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What to plant around hydrangeas


Hydrangea Companion Plants | Plant Addicts

Author Maureen Farmer - Last Updated 8-5-2021

Hydrangeas are very popular shrubs that most gardeners love growing for their huge colorful flowers. Hydrangeas require well drained soil that is nutrient rich and lots of moisture. We always recommend adding a layer of mulch around hydrangeas to help retain that moisture and add more nutrients back into the ground. Some hydrangeas also require a little protection in the winter in order to bloom the following year. These requirements are things that you should look for when determining what to plant with your hydrangeas. Or where in your garden you should add hydrangeas to, with the plants that you already have growing.

Many gardeners grow hydrangeas in groups to create borders in their gardens or as foundation plants. Did you know that mixing hydrangeas can make great additions to perennial borders or island gardens?

There are many plants that compliment hydrangeas thankfully. Here are a few ideas for companion plants for hydrangeas including perennials, shrubs and annuals. There is also an exhaustive list at the very bottom of the article. We also listed which plants that do not do well growing next to hydrangeas at the bottom.

Shrubs To Plant With Hydrangeas

Azaleas, hollies, yews, mahonia, gardenia, loropetalum and boxwood shrubs will look good planted in front of hydrangeas. Azaleas blossoms will provide early color. You can select your favorite blossom color since the azalea blooms will have faded before your hydrangea is flowering.

Boxwoods and evergreen varieties of azaleas will offer some color during the winter months. Boxwoods can be shaped or left in their natural form based on your preference for a more formal or natural-looking garden. These can also help provide some protection against strong winds in the winter.

Perennials To Plant With Hydrangeas

Shade tolerant perennials make excellent partners next to hydrangeas. Some of the best are hostas, ferns, foxglove & coral bells.
Many upright hydrangeas create a shady area under their foliage. This is a great location for planting shade-loving hostas. Most gardeners grow hostas for their lovely foliage. The hydrangea leaves above will hide the pale hosta flower spikes that some gardeners remove because they find them unattractive.

Hostas are available in several shades of green ranging from blue-green to chartreuse. Many have solid colored leaves and others have white or yellow variegations running along their length. Select foliage that will compliment your hydrangea blossoms.

You can use all the same variety or a mixture of two or three varieties. Plant them in a single row in a circle or half-circle around the hydrangea base or in small groups in a triangular pattern. Pink hydrangea blossoms partner well with hostas with bluish leaves and white blooms work well with green and white variegated hosta varieties.

Hostas are also available in different heights and leaf widths. They tend to grow larger every year, so space them as directed on the label even if they seem relatively far apart at first. If you don’t like the gaps, plant annuals to fill the open spots during the first year or two.

If you choose perennials that need more sun, like daylilies, then plant those next to hydrangeas that can tolerate more sun like smooth or panicle hydrangeas.

Annuals To Plant With Hydrangeas

As with perennials, shade tolerant annuals grow great next to hydrangeas. These plants also typically prefer having rich and fertile soil and being watered frequently. Some of the best annuals to grow with hydrangeas are coleus, impatiens and begonias.

Brighten up the shady base of your hydrangeas with annual flowers and foliage plants. The nice thing about adding annuals is that you can mix it up and try different plant combinations or flower colors every year.

Good shade-tolerant options include begonias, coleus, browallia, euphoria and impatiens. These plants are available in varieties with multiple options for blossom color and in some cases different foliage colors.

Trees To Plant With Hydrangeas

Consider planting next to medium sized trees to help protect against the afternoon sunlight. Dogwoods, crape myrtles & dwarf Japanese maples are typically great next to hydrangeas. Dwarf Japanese maples with dark foliage for contrast with green hydrangea leaves. Japanese maples typically have smaller and airier leaves than hydrangea to also provide leaf texture contrast.

Ornamental Grasses To Plant With Hydrangeas

Low maintenance ornamental grasses will be a good partner in sunnier locations. Short grasses can be used in front along the border of a hydrangea bed and taller ones can be used at the ends of a hydrangea border garden. Their texture will be a nice compliment to the larger leaves of most hydrangeas. They’ll also add movement to your garden on breezy days.

