Hydrangeas are a popular choice for gardeners due to their stunning blossoms and versatility in different garden settings. However, to elevate your garden’s appeal, it’s essential to consider what to plant alongside them. The right companion plants can complement their beauty, enhance growth, and improve the overall health of your garden. In this article, we’ll explore 21 fantastic options for companion planting with hydrangeas, ensuring your garden is a breathtaking oasis all year round.
1. Astilbe
Astilbe is a stunning perennial that thrives in the same moist, shaded environments that hydrangeas love. With soft, plume-like flowers, astilbe can add texture and a splash of color to your hydrangea garden.
- How to achieve the look: Plant astilbe in clusters around your hydrangeas for a harmonious arrangement. Choose varieties that bloom at different times to ensure continuous color.
2. Hostas
Hostas are a hardy plant that pairs well with hydrangeas due to their lush foliage. With various leaf shapes and colors, hostas can add depth and interest to your garden.
- How to achieve the look: Select hostas that have contrasting colors to your hydrangeas. Plant them in shaded areas to thrive alongside your shrubs.
3. Ferns
Ferns add a delicate, elegant touch to any garden, and they thrive in similar conditions as hydrangeas. Their feathery foliage can beautifully frame hydrangea blooms.
- How to achieve the look: Group ferns in front of or beside hydrangeas to create layers in your garden. Choose varieties that are native to your area for the best results.
4. Lilies
With their tall stature and vibrant colors, lilies can provide a striking contrast to the round, bushy shapes of hydrangeas. They can bloom at different times, offering seasonal interest.
- How to achieve the look: Plant lilies in the back of beds with hydrangeas to create depth. Ensure they receive adequate sunlight, as hydrangeas can prefer semi-shade.
5. Daylilies
Daylilies are resilient plants that flourish in various conditions. Their bright blooms can harmonize with the subtle colors of hydrangeas, creating a beautiful garden narrative.
- How to achieve the look: Plant daylilies in drifts or clusters to create a bold front border alongside hydrangeas.
6. Sedum
Sedums, or stonecrops, make excellent companions for hydrangeas due to their drought tolerance and unique texture. Their thick leaves and star-shaped flowers provide an interesting contrast.
- How to achieve the look: Use sedum as ground cover around hydrangeas. This helps retain moisture and adds a different visual layer.
7. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
With their vibrant foliage and delicate flowers, coral bells are a delightful addition to any hydrangea setup. Their varying leaf colors can complement the blooms perfectly.
- How to achieve the look: Position coral bells in the foreground of hydrangea beds to create a color-rich carpet beneath their larger blooms.
8. Salvia
Salvia’s tall spikes of flowers attract pollinators and can beautifully contrast with the rounded florals of hydrangeas. They thrive in sunny spots, making them an ideal garden partner.
- How to achieve the look: Plant salvia at the back of your hydrangea beds. Their upright growth will provide height and visual interest.
9. Astilbe
Astilbe is a stunning perennial that thrives in the same moist, shaded environments that hydrangeas love. With soft, plume-like flowers, astilbe can add texture and a splash of color to your hydrangea garden.
- How to achieve the look: Plant astilbe in clusters around your hydrangeas for a harmonious arrangement. Choose varieties that bloom at different times to ensure continuous color.
10. Phlox
Phlox is cherished for its clusters of colorful flowers and delightful fragrance. These perennials are great for attracting butterflies to your garden while brightening up the surroundings.
- How to achieve the look: Group phlox plants near your hydrangeas for a captivating, fragrant display that blooms from summer into spring.
11. Geranium (Cranesbill)
Cranesbill geranium is a low-maintenance perennial that provides rich foliage and bright flowers. Its sprawling habit can effectively fill space beneath hydrangeas.
- How to achieve the look: Use cranesbill as a ground cover. Its resilience against drought makes it an excellent choice for low-water gardens.
12. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Echinacea is a resilient plant with striking, daisy-like blooms. It pairs wonderfully with hydrangeas, especially in more sunny areas of your garden.
- How to achieve the look: Plant echinacea towards the back or sides of your hydrangeas for a natural, meadow-like charm.
13. Japanese Anemone
Japanese anemones are elegant, autumn-blooming plants that bring a softer touch to your hydrangea garden. Their delicate flowers can add a pleasing contrast to the bold colors of hydrangeas.
- How to achieve the look: Allow them to spread behind your hydrangeas for a lovely display come fall.
14. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint’s aromatic foliage and lavender-blue flowers attract pollinators while contrasting nicely with hydrangea blooms. They are hardy and require minimal care.
- How to achieve the look: Plant catmint around the base of hydrangeas to create a soft, cascading effect.
15. Lavender
Lavender’s fragrance and ability to repel pests make it a wonderful companion for hydrangeas. Its horizontal growth provides a lovely backdrop to your hydrangea’s vertical blossoms.
- How to achieve the look: Position lavender in sunny spots at a distance from hydrangeas to keep their contrasting shapes visible.
16. Delphinium
Delphiniums can add grandeur to your garden with their towering spikes of flowers. Their colors can provide a beautiful complement to the hydrangea’s blooms.
- How to achieve the look: Place delphiniums at the back of your garden bed to maximize their height while allowing hydrangeas to shine in the foreground.
17. Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses can bring movement and texture to your garden, framing hydrangeas beautifully. They are also drought-resistant, making them a low-maintenance option.
- How to achieve the look: Group grasses at the edges of your hydrangea beds to create a defined border while adding height and softness.
18. Creeping Thyme
Creeping thyme serves as a delightful ground cover, producing lovely flowers while attracting bees and other beneficial insects. Its drought tolerance is an added bonus.
- How to achieve the look: Use creeping thyme to cascade around the base of hydrangeas, helping to keep the soil moist.
19. Viola
Violas offer a splash of color with their vibrant flowers. These charming plants can thrive in partial shade alongside hydrangeas, enhancing the garden’s liveliness.
- How to achieve the look: Position violas at the planting base of hydrangeas for a cheerful, compact display.
20. Snapdragons
Snapdragons are perfect for adding vertical interest and come in a range of colors. Their fun, whimsical blooms can create a striking garden combination with hydrangeas.
- How to achieve the look: Plant snapdragons at the front of your hydrangeas in coordinated colors to create a colorful garden display.
21. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra)
Bleeding hearts are loved for their unique, heart-shaped flowers. These perennials thrive in the shade and bloom simultaneously with hydrangeas, creating a lovely, romantic aesthetic.
- How to achieve the look: Group bleeding hearts in shaded areas near hydrangeas to create a soft, whimsical garden scene.
Conclusion
Choosing the right companion plants to grow alongside your hydrangeas can create a stunning, harmonious garden space. From vibrant perennials like lilies and coneflowers to lush foliage plants like hostas and ferns, the possibilities are endless. By considering the required growing conditions, such as light and moisture, you can curate a garden that is not only beautiful but also thriving. Whether you’re looking to enhance your landscape’s aesthetic or create a sanctuary for pollinators, these 21 ideas for planting with hydrangeas will provide inspiration for your gardening journey. Happy planting!
