Pairing other plants with hydrangeas in the garden is a brilliant idea!
It will not only make the garden look fuller and incredibly vibrant but also aid with health, longevity, and pest control.
However, you shouldn’t just pair any plants you want.
There are some combinations that work and some that aren’t very effective.
Perfect Pairings: 9 Companion Plants to Enhance Your Hydrangeas
This article will walk you through a list of plants that can greatly benefit hydrangeas if planted next to them in the garden.
Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
9 – Hostas
Hostas bloom in a variety of different colors and hues including white, pink, purple, and even blue. They have relatively sharp and tubular flowers with attractive foliage that will never fail to grab people’s attention if planted outdoors in front of the house.
Both hostas and hydrangeas prefer similar growing conditions and complement each other aesthetically, making them the perfect companion plants in the garden.
8 – Coral Bells
Coral bells produce stunning leaves that are known for colorful shades of purple, red, orange, and obviously green. During the blooming season, flower spikes will emerge from coral bells and combine with the lush foliage of hydrangeas to enhance the visual appeal of the garden.
Planting coral bells and hydrangeas in the same radius is a great idea because they both add visual and textural contrast to the garden.
7 – Salvias
Salvias are great for adding vertical interest to the garden and they contrast the rounded leaves and flowers of hydrangeas really well. They grow quite tall (14-24 inches) and thrive in bright sunny conditions.
Salvias are also known to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to the garden which help facilitate reproduction in flowering plants while promoting healthier fruit sets.
6 – Daylilies
Daylilies are known for their resilient nature and vibrant flowers that develop a trumpet shape as they bloom. They come in a wide variety of colors and grow to a height of 20 to 36 inches, providing great contrast to the rounded leaves and conical flowers of hydrangeas.
Planting them together in the garden will create a dynamic visual impact for sure.
5 – Bleeding Hearts
As the name suggests, bleeding hearts bloom unique heart-shaped flowers that bring an element of romance and love to your garden.
If you pair them alongside hydrangeas, you’ll have a sweet reminder of love and sincerity every time you step outside to take a stroll around them.
The combination is beautiful but also soft and intimate.
4 – Lungworts
Lungworts are relatively short-heighted plants that bloom clusters of tiny blue, purple, and pink flowers. They offer attractive foliage and bloom in colors similar to hydrangeas flowers, just a tinier version of them.
Because lungworts spread out and grow densely in the lower portions of the garden, they’re great for making the place look fuller without having to grow and maintain a large number of plants.
3 – Marigolds
Marigolds and hydrangeas in the garden can be a useful and visually pleasing pairing. They both bloom conical, vibrant flowers and complement each other in terms of color characteristics.
The yellow and bright orange of marigolds balances out the pop of white, pink, and blue hydrangeas perfectly.
Marigolds are also great for keeping pests out of the garden. Their compound makeup and strong scent naturally repels pests and keeps other plants in their radius pest-free.
2 – Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums appear pretty much similar to hydrangea blooms in terms of color; only their flowers can be a little sharper instead of round and conical.
A similar color palette in the garden means a particular vibe/aura can be maintained with the help of resembling flowers.
This ensures that, during the blooming season, no blooms seem out of place and the garden maintains a certain color scheme.
1 – Ferns
Ferns complement hydrangeas in the garden like nothing else. Because hydrangeas offer large attractive foliage, the mild and simpler look of fern really blends nicely to make the place a lot more welcoming and rich.
If there are a lot of free spaces in your garden or front porch, planting hydrangeas alongside large fern varieties like Boston fern or Japanese-painted fern may be a good idea.
On hot summer days, ferns can provide shade to hydrangeas and add a lusciously dense look to the garden
Final Words
Many people taking the route of companion planting often think they’re limited in terms of the plants they can pair.
The truth is – any plant pair can work as long as they both aesthetically complement each other and can thrive in a similar shared environment.
You just need to be a little creative and open to visual feedback if you want the companion planting thing to work for you.
