Hydrangeas are a beloved choice for gardens, known for their large, showy flowers and versatility.
Pairing them with the right companion plants can enhance their beauty and create a stunning landscape.
Here are 20 ideas for plants that complement hydrangeas, each bringing its unique charm to your garden.
1. Hostas
Hostas are shade-loving plants that thrive in the same conditions as hydrangeas.
Their large, lush leaves provide a beautiful backdrop, camouflaging the lower half of the hydrangeas.
Planting a variety of hostas with different leaf colors and textures can create a visually appealing display, enhancing the overall aesthetic of your garden.
2. Azaleas
Azaleas are flowering shrubs that pair well with hydrangeas due to their similar growing conditions.
They both prefer morning sun and afternoon shade, as well as consistent moisture. Azaleas come in various colors, allowing you to choose ones that complement your hydrangeas.
Their evergreen nature adds year-round interest to your garden.
3. Japanese Maples
Japanese Maples bring color and texture to the garden with their unique leaf shapes and hues, ranging from green to red and purple.
They thrive in partial shade and well-draining soil, just like hydrangeas. With their shallow root systems, they don’t compete for nutrients, making them ideal companions for hydrangeas.
Ensure adequate space for growth, as they can reach up to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide.
4. Astilbe
Astilbe is a spring-blooming perennial known for its feathery plumes of flowers in various colors.
It thrives in part shade and moist, well-draining soil, similar to hydrangeas.
Astilbe’s vibrant blooms and lush foliage add a touch of elegance to your garden, complementing the hydrangeas beautifully.
5. Ferns
Ferns are easy to grow and come in a variety of colors and textures, making them a great companion for hydrangeas.
They prefer part sun to part shade and moist, well-draining soil. Ferns add a lush, tropical look to the garden and help create a layered, visually appealing landscape alongside hydrangeas.
6. Boxwood
Boxwood is a classic evergreen shrub that provides a lovely contrast to the large, showy flowers of hydrangeas.
Its lush green foliage adds structure and year-round interest to the garden.
Boxwood’s neat, compact form complements the more free-form growth of hydrangeas, creating a balanced and attractive garden design.
7. Beautyberry
Beautyberry is a low-maintenance shrub that adds color and texture to your garden.
It produces tiny, light pink flowers in the spring and bright purple berries in the fall.
The berries attract birds, adding wildlife interest to your garden. Beautyberry’s vibrant colors provide a striking contrast to the hydrangeas’ blooms.
8. Camellias
Camellias are evergreen shrubs that complement hydrangeas with their similar growing conditions.
They bloom in the fall and winter, providing color during seasons when hydrangeas are not in bloom.
Their lush foliage and beautiful flowers enhance the overall appearance of your garden year-round.
9. Creeping Jenny
Creeping Jenny is a low-growing ground cover with vibrant green foliage tinged with yellow.
It’s perfect for filling in empty spaces around hydrangeas and keeping weeds at bay.
This low-maintenance plant adds a pop of color and a contrasting texture to the garden, enhancing the visual appeal of your hydrangea bed.
10. Fothergilla
Fothergilla is a deciduous shrub that produces white, bottlebrush-like flowers in the spring and has striking fall foliage. Its colors range from yellow and orange to red and purple.
Fothergilla thrives in partial sun to partial shade and prefers well-draining, consistently moist soil, making it an excellent companion for hydrangeas.
11. Hellebores
Hellebores are shade-loving perennials that are evergreen in many climates. They bloom in the winter, adding color to your garden during the off-season.
The subtle hues of their flowers complement hydrangeas, and their low-maintenance nature makes them a great addition to any garden.
12. Coral Bells
Coral Bells are low-growing perennials with a variety of leaf colors that can be used as ground cover.
They are low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making them perfect for areas around hydrangeas that need a little extra care.
Their colorful foliage adds interest and contrasts beautifully with the hydrangeas’ blooms.
13. Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangeas are native to the southeastern United States and feature large, oak-shaped leaves that turn deep red in the fall.
They can grow up to 8 feet tall and 12 feet wide, making them ideal for planting as a backdrop to smaller plants. Their stunning foliage and blooms enhance the overall beauty of your garden.
14. Spirea
Spirea is a deciduous shrub with large, showy flower heads that prefer partial shade.
Bridal wreath spirea, in particular, produces arching branches covered in small, white flowers in the spring.
Spirea’s extended flowering season and low-maintenance nature make it a great companion for hydrangeas.
15. Sweet Woodruff
Sweet woodruff is a low-growing, shade-loving perennial that produces clusters of tiny white flowers in the spring. Its bright green, star-shaped foliage adds a unique texture to your garden.
This ground cover is perfect for creating a lush, green carpet beneath hydrangeas and is low-maintenance, spreading over time.
16. Toad Lilies
Toad lilies are shade-loving perennials with exotic, orchid-like flowers in various colors.
They grow well under hydrangeas and add a unique, interesting element to your garden. Toad lilies are easy to grow and low-maintenance, making them a perfect choice for any garden.
17. Viburnum
Viburnum is a versatile shrub that pairs well with hydrangeas. Available in many varieties, viburnum can be evergreen or deciduous and some types are fragrant.
Their attractive foliage and flowers complement hydrangeas, adding depth and interest to your garden design.
18. Liriope
Liriope is a low-growing, grass-like perennial perfect for planting under hydrangeas.
It comes in various colors, including green, blue, and variegated, and produces pretty purple flowers in late summer and early fall.
Liriope’s colorful foliage and flowers add a splash of color to the base of your shrubs without overwhelming them.
19. Japanese Forest Grass
Japanese Forest Grass is a shade-loving ornamental grass with a weeping habit.
It thrives in morning sun and afternoon shade, making it ideal for planting alongside hydrangeas.
This grass adds a graceful, flowing texture to your garden and looks stunning when paired with the bold colors of hydrangeas.
20. Rhododendron
Rhododendrons are large-leafed, flowering shrubs that thrive in similar conditions to hydrangeas.
Available in various colors, including white, pink, red, and purple, they provide beautiful blooms that complement hydrangeas.
Their evergreen nature adds year-round interest, contrasting nicely with the deciduous hydrangeas.
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Conclusion
Hydrangeas are a versatile and beautiful addition to any garden, and pairing them with the right companion plants can enhance their appeal.
These 20 plant ideas provide a range of colors, textures, and seasonal interests that complement hydrangeas perfectly. Experiment with these combinations to create a stunning and diverse garden landscape. Happy gardening!