Best Hydrangea Companion Plants For Containers

Hydrangeas make perfect container plants. It allows you to get beautiful colorful flowers in new locations like patios, decks, entryways and underneath large trees with big root systems. Just be sure to leave enough space for the hydrangea roots and the plants you grow with the hydrangea in the container. Look at the mature size of the hydrangea to determine how large of a container you will need. In the winter, the hydrangea may need to have additional protection in colder climates as well.

Some of our favorite plants to grow in planters with hydrangeas are ferns, sweet potato vines, variegated English ivy, kalanchoe, ornamental oregano, caladium, coral bells and coleus.

Plants Not to Grow With Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas can grow well with most plants. However, do not plant hydrangeas in locations where they will receive no sunlight at all. This will drastically reduce the amount of flowers the plants will produce. So tall trees and shrubs planted close by can be helpful in the afternoon heat, but not if they eliminate all sunlight hitting the plants.

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What to plant with hydrangeas: 10 beautiful companion plants

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When deciding what to plant with hydrangeas, consider not just varieties that will complement the plants visually, but those that will thrive in the same growing environment.

Knowing how to successfully mix different plants is an important part of learning how to grow hydrangeas. And, of course, companion planting, can be beneficial for every plant in the mix.

'Hydrangeas have an easy sort of elegance. Their bold yet simple blooms make them the perfect companion for an exciting range of plants in the landscape,’ says Kip McConnell, director of Southern Living Plant Collection .

‘When choosing companion plants for hydrangeas, think about maximizing color and extending bloom time in your garden. With the right pairings, hydrangeas can help you do just that – they can amplify a color palette and provide months of beauty before passing on the "baton" to their companion plant. ’

What to plant with hydrangeas – best varieties

‘The best companion plants for hydrangeas depend on your type of hydrangea, where you grow it (warm or cold zones), how you site it (south facing, east facing, etc), and the color of the flowers,’ says Lorraine Ballato, author of Success With Hydrangeas .

Hydrangeas grow best in moist, well-draining soil, and will thrive in both acidic or alkaline soil. It’s important to know what soil type you have, so when considering what to plant with hydrangeas, you can choose other varieties to suit. 

Interestingly, the flowers of some types of hydrangea will change depending on the soil pH – blue for acidic and pink for alkaline. 

You should also bear in mind that most hydrangeas prefer some shade, and can struggle in full sun.

Knowing how to prune hydrangeas will also ensure you are able to get the best out of them.

1. Hostas

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‘Hostas are a great companion plant for hydrangeas,’ says Julia Omelchenko, a botanist expert for the NatureID app .  

‘These small bushes feature drop-shaped leaves with bright margins that highlight the plain greenery and pastel-colored inflorescences of hydrangeas.’

Hostas thrive in nutrient-rich, moist – but not waterlogged – soils, preferring slightly acidic growing mediums. Like hydrangeas, they prefer partial shade

‘I recommend growing hostas in flower beds and using them in multi-level garden compositions,’ adds Omelchenko.

2. Daylilies

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When considering what to plant with hydrangeas, think about classic color combinations.

‘If you have a big leaf hydrangea with big blue or pink flowers, try daylilies in contrasting colors like orange – it's a classic Van Gogh color scheme,’ says Ballato.

Daylilies are striking perennials with exotic-looking lily-like flowers. Though they may appear delicate, they are surprisingly hardy and easy to grow, and will thrive in most soil types.

‘The trouble-free daylilies can take the part shade needs of the hydrangea and still produce great flowers,’ adds Ballato.

As well as orange, daylilies come in other colors, ranging from pure white to deepest red.

3. Gardenia

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‘I love the cloud-like blooms of a white hydrangea paired with the fragrant white blossoms of gardenia,’ says McConnell.

‘The large, sculpted leaves of hydrangea meld seamlessly with the deep green foliage of gardenia, creating the perfect backdrop upon which the plants’ white blossoms pop.’

