Hydrangeas garden ideas

18 Excellent Landscaping With Hydrangea Ideas

Landscaping with Hydrangeas is popular due to its captivating display of beautiful flowers and foliage for a long time. Here’re 18 ways to do this!

Learn how to prune hydrangeas here

1. Boost Curb Appeal

Hydrangeas have a long blooming season and a beautiful display of flowers, so planting them outside your house in the front garden is a good idea to create an alluring vista.

2. Increase Privacy

Hydrangeas come in so many varieties and sizes. You can grow an appropriate one according to your climate and zone. Hydrangea, due to its thick foliage growth, is a good plant if you want more privacy. Consider your sitting area in the garden–if you want to cover it for privacy, grow hydrangeas around it.

3. Display Stunning Combinations

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You can create beautiful container arrangements by growing hydrangeas with other plants with similar growing requirements, just like the blue pot above, consisting of hydrangea, alyssum, and dichondra.

4. Create an Illusion of Enlarged Space

Beautiful and colorful! Grow hydrangeas near the walls or boundaries of your garden. Hydrangeas come in cool colors, and cool colors, when used near the boundaries, borders, and walls, create an illusion of enlarged space.

5. Grow Them in Containers

Grow hydrangeas in pots to add a dab of color in the smallest of spaces of your garden and home. Another advantage is that you can also keep them indoors during frost.

6. Best Fence Cover Plants

Grow hydrangeas closer to your garden’s fencing to hide the ugly and boring appearance. You can also grow climbing hydrangea, although it is a slow grower but grows similar to other climbers.

7.

Perfect Flowering Plants for a Small Garden

Hydrangeas are perfect for growing on a small patio, terrace, or balcony garden. You can grow them in decorative planters and fancy containers and exhibit them in the most visible part of your garden.

8. Go Well with Pathways

Stunning view of hydrangea flowers blooming all along the walkway. As garden paths look vapid alone, you can add some colors to them by growing hydrangeas along with them.

9. You Don’t Need a Garden to Grow it

You don’t need a garden to grow hydrangeas. You can keep it alone in a spot where it will receive full sun but shade in the afternoon to create a lovely display.

10. Try Them in Hanging Baskets

Hydrangeas are slightly difficult to grow in hanging baskets, but nothing is impossible. In hanging baskets, they look enchanting and resemble a colorful chandelier.

11. Ideal Shrub for Garden Borders

White hydrangeas looking serene and complementing the simplicity of this front garden

Hydrangeas look elegant and attractive in garden borders and add charm in summer. You can also grow them in partial shade under the slight shadow of a tree.

12. Your Best Focal Point

Grow hydrangeas in a large, distinguish planter and place it in your garden from where it will capture the eyes of visitors. This is a great idea to create a focal point for your garden.

13. Create Flower Beds

Beautiful front garden with flower beds of hydrangeas growing all across the lush green lawn is captivating

You can create flower beds of hydrangeas. If you want to grow other flowers with it, choose from those that require similar conditions to grow. You can grow foxglove, impatiens, and black-eyed susan with the hydrangea.

14. Plant Hydrangeas with Foliage Plants

If you have a patio garden, grow hydrangea there and adorn it with its multiple colors. Plant it in the spot where it will not receive full scorching sun, plants like hosta and heuchera can go well with it.

15. Grow this in a Balcony, Patio, Rooftop, Even on a Windowsill

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Growing hydrangea in a pot is extremely popular. You can grow it easily in a balcony garden or anywhere you want–it looks beautiful.

16. Create a Japanese Garden

Do a Japanese garden like set up with stone, pebbles, and bamboo mats and grow hydrangeas there as hydrangeas are native to oriental countries, it is a good idea to use this plant in a Japanese garden.

17. Perfect for Window Boxes

You can grow dwarf hydrangea varieties in window boxes either alone or with other ornamental plants.

18. Best Entrance Plant

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Hydrangeas are one of the best flowering plants to grow on the entrance. You can grow them in large pots in front of your door to boost your exterior.

Cool Fact: The color of hydrangea flowers can be manipulated by simply altering the pH level of the soil.

