliage, creating a serene, modern look when paired with hydrangeas. Its bright green or gold leaves provide texture and contrast.
Best Variety: Aureola, All Gold.
Hydrangea-Specific Considerations for Companion Plants
Soil and Light Requirements: Hydrangeas often prefer acidic to neutral soil, depending on the type, and partial shade to full sun. Matching soil and light requirements is crucial for successful companion planting.
- For Acid-Loving Plants: Rhododendrons, azaleas, ferns, and heucheras are excellent options to pair with hydrangeas that prefer more acidic conditions (e.g., Hydrangea macrophylla).
- For Sun-Loving Plants: Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) can thrive with full-sun companions like sedum and daylilies.
Matching Watering Needs: Hydrangeas need consistently moist, well-drained soil. Companion plants like astilbe, ferns, and hostas also enjoy moist conditions, making them excellent garden companions.
Companion Planting for Different Hydrangea Types
Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
- Best Companions: Rhododendrons, ferns, hostas, azaleas (acid-loving and shade-tolerant).
Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
- Best Companions: Daylilies, sedum, ornamental grasses (sun-tolerant and drought-resistant).
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
- Best Companions: Hellebores, bleeding hearts, woodland ferns (shade-loving and woodland-style).
Tips for Designing a Garden with Hydrangeas and Companion Plants
Layering for Depth:
Create layers by placing taller plants (e.g., foxgloves, delphiniums) at the back, hydrangeas in the middle, and shorter ground covers like heuchera at the front.
Color Coordination:
Play with complementary or contrasting colors. Cool-toned hydrangeas (blues and purples) pair beautifully with warm-toned plants like yellow daylilies.
Seasonal Succession:
Choose early bloomers (e.g., hellebores) to provide interest before hydrangeas bloom and late-season plants (e.g., sedum) to carry the garden into fall.
FAQ’s (Optional Section)
What plants grow well with hydrangeas in full sun?
Sedum, daylilies, and ornamental grasses are great full-sun companions for Hydrangea paniculata.
What is a good ground cover for hydrangeas?
Heuchera and Liriope are excellent ground covers that pair well with hydrangeas, providing texture and foliage contrast.
Can I plant roses and hydrangeas together?
Yes! Roses and hydrangeas make a beautiful pair in cottage gardens, offering contrasting shapes and blooms.
Conclusion
Companion planting with hydrangeas can enhance your garden with added texture, color, and seasonal interest. By carefully selecting companion plants that thrive in similar soil, light, and moisture conditions, you can create a harmonious and visually stunning garden.
The 20 plants detailed here, ranging from ferns and ground covers to flowering perennials and evergreens, will provide year-round beauty and complement hydrangeas’ showy blooms. Experiment with these combinations to find the perfect mix for your space, and enjoy the rewards of a well-designed, thriving garden.
Happy Gardening!
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