McConnell particularly recommends the 'Diamond Spire' gardenia, which produces fragrant, single white blossoms late spring through fall with an upright habit.

However, bear in mind gardenia will only thrive outdoors in warmer climes – there are varieties suitable for USDA zones 7a-10b – otherwise they can only be grown indoors.

‘Gardenias enjoy plenty of moisture; to maximize their glorious blossoms, feed them by applying an acidic, slow-release fertilizer such as an azalea or camellia fertilizer,’ adds McConnell.

4. Echinacea purpurea

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‘Echinacea purpurea blooms around the same time as hydrangeas and adds a pop of color. It is a great plant to include in the foreground of your hydrangeas,’ says Sam Hoadley, manager of horticultural research at Mt. Cuba Center botanical gardens.

Tolerant of partial shade, echinacea purpurea grows well in moist fertile soils where hydrangeas thrive – as long as it is well draining – and can be planted in acidic or alkaline soil.

‘As an added bonus, this species is also known to attract a large number of insect pollinators,’ adds Hoadley. 

5. Pieris japonica

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Flowering early in the season, pieris japonica is a great companion plant for hydrangeas. ‘This spring-blooming shrub partners well in a shrub border with hydrangeas; I consider it the opening act for the summertime hydrangea display, says Bob Polomski, horticulturist with Clemson University Cooperative Extension .

‘This evergreen prefers acidic soils and is a suitable companion for hydrangeas that produce blue flowers at a soil pH of 5.5 or less.’

As with hydrangeas, pieris japonica needs a partially shaded, sheltered spot.

6. Conifers

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

When thinking about what to plant with hydrangeas, don't overlook trees and bushes.

‘Conifers – thujas, junipers, pines, and dwarf pines – are some of the best companion plants for hydrangeas,’ says Omelchenko. 

She recommends creating various elegant compositions by combining tall thujas and spreading hydrangea bushes. 'It’s better to grow these plants on two levels – high trees in the background and lower bushes in front of them.

‘This design isn’t only beautiful but also beneficial for hydrangeas – thujas give them the necessary shade.’

Conifers are a broad species, but generally they prefer acidic, well-draining soil. As evergreen plants, they add color and interest to the garden year round, including in winter. When the cold weather arrives, make sure you know how to winterize hydrangeas to protect them from the elements – and to show them off against the conifers.

7. Ornamental grasses

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Ornamental grasses add a wonderfully textural contrast to hydrangeas. Many species are non-invasive, and will happily fill a border, nestling in around other plants.

‘If your hydrangea has a white flower, try some black mondo grass. The contrasting color which it holds all season long marries well with the hydrangea and grows happily in similar conditions,’ says Ballato.

‘Another very popular companion plant is Japanese forest grass. Like the mondo grass, it holds its golden color all season long and enjoys the same growing conditions as the hydrangea.’

8. Camellias

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‘Some hydrangeas, such as "Heart Throb", provide glorious blooms over three seasons, offering a radiant show when the weather is on the warmer side. But what about winter? A clever pairing of camellia offers blooms that pick up where hydrangeas leave off, ensuring your garden has almost year-round flowers,’ says McConnell. 

'October Magic Ruby' is a lovely recommended variety, with winter blooms and shiny green leaves all year. A compact grower, Ruby is a convenient semi-dwarf but with a soft, romantic appearance. It thrives in full sun to part shade, in USDA Zones 7a-9b

‘Camellias prefer well-drained, acidic soil. The simplest way to provide it is to use a commercial mix for rhododendrons and azaleas or camellias – avoid peat moss, which can dry out quickly and harden,’ adds McConnell.

9. Astilbe

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‘Commonly known as the false goat's beard, astilbe grows well alongside hydrangeas,’ says Omelchenko.

The frothy flowering plant tolerates shade, requires abundant watering, and thrives in acidic growing mediums. 

‘Astilbe's appearance is also a good match as it reflects rather than outshines the beauty of hydrangea. With its lush foliage, the false goat's beard keeps its decorative value even after the blooming season is over,’ adds Omelchenko.