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7 Ways to Design a Garden With Hydrangeas

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January 30, 2023January 30, 2023 by Eleni Veroutsos

Backyard Designs & Ideas Gardening Outdoor Gardening

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Are you looking for the perfect way to add a little bit of color and elegance to your outdoor space? Hydrangeas offer a stunning display of eye-catching blooms that can give your garden an undeniable “wow” factor. With their large, showy blossoms in various shapes and shades ranging from soft, pale pinks and whites to vibrant purples and blues, hydrangeas are versatile enough for any style or size garden.

From creating full hedges and feature shrubs to landscaping ideas that complement existing features like walkways or ponds — there’s something here for everyone! Read more to learn seven unique ways to create a truly beautiful outdoor oasis adorned with colorful hydrangea blooms!

Table of Contents

Colorful Flower BedImage credits: Connor Moyle via Unsplash

Creating a colorful flower bed with hydrangeas is an easy way to bring life and vibrancy to your garden. By mixing different-sized hydrangeas in various shades of pinks, purples, whites, and blues, you will create a gorgeous display of colors.

You can choose the colors in such a way that they complement one another while still providing some contrast. This mix of colors will give you the chance to craft a beautiful and varied flower bed without overwhelming or jarring the eye.

Privacy Screen and ShadeImage credits: S.O.E via Shutterstock

Plant Hydrangea arborescens, or wild hydrangea, to create an instant privacy screen. These deciduous shrubs can reach 3 to 6 feet tall and produce clusters of delicate greenish-white flowers that will provide some much-needed shade during the hot summer months. Arrange multiple tall hydrangeas in rows for an enclosed look to ensure extra seclusion and privacy in your very own outdoor oasis.

Hanging BasketsImage credits: Lorena Martínez via Pexels

Hanging hydrangeas in baskets is a great way to add charm and color to your outdoor space. Whether you hang them from patios, trees, or trellises, these lovely baskets will bring a sense of beauty and grace to a garden. The cascading flowers will draw the eye downward, creating an elegant display that everyone will enjoy.

Contrast BordersImage credits: New Africa via Shutterstock

Using larger hydrangeas to create contrasting borders in your garden is a great way to provide definition and structure. With their vibrant colors, delicate petals, and varying sizes, hydrangeas are an ideal choice for brightening up your landscape.

Their striking effect will draw the eye and add a pop of color wherever you place them. Whether it’s along the edge of your patio, around a flower bed, or used as part of an al fresco dining area — these robust blooms can enhance your area with their lavish beauty. Beyond just looking beautiful, they also provide a barrier that helps protect other plants from winds and strong sun!

Companion PlantingImage credits: nnattalli via Shutterstock

Companion planting with hydrangeas can be a great way to enhance the beauty of your garden and create stunning displays that will make your neighbors green with envy. Planting different flowers, trees, or ornamental grasses around a hydrangea can bring texture, color, and diversity to an area.

Flowering dogwood adds stunning contrast with pink and white blossoms, while ornamental grasses bring in an interesting texture. Astible, also called “false goat’s beard,” creates lovely textural contrast with its feathery plumes against the lush green foliage of hydrangeas. All three of these companion plants also thrive in similar conditions as the hydrangeas, so you can incorporate them into a harmonious landscape design.

Hostas are also well known for being companions with hydrangeas.

Climbing HydrangeasImage credits: COULANGES via Shutterstock

For an overhanging canopy of blooms, use climbing hydrangeas along fences or walls. You can also train them up posts or poles to create an original focal point in your garden design.

Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris is the most popular and well-known variety of climbing hydrangea, and for good reason! They are slow growing at first, but over time they will thrive into strong climbers capable of covering outbuildings or livening up shady walls. These plants can tolerate a wide range of soils and some shade.

Potted HydrangeasImage credits: RossHelen via Shutterstock

Potted hydrangeas are fashionable, low-maintenance plants that can act as statement pieces in many types of gardens. When it comes to growing them in pots, all you need is the right container, soil, and water!

First, choose a container for your hydrangea. It needs to be big enough — at least 18 inches in diameter — as these are large plants that require plenty of moisture in the soil. If it doesn’t already have drainage holes, add/drill some so that excess water can escape. Then fill your pot with nutrient-rich potting soil and dig a hole in the center for your hydrangea. Place the plant into the hole, backfill the soil, and gently pack it down so that it’s firmly in place.

Finally, water deeply to ensure the roots are well-hydrated and nourished. Pay attention to how much you water; Do not overwater, as this can cause root rot or fungus issues.

