Enhancing Your Hydrangea Garden with Companion Plants

Hydrangeas are a popular choice for gardeners due to their stunning blooms in various shades. To help your hydrangeas thrive and create a more vibrant garden, it’s essential to choose companion plants that complement these beautiful shrubs. While hydrangeas can thrive alongside many different plants, selecting the right companions can enhance their appeal and longevity.

Table of Contents

In this article, we’ll explore 15 companion plants for hydrangeas across various hardiness zones. These suggested plants not only pair well aesthetically with hydrangeas but also share similar growing conditions, making them ideal companions to plant alongside your prized shrubs. From colorful flowers to lush foliage, these companion plants will add depth and beauty to your hydrangea garden.

Daylilies

Daylilies are low-maintenance flowering plants that add a pop of color to any garden. These perennials bloom from early summer into fall, with new blossoms opening daily. Daylilies are hardy and rarely face issues with insects or disease, making them an excellent companion for hydrangeas.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Mature Size: Varies

Hostas

Hostas are a classic choice for companion plants with hydrangeas. These shade-loving plants thrive in acidic soil and enjoy part-shade conditions, much like hydrangeas. Planting hostas around the base of your hydrangeas not only enhances the visual appeal but also helps in weed control.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Part shade
Mature Size: Varies

Begonias

Begonias are long-blooming flowers that brighten up any garden with their vibrant colors. These shade-loving plants make excellent companions for hydrangeas and thrive in similar growing conditions.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Shade
Mature Size: Varies

Ferns

Ferns, known for their lacy leaf structure, create a beautiful contrast with the coarse foliage of hydrangeas. These shade-loving plants are an ideal choice for adding texture to your garden while providing a suitable environment for both ferns and hydrangeas to thrive.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Light: Shade
Mature Size: Varies

Foxgloves

Foxgloves are bell-shaped flowers that thrive in shade and complement hydrangeas with their tall height and colorful blooms. These elegant flowers are easy to grow and add a touch of sophistication to any garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Shade
Mature Size: Varies

Blue Fescue

Ornamental grasses like blue fescue are a great addition to garden beds and pair well with hydrangeas. These low-maintenance grass-like plants grow best in full sun or partial shade, requiring minimal pruning.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Mature Size: Varies

Purple Cranesbill

This hardy perennial plant produces violet-blue flowers and is easy to care for, much like hydrangeas. Purple cranesbill adds a vibrant touch to your garden and provides a stunning display throughout the summer months.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Violet-blue
Light: Varies
Mature Size: Varies

Coral Bells

Coral bells are known for their lush foliage and are commonly grown for their colorful leaves rather than their pink blooms. These plants thrive in shaded areas and can spread out to cover a significant amount of ground, making them an excellent companion for hydrangeas.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Shade
Mature Size: Varies

Flowering Dogwood

For gardens lacking shaded areas, planting a dogwood tree can provide the necessary shade for hydrangeas to thrive. Dogwood trees not only offer attractive blossoms but also create a conducive environment for hydrangeas to flourish.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Varies
Mature Size: Varies

Double Reeves Spirea

Double Reeves spirea is a dense shrub that attracts butterflies with its abundance of small white flower clusters. This hardy plant provides shade and protection for hydrangeas while adding a touch of elegance to your garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: White
Light: Varies
Mature Size: Up to 6 feet

Lamb’s Ear

Lamb’s ear is a fast-spreading perennial that offers a soft texture to your garden beds. These plants act as a backdrop for your hydrangea blooms, creating a visually pleasing contrast in your garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Varies
Mature Size: Varies

Catmint

Beloved by bees, catmint is an herbaceous perennial that thrives in conditions similar to hydrangeas. This fast-growing plant produces purple flowers that bloom well into fall, attracting pollinators to your garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Purple
Light: Varies
Mature Size: Varies

Japanese Maple

Medium-sized Japanese maple trees provide shade and contrast with their dark red leaves against the green foliage of hydrangeas. These trees create a visually appealing backdrop for your hydrangea garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Varies
Mature Size: Varies

Browallia

Browallia is a low-maintenance annual flower that produces blue, purple, and white blooms. These flowers thrive in warmer climates and prefer afternoon shade, making them a suitable companion for hydrangeas.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Blue, purple, white
Light: Afternoon shade
Mature Size: Varies

Garden Speedwell

This showy perennial plant enriches your garden with tall, colorful, and spiky flowers that attract butterflies. Garden speedwell thrives in full sun or partial shade, making it an excellent addition to your hydrangea garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: Varies
Flower Color: Various
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Mature Size: Varies

By carefully selecting companion plants that share similar growing conditions and aesthetic appeal, you can create a thriving and visually stunning hydrangea garden. These 15 companion plants offer a variety of colors, textures, and heights to enhance the beauty of your hydrangeas and create a cohesive garden landscape. Experiment with different combinations to find the perfect companions for your hydrangeas and watch as your garden blooms with vitality and charm.