‘The plant’s fern-like delicate branches please the eye and look gorgeous against the background of hydrangeas’ round leaves.’

10. Clematis viorna

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‘Clematis viorna is a lesser-known native plant species that would be stunning when allowed to climb up Hydrangea arborescens,’ says Hoadley. 

The clematis roots thrive in cool shaded conditions at the base of the hydrangea shrub while their vining top growth is tolerant of part shade to full sun and can gently twine though the hydrangea shrub itself.

‘Their whimsical flowers would offer a pop of color and contrast to the large showy inflorescences of the hydrangeas,’ adds Hoadley.

Planting roses and hydrangeas together

It is possible to plant roses and hydrangeas together. However, as roses are sun loving, while hydrangeas prefer some shade, you will need a more tolerant variety.

Paniculate hydrangea 'Limelight' thrives in full sun, and its limey colored blooms make a perfect foil for romantic pink roses.

Can you plant peonies and hydrangeas together?

As peonies flower earlier in the season than hydrangeas, they can make lovely planting companions. Once they are over, the plant will begin to die back, making way for hydrangeas to shine.

Peonies thrive in full sun or partial shade, and prefer a sheltered spot. They are also tolerant of most soil types, provided they are free draining.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

What to plant next to the hydrangea: ideal partners for the princess of the garden

Hydrangea beauties! For some, this is a dream, for someone, favorite plants that have settled in their own garden. They are grown in city parks and near multi-storey buildings. Hydrangeas are always great. It's no secret that the requirements of these chic bushes are special, the plants located nearby must be combined not only externally, but also grow well in acidic soil. Whatever complex composition you conceive, huge hats of flowers will remain its center. nine0003

Hydrangea at the foot of the trees

A garden is beautiful when harmony reigns in it. The background for hydrangeas can be tall conifers. Thuja, fir and spruce can make a hydrangea company if the trees have a chic crown that falls low enough. Bare skeletal branches and trunks will only spoil the impression. Deciduous trees are in no way inferior in beauty and can become a background in the area where hydrangea grows. Low maples, apple trees, apricots and peaches can take their rightful place. nine0003

Neighboring shrubs

Hydrangea has long and firmly won a place of honor among hedge plants, usually planted in rows. It turns out beautiful, but very monotonous. But what if you alternate it with other shrubs? Rose, spirea, some varieties of willow, ornamental barberry with variegated leaves, lilac, boxwood, euonymus, cinquefoil and wild rose are perfectly combined with fresh greenery of hydrangea leaves and large pastel-colored inflorescences. Ground cover shrubs should be planted between the hydrangea and the walking path. Some special, charming picture is created by planting a silver sucker and hydrangea in one area. These plants are in perfect harmony, and it is the sucker that gives the coveted partial shade. nine0003

Perennials

Hydrangea is very fastidious, it languishes under the rays of the scorching sun, prefers openwork penumbra. This must be taken into account when choosing perennials. Usually limited to mowed lawn or decorative landscaping around bushes, try filling the space with amazing shade-loving colors. It is the composition that allows you to give individuality to the site. Strict, prim with an application for luxury, romantic blooming, retro, rustic - in any of these styles, hydrangea will take its place. nine0003

Unique hosts are aristocratic, they will add rigor to the design of the site. Delicate tones of large leaves go well with large inflorescences.

Heuchera, astilbe and fern get along well with shade-loving shrubs. Bright leaves and flowers create the feeling of a fairy garden, where every corner is shrouded in mystery.

Simple and at the same time surprisingly tender tenacious can occupy the space at the base of the bush. The apical pachysandra, periwinkle and ivy will also do an excellent job with this role. Ordinary mint, lemon balm, catnip will add lightness and aroma. The composition will be close to the combinations of plants in the wild. nine0003

Large bergenia leaves give a sense of grandeur, the composition seems complete. The early flowering of bergenia compensates for the long spring sleep of hydrangeas. After the snow melts, shiny green leaves appear, a little later, delicate flower caps grow.

Daylilies, lilies, daffodils, irises, crocuses, tulips and anemones will settle under the noble shrub for a long time, only emphasizing its beauty. Panicled phloxes have many shades, they allow you to achieve color depth.

