Hydrangeas are beloved shrubs admired for their versatility, stunning flower heads, and ever-changing color displays. Whether you’re looking to create a vibrant focal point in a sunny garden or add interest to a shaded area, pairing hydrangeas with the right companion plants can elevate your garden’s aesthetic and health. Here’s a detailed guide to selecting the best companion plants for hydrangeas, covering both sunny and shaded environments.
How to Grow Hydrangeas
Growing hydrangeas starts with understanding their basic needs. They thrive in average, well-drained soils with a 2-3 inch layer of shredded bark mulch. Hydrangeas prefer light ranging from full sun (6+ hours) to part sun (4-6 hours), but some varieties can also tolerate partial shade or filtered sunlight. Morning sun followed by afternoon shade is ideal, especially in hotter climates. These plants have moderate water needs and should be kept evenly moist but not waterlogged. Minimal fertilization is necessary; applying a granular rose fertilizer in early spring can promote healthy growth. In winter, applying a 2-3 inch mulch layer helps conserve moisture and protects roots from cold damage.
Maintenance & Pruning
The key to hydrangea care lies in understanding the flowering habits. Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood (like panicle and smooth hydrangeas) can be pruned in spring without affecting the next season’s blooms. For those that bloom on old wood (such as bigleaf, oakleaf, mountain, and climbing hydrangeas), minimal pruning is recommended to preserve next year’s flower buds. A selective thinning can help maintain shape and improve air circulation.
Companion Plants for Hydrangeas in Full Sun
1. Coneflower (Echinacea)
- To add a burst of color to your hydrangea hedge, coneflowers are an excellent choice. Their vibrant, sturdy flowers atop long stems create a dynamic contrast with hydrangeas.
2. Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass (Calamagrostis)
- This grass provides a compact, vertical element that fits seamlessly between hydrangea shrubs, enhancing the overall structure of your garden.
3. Tickseed (Coreopsis)
- For sunny spots, Tickseed’s bright yellow flowers create a cheerful, sun-kissed look when planted alongside limelight hydrangeas. This duo adds both color and texture to your landscape.
4. Oso Easy Peasy® Rose (Rosa)
- Combining hydrangeas with roses creates a timeless, romantic garden design. The pairing of Oso Easy Peasy® roses and Fire Light® panicle hydrangeas offers a perfect balance of color and form.
5. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
- These sunny perennials complement hydrangeas beautifully, adding a burst of golden color that highlights the lush green foliage of hydrangea shrubs.
6. Spike Speedwell (Veronica)
- With tall, elegant flower spikes, Spike Speedwell introduces a unique texture that contrasts well with the larger blooms of hydrangeas.
7. Daylily (Hemerocallis)
- Daylilies thrive in moist soils and abundant sunlight, making them an easy, eye-catching companion to hydrangeas. Pairing Limelight Prime® panicle hydrangea with Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Sound of my Heart’ daylilies creates a harmonious color scheme.
8. Cranesbill (Geranium)
- This low-growing perennial offers excellent ground cover beneath hydrangeas, suppressing weeds and providing a clean, well-maintained garden look.
9. Allium
- The round, globe-shaped flowers of allium add a sophisticated flair to a hydrangea garden. Pair them with Limelight Prime® panicle hydrangeas to create an elegant hedge that catches the eye.
10. Shasta Daisy (Leucanthemum)
- Combining Shasta daisies with Black-Eyed Susan and hydrangeas creates the quintessential cottage garden. These plants share similar soil and sun requirements, ensuring a harmonious landscape.
11. Foxglove (Digitalis)
- With its tall, unique bell-shaped flowers, Foxglove introduces a whimsical, fairy tale-like element to a hydrangea garden, attracting attention and admiration.
12. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
- Butterfly bush and hydrangeas make an eye-catching pair, attracting pollinators to your garden. Their vibrant flowers and attractive foliage create a stunning hedge or privacy screen.
Companion Plants for Hydrangeas in Shade/Part Sun
1. Hosta (Hosta)
- Hosta’s glossy, heart-shaped leaves provide an attractive contrast with oakleaf or bigleaf hydrangeas. This pairing brings texture and depth to shaded areas of the garden.
2. Astilbe (Astilbe)
- Astilbe’s fluffy, plume-like flowers in vibrant shades of pink and red add a splash of color to a hydrangea hedge. Keep the soil moist to maintain its showy blooms throughout the season.
3. Goatsbeard (Aruncus)
- ‘Chantilly Lace’ goatsbeard and dwarf hydrangeas create a beautiful shade garden combination. The soft, airy flowers of goatsbeard contrast beautifully with the multicolored blooms of hydrangeas.
4. Ferns
- Ferns introduce a lush, tropical feel to shaded areas, blending seamlessly with hydrangea hedges. Their intricate foliage adds a textural contrast to the large hydrangea blooms.
5. Boxwood (Buxus)
- Boxwood and hydrangeas have been staples in garden design for decades. The evergreen foliage of boxwood offers structure and contrast, especially when shaped as hedges or topiary.
6. Coral Bells (Heuchera)
- The glossy, colorful foliage of coral bells adds a pop of color and dimension when planted near hydrangeas. This pairing works particularly well when combined with hostas to create a layered, shaded garden.
Pairing hydrangeas with the right companion plants not only enhances their beauty but also supports a diverse, thriving garden ecosystem. Whether in full sun or part shade, these combinations will transform your garden into an inviting, picturesque space that captivates the eye and supports pollinators and other beneficial wildlife.