Get Creative!

Creating stunning gardens with hydrangeas is easier than you think. All it takes is some creativity and careful planning. From contrasting borders to hanging baskets, there are so many options that will make your outdoor space look beautiful. Whether you’re looking for privacy or just a pop of color, adding hydrangeas to your landscape will give you amazing results. So why not start designing your garden with these showstoppers today?

Share this article with your friends so they can enjoy beautiful gardens too! And leave a comment below and let everyone know how your gardening project goes! Happy planting!

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Categories Backyard, Designs & Ideas, Gardening, Outdoor Gardening Leave a comment

15 large-leaved hydrangea landscaping ideas

If you have at least one large-leaved hydrangea plant in your garden, then it is definitely different from the others. Large-leaved hydrangea differs markedly from other garden plants and chic pink, purple and blue inflorescences, and beautiful foliage.

* The color of the hydrangea can be manipulated by changing the pH of the soil: in acidic soil the flowers will be blue, in more neutral soil they will be pink. If you acidify the soil on only one side of the bush, then there will be both pink and blue inflorescences on the bush.

1. Hydrangeas have one very positive quality - their flowering almost never ends throughout the season, so growing it in the front garden would be a good idea.

2. Hydrangeas have many varieties with different flower colors and bush sizes. Therefore, you can grow a variety suitable for your climate zone. By the way, hydrangea has very dense foliage, so it will be an ideal plant as a green screen from prying eyes of people passing by.

3. Planted close to walls and fences, hydrangeas create the illusion of increased space. And it will look incredibly beautiful and fabulous!

4. If your climate does not allow you to grow hydrangeas outdoors, there are special pot varieties that grow well in small spaces. For the winter, they can be brought into the house to protect them from frost, since a drop in temperature below zero is detrimental to hydrangeas.

5. Hydrangeas will hide the ugly and boring look of your home or garden. It will also look great as a "fence" along outbuildings.

6. Beautiful hydrangeas in containers will look great in a small patio, on a terrace or on a balcony. They can be planted not in simple ceramic or plastic pots, but to shade their fabulous beauty with decorative containers made of, for example, fireclay, or home-made ones made of cement. If desired and necessary, such containers with blooming hydrangeas can be placed in any corner of the garden.

7. Blooming hydrangeas look great along sidewalks and garden paths. Especially if the flowers are not the same color, but different.

8. Hydrangea prefers the sun's rays only in the first half of the day. In the second half, it is desirable for her to find in an openwork shade or in partial shade. In addition, the soil under it should not dry out. Therefore, the hydrangea will feel great in the garden or near water bodies.

9. It would seem that hydrangea is difficult to grow in hanging baskets, but nothing is impossible for true lovers of this wonderful shrub. In hanging baskets, it looks very charming, resembling a colorful chandelier.

10. In addition to large-leaved, there are other types of hydrangeas that can be combined in plantings. And then your garden or front garden will definitely become unique.

11. Hydrangeas can be planted in the most profitable and visible to people passing by, so that your site attracts attention.

12. A beautiful front garden starts with hydrangeas, but if you plant them along the perimeter of an emerald lawn, then not only you, but also all your friends and acquaintances, will appreciate this approach, especially if you plant plants and flowers next to them that are suitable for growing conditions for hydrangeas.

13. If you have a patio, then the hydrangea is the shrub that will make it uniquely charming and cute. And if, in addition to hydrangeas, you plant other flowers, then you yourself will receive aesthetic pleasure every day while being there. However, keep in mind that the direct scorching sun is not quite suitable conditions for hydrangeas.

14. Growing hydrangea indoors, even on the windowsill - nothing is impossible! And how beautiful it looks!

15. If you are a supporter of the Japanese landscape with their stone gardens of pebbles and stones, then the hydrangea will fit harmoniously into such a landscape.

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How to plant hydrangea: 5 options with photo

Hydrangea, with its huge inflorescences and beautiful green foliage, is an adornment of any garden on its own, without neighboring plants. However, a properly selected companion can enhance the beauty of the shrub, make it even brighter and more expressive.