In the lower tier, lychnis with snow-white or fiery-red flower caps, perennial cornflowers tender, like first love, and Turkish carnation with all the variety of shades are relevant.

Annuals complete the picture with bright showy flowers. Purslane, escholcia, gazania, ageratum, heliotrope, calceolaria grow well on the sunny side of plantations and in openwork partial shade. These plants are more suitable for country estate style design, but some of them can complement exquisite landscape compositions. nine0003

Stockrose or mallow is perhaps the only competitor - its flowering is not inferior to the magnificence of hydrangea. Single bushes in the foreground will help create volume. Vertical candles change the feeling of space. When choosing a variety, you need to take into account that in this case the contrast rule applies. If the hydrangea has white flowers, choose a mallow with maroon or scarlet petals. If the hydrangea has blue or pink flowers, plant a white mallow. Marshmallow will become a less bright, but very gentle partner. Its bush is thicker and wider, but much lower. He adds calmness to the composition. nine0003

Cereal herbs for an incredible effect

Cereals are amazing in their beauty - their height sometimes makes you feel like a child. Huge, with incredibly thick and tender ears of hummocks are especially beautiful in calm. They resemble flowing water or flames. Large hydrangea bushes with heavy inflorescences and large leaves are somehow incredibly combined with herbs that are completely opposite in appearance. Thin stems, linear leaves and ears soft like noble fur. A mesmerizing sight that makes you stop. The best types for planting with hydrangea are millet, hakonechloa, miscanthus and some others. nine0003

Primroses under the crown

Amazingly tender snowdrops and muscari will bloom long before the leaves appear. Their bulbs can be planted even under the branches or along the perimeter of the bush. Sleep-grass is able to bloom already in May, when the first green leaves appear on the bushes. Lilac or white bells will remind you of a wonderful forest clearing covered with morning dew. When the petals fall, the flower stalks will rise up, openwork balls will appear.

A fragrance for the whole season

The combinations turned out to be beautiful, even refined, but one shortcoming remains to be eliminated. Almost complete lack of flavor. The fragrance of flowers evokes delight and pleasant memories. Three types of plants will help solve the problem. Petunia, the owner of a slightly sour spicy smell. Just a couple of bushes at the base of the bush will bloom fragrant all season. Fragrant tobacco has an aroma reminiscent of wild herbs in combination with expensive perfumes. A particularly bright accent appears on a quiet evening. Numerous flower stars on openwork stems will be a good decoration. And of course alyssum, as without it. Rabatka along the edge of the plantations or along the border of the paths will fill the garden with a honey aroma. nine0003

Published: Aug 17 2020

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90,000 what to plant next to hydrangea: 6 options for the ideal neighborhood

Flower growers lovingly call the Hortension of the Princess Garden. It is beautiful in single plantings, but looks especially good in combination with other ornamental plants. There can be many such combinations. When drafting them, it is important that the interests of all cultures are taken into account. Let's figure out what to plant next to paniculate or tree hydrangea. nine0003

All about choosing neighbors for a flowering plant

Where to plant a flower bush
Good neighborhood
Dangerous neighborhood
Can different types of hydrangeas be planted side by side

Good neighbors for hydrangea, this is the second name of an ornamental shrub, will be cultures that prefer the same with it living conditions. Let's clarify what a flower needs for normal growth.

Choosing what to plant next to a hydrangea is only necessary among moisture-loving and light-loving plants living on slightly acidic soils.

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Despite the special growing conditions, there are many options for a favorable neighborhood for this plant. It can be perennials, low bushes and trees. It is important that the plants do not compete for light and moisture, then they will get along well next to each other. Let's analyze which neighbors are suitable for the most popular varieties of ornamental shrubs: paniculate and tree-like. nine0003

Paniculata is a tall hydrangea. It resembles a tree with lush, brightly flowering inflorescences. It grows up to two meters, blooms from mid-July until the autumn cold. Tree-like varieties are more like bushes. They are low, with rounded lush inflorescences. We list some of the best neighborhood options for both varieties.

