Are your hydrangeas standing alone? They could use some company. Hydrangeas actually do much better when you plant the right companions nearby.
These pairings can boost plant health, extend blooming periods, and naturally help with pest control.
Here are the best plant partners to try with your hydrangeas.
Why Companion Planting Works
Think of your garden like putting together a good team. Your hydrangeas look great on their own, but the proper companions create contrast, fill empty spaces, and can actually protect your plants.
A study from the University of Vermont found that strategic companion planting can reduce pest problems by up to 50% while bringing in nearly 60% more pollinators. Not bad for just adding a few extra plants.
9 Great Partners for Hydrangeas
1. Hostas: The Shade-Loving Match
Hostas ❤️ Hydrangeas are a classic pairing. They like the same conditions: partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.
The tubular flowers of hostas (in white, pink, purple, or blue) provide a nice textural contrast against the hydrangeas’ rounded blooms.
2. Coral Bells: The Colorful Accent
Coral Bells ❤️ Hydrangeas add real color with their purple, red, and orange foliage. When their delicate flower spikes show up, they create a visual contrast with hydrangeas’ fuller blooms.
They’re like the perfect accent that pulls everything together.
3. Salvias: The Height Addition
Your garden needs some variety in height. Salvias ❤️ Hydrangeas grow 14-24 inches upward, creating vertical interest while hydrangeas fill in below.
The best part? Salvias attract bees and butterflies that help all your garden plants.
4. Daylilies: The Easy Growers
Need low-maintenance companions that still look good? Try Daylilies ❤️ Hydrangeas.
These trumpet-shaped flowers grow 20-36 inches tall and come in almost every color you can think of. Their upright form contrasts nicely with rounded hydrangea blooms.
5. Bleeding Hearts: The Spring Bloomers
Bleeding Hearts ❤️ Hydrangeas bring something special with their unique heart-shaped blooms that hang from arching stems.
This pairing creates a pretty garden spot that really stands out in spring and early summer.
6. Lungworts: The Ground Cover
The real trick to a full-looking garden is planting in layers. Lungworts ❤️ Hydrangeas create a low-growing carpet of spotted foliage with clusters of tiny blue, purple, and pink flowers.
They’re like mini-hydrangeas at ground level. This dense growth also helps keep weeds down.
7. Marigolds: The Pest Control
Marigolds ❤️ Hydrangeas are often overlooked for companion planting, but they naturally repel harmful nematodes and other pests.
Their bright orange and yellow blooms create a strong color contrast with blue or pink hydrangeas. It’s practical and pretty.
8. Chrysanthemums: The Fall Bloomers
Want to extend your garden’s blooming season into autumn? Chrysanthemums ❤️ Hydrangeas bloom just as hydrangeas begin to fade.
Their similar bloom structure but different peak times mean your garden keeps its color for months longer.
9. Ferns: The Texture Contrast
Ferns ❤️ Hydrangeas add a different kind of appeal with their feathery fronds. They create a lush backdrop that makes hydrangea blooms really pop.
On hot summer days, larger fern varieties can even provide some shade protection for your hydrangeas.
How to Make Companion Planting Work
What matters most for your hydrangea display isn’t adding more hydrangeas. It’s choosing the right companions. Here are the basics:
• Match growing conditions: Both plants should like similar soil, light, and water
• Create contrast: Mix different heights, textures, and bloom shapes
• Consider bloom times: Choose plants that flower at different times for continuous color
• Use complementary colors: Pick plants with contrasting or harmonizing colors
A single hydrangea is lovely, but a hydrangea with the right companions creates a much fuller, more interesting garden.
Which companion plant will you try first?