What plants would look good next to a hydrangea? There can be many options here, here are just a few examples of successful combinations:

Look for plants that match the shape of the leaf blades or the color scheme of your hydrangea. For example, if your shrub has rounded leaves, then choose a plant with rounded foliage as a companion. Your hydrangea has purple buds - plant flowers of the same color next to it.
Select plants that will contrast with the hydrangea. For example, against the background of lace wai ferns, hydrangea with its whole leaves will look advantageous. If you want to "play" on color contrast, then plant a bush of scarlet roses next to a white hydrangea - with such a neighborhood, each of the plants will look even more expressive.
Quite often, stunted plants are located next to tall hydrangea bushes. In this case, a low neighbor "covers" the bare hydrangea shoots, leaving only beautiful parts of the bush for viewing.

What hydrangea loves

However, it is not enough to choose a flower or bush that will harmonize well with the hydrangea in terms of color, height or volume. The fact is that hydrangeas have very peculiar requirements for the soil, so not every outwardly ideal "partner" will withstand the conditions that this "magnificent beauty" needs. What does hydrangea need for normal development?

Humidity . The name of the hydrangea in Latin sounds like Hydrangea (Hydrangea), which means "water vessel". It is clear that a plant with this name is moisture-loving. For this reason, you should not plant hydrangeas too close to trees, especially near birches, because the latter will draw moisture from the soil, taking it away from the hydrangea.
Penumbra . Hydrangea can, of course, grow in the sun, but the ideal place for it is a place where the sun shines in the morning, and in the afternoon, during the hottest period of the day, the bush is in the shade.
Fertile soil . Hydrangea will show itself in all its glory and will bloom profusely only on fertile soil.
Acidic soil . Unlike most plants, hydrangea prefers acidic soil with a pH level of 5-5.5.

Option 1. Hydrangea and conifers

One of the best neighbors for hydrangeas will be conifers: arborvitae, junipers, spruces, dwarf pines, etc.

Various combinations of slender arborvitae and sprawling hydrangea bushes look great. They can be planted in two tiers: in the background - high arborvitae, in front - lower hydrangea bushes. In this case, the thuja create the shadow necessary for the hydrangeas.

It is also possible to place the plants in one row, but do not place the seedlings very close to each other during planting. Plant them at a distance of 1.5-2 m - that is how much space each of their plants needs for normal growth and development in adulthood.

No less interesting is the option where, next to large hydrangea bushes, there are undersized junipers (pictured). With this planting, both plants will feel comfortable, because they equally love acidic soil and easily tolerate partial shade.

Hydrangea paniculata Cotton Cream is characterized by a compact bush up to 1 m in height. If the plant is not pruned, it can grow to over 2 m.

Inflorescences are greenish at opening, then creamy white, and at the end of flowering they become pinkish. Hydrangea paniculata blooms Cotton Cream about 3. 5 months from July.

Juicy juniper green Green Carpet favorably sets off delicate hydrangea inflorescences. Such landings will look good both in a flower bed and as a hedge.

In addition to Green Carpet , other varieties of juniper are in perfect harmony with hydrangea. The composition will look completely different if, for example, instead of green juniper, you plant bushes with silver, golden or bluish needles.

Option 2. Hydrangea and astilba

The second variant we offer consists of hydrangea and astilba. Thanks to the harmonious combination of shades and the contrast of shapes, it will be possible to create a bright and attractive corner in the garden. Astilbe feels good in such conditions that hydrangeas like, so the neighborhood will be a joy to her.

Hydrangea large-leaved Endless Summer (Endless Summer) is very popular in central Russia, because. able to endure harsh winters quite easily.

Another advantage of this variety is its long flowering period, which lasts from early summer to September. This happens due to the fact that the flowers of the hydrangea Endless Summer appear both on the branches of the last year and on new shoots. For this feature, the variety got its name - Endless Summer . To encourage re-blooming, regularly remove wilted buds.

The height of the bush can reach 1.5 m. The shade of large spherical inflorescences can be corrected by changing the level of soil acidity. If you want them to turn pink, add some lime to the soil. However, this must be done in advance, either in late autumn or early spring.

Hydrangea's companion in this variant is Astilbe sinensis Vision . This shade-tolerant plant looks great against the background of hydrangea, shading, but not closing it, because. astilba reaches a height of only 60-70 cm. The perennial blooms in July-August, throwing out vertical paniculate inflorescences of a rich pink or purple-red hue.

Astilbe remains attractive after flowering thanks to its foliage. Fern-like openwork branches are pleasing to the eye and look good against the background of rounded hydrangea leaves.