1. Coniferous

Coniferous - an excellent background for lush flowering ornamental shrubs. They are undemanding in care, can live on acidified soil, if necessary, they can shade hydrangea. Suitable neighbors for her will be dwarf pines or spruces, tall junipers, thujas. They are planted at a distance of 1.5-1.7 m from flower bushes, preferably from the south. So conifers will close the flower from the burning rays of the sun. nine0003

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Juniper is used to create a multi-level design. The undersized conifer goes well with flowering bushes. Dark green carved juniper twigs beautifully set off delicate hydrangea flowers. If the juniper gets too tall, cut it back. Both plants love partial shade and slightly acidic soil, so they are comfortable growing side by side. nine0003

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2. Spiraea

The combination with spirea is one of the most popular among landscape designers. Spirea blooms in spring, and fades in early July. Around this time, hydrangea blooms and fades only in autumn. This gives the effect of continuous flowering, which is very much appreciated by flower growers. The development conditions for both crops are similar, so there are no special requirements for planting. The only thing to consider is the height of the bushes. Spirea - below hydrangea, it is undesirable to be too shaded. nine0003

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3. Astilba

Relatively low tree-like varieties go well with astilba. Inflorescences of different shapes are perfectly combined. Shades can be chosen contrasting or, conversely, close in tone. Plants are approximately the same in size, do not interfere with each other to develop normally. Both shrubs bloom for a long time and luxuriantly. They are planted as part of various compositions in flower beds or alternated in a low hedge. nine0003

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4. Roses

The combination of delicate elongated hydrangea inflorescences and bright lush roses looks very beautiful. Therefore, flower growers are interested in whether it is possible to plant roses next to hydrangeas. It is possible, but subject to certain requirements. Shrubs can compete fiercely for nutrients and water. Thus, it is necessary to plant them at a sufficient distance. The schedule of watering and top dressing will be different, it is set depending on the variety of planted crops. nine0003

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5. Hosta

Low hosta bushes with drop-shaped leaves with bright edging emphasize the monotonous greenery of hydrangea and the pastel colors of its inflorescences. Shrubs prefer fertile moist soils, but without waterlogging. They also like acidified soil mixtures, so they feel great in the neighborhood. Most often they are planted in a flower bed, creating multi-level compositions. nine0003

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6.

Grasses

Ornamental grasses are good companions for tree varieties. They form an unusual background that emphasizes the beauty of the shrub. Grasses are mostly unpretentious, easily take root on slightly acidic soils. Blue fescue, hakonechloa, bulbous ryegrass, soddy pike, millet, miscanthus and other varieties of cereals are planted next to the hydrangea. Together with flowering bushes, they form interesting compositions. nine0003

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These are not all possible options for a good neighborhood. Hydrangea coexists with other shrubs: wild rose, cinquefoil, boxwood, euonymus, lilac. Joint plantings with perennial flowers are possible: crocuses, lilies, daffodils, anemones, chrysanthemums or tulips. Many doubt whether it is possible to plant peonies next to hydrangeas. This is quite possible, since flowers prefer similar conditions. But we must remember that they bloom at different times, so simultaneous flowering will not work. nine0003

Annuals will help bring bright strokes into the flowering picture. In a small penumbra on slightly acidic soil, unpretentious gazania, escholcia, purslane, calceolaria, and heliotrope bloom for a long time and actively. If you plant fragrant tobacco, petunia or similar fragrant plants among them, you can enjoy not only a beautiful view, but also a pleasant aroma.

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Not all plants get along with hydrangeas. Some oppress them, take away vital resources. They are strongly discouraged from planting near ornamental bushes. Here is a list of crops that are best planted at the other end of the garden.

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Any plant will become an unwanted neighbor for a capricious garden princess if it is planted very close. They will enter into a fierce competition for vital resources. Therefore, when landing, it is imperative to observe the optimal distance for each type. nine0003

Hydrangeas of different varieties and even species coexist perfectly in one area. They need the same conditions, which greatly simplifies care.

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