Option 3. Hydrangeas and ornamental grasses

If you want the hydrangea to be the main focus of the composition, plant ornamental grasses next to it. They will create a soft background and emphasize the beauty of the shrub. Most ornamental grasses do not require special care, so their cultivation will not cause difficulties.

The composition in option 3 is based on two varieties of large-leaved blue hydrangea - Endless Summer (Endless Summer) and Blaumeise . In the foreground is a low bush of golden ornamental hakonehloya grass. The contrasting combination of such dissimilar - both in color and foliage - plants will favorably emphasize the beauty of each of them.

Hydrangea Endless Summer has large - up to 20 cm in diameter - inflorescences, shaped like a ball. The height of the bush reaches 1. 5 m. They do not have a spherical, but a flat shape, and they consist of unequal flowers: in the middle of the inflorescence they are small, and along the edge on long legs there are spectacular large flowers of blue or bright blue. The diameter of the inflorescence is 20-25 cm. Flowering begins in mid-July and continues until September. The bush is compact, and the height and diameter are approximately the same - 90-130 cm. Depending on the acidity of the soil, the color of hydrangea flowers can vary: from purple-pink - on slightly alkaline soils to blue - on very acidic ones.

Hakonehloa (Hakonehloa, Hakone) is a perennial ornamental grass often also referred to as Japanese forest grass. Its graceful leaves come in various shades: golden, green, white. Often there is a green longitudinal stripe in the middle of the leaf blade. The plant reaches a height of 45 cm, the diameter of the bush is 60-75 cm. It grows slowly.

The stalks of hakonehloi initially stretch upwards, but over time, under the weight of the leaves, they bend and droop. The curved leaves of the plant become like a cascade.

In addition to external beauty, Japanese forest grass has another advantage - it grows well in the shade. Therefore, option 4 is ideal for those who want to make a shady corner of the garden attractive: hydrangeas paired with hakone grass will help you with this.

Another option for planting hydrangea and Japanese forest grass together is in the photo below:

Option 4. Hydrangea and hostas

Speaking of the best plants that could be the company of hydrangeas, one cannot fail to mention the host. The drop-shaped leaves of this queen of the shady garden are in harmony with the leaf blades of most types of hydrangeas, and the expressive colors of the hosta, on the contrary, create a contrast with the calm greenery of the hydrangea. As for the growing conditions, here they have a complete match. Both plants prefer moist and fertile soil. Both feel great in the shade. Both hosta and hydrangea grow well in slightly acidic soil. The fourth option, which we want to present to you, just consists of a pair of hydrangea plus a host.

Large-leaved Hydrangea Madame Emile Mouillere has been decorating gardens for over 100 years. This is one of the best winter-hardy varieties of large-leaved hydrangea.

The bush grows in height from 1.2 to 1.8 m. It blooms both on the shoots of the last and the current year, so the flowering is long - from the end of July to September. However, even after flowering, hydrangea Madame Emile Mouillere does not lose its decorative effect. In autumn, its green foliage gradually changes color to orange or red.

The inflorescences of this variety are large, 15-20 cm in diameter, spherical in shape. The color of the flowers is white or pale pink. The edges of the petals are serrated.

Hydrangea Madame Emile Mouillere has one more advantage - it is almost not affected by diseases and pests.

Hosta Patriot is one of the most popular and favorite varieties of hostas for summer residents. And not only, by the way, summer residents: in 1997, the American Association of Host Manufacturers called Patriot Host of the Year.

Large leaves of hosta Patriot have a dark green center and a wide white stripe along the edge. The flowers are blue or purple, appear on long stems in July-August. The height of the plant is 50-60 cm. An adult sprawling bush reaches a diameter of 60-70 cm.

The main danger that awaits the host Patriot are slugs and snails that eat the leaves of the plant.

This soft and elegant combination of large-leaved hydrangea Madame Emile Mouillere and hostas Patriot will brighten up your garden from summer to autumn and at the same time will not cause any special difficulties in growing.

Option 5. Hydrangea and roses

One of the most beautiful combinations is hydrangea and roses. The queen of the shady garden next to the queen of flowers is, undoubtedly, not allies (as was the case in all previous versions), but competitors who are fighting for your attention, but at the same time they complement each other perfectly.