15 Companion Plants for Hydrangeas That Will Help Them Thrive (2024)

Gardening

Flowers

• 01 of 15

  Daylilies

  

  This low-maintenance flowering plant is a popular perennial that adds a pop of color to any flower bed or garden. Daylilies grow quickly and come back year after year, just like hydrangeas—and the two plants look beautiful together. Daylilies are rarely troubled by insects or disease, and flower from early summer into fall with new blossoms opening every day.

  • Name:Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:3-9
  • Flower Color:Red, orange, yellow, pink, purple
  • Light:Full sun (tolerates part shade)
  • Mature Size:6 in. to 5 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide
    

• 02 of 15

  Hostas

  

  Hostas and hydrangeas are a classic combination. Lush, shade-loving hostas thrive incredibly well around the base of hydrangeas, and they both like part-shade conditions and thrive in soil that's slightly acidic. Planting hostas alongside hydrangeas will also help keep the weeds away.

  • Name:Hosta (Hosta spp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:3-9
  • Flower Color:White, purple, pink
  • Light:Shade, partial shade
  • Mature Size:6-48 in. tall, 10-60 in. wide

  See Also

  How to Grow and Care for Hydrangeas: A Comprehensive GuideHydrangeas: How to Plant, Grow, and Prune Hydrangea Shrubs - Flower Power DailyWhen to Plant Hydrangeas: A Guide to Planting this Classic ShrubNow Is the Best Time to Plant Hydrangeas—Here's How to Get Started

• 03 of 15

  Begonias

  

  These long-blooming flowers will brighten up any garden. Begonias come in many different colors and love a shady spot, making them the perfect companion for hydrangeas.

  • Name:Begonia (Begonia)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:6-9
  • Flower Color:Pink, red, yellow, orange, white
  • Light:Partial sun to shade
  • Mature Size:Varies, 6-18 in. wide

• 04 of 15

  Ferns

  

  The fern family is large and diverse, but they all have one thing in common: like hydrangeas, they prefer a shady location. Their lacy leaf structure contrasts beautifully with the coarse foliage of hydrangeas, giving your garden a nice texture.

  • Name:Ferns (Pteridophyta)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:3-10 (depending on variety)
  • Light:Partial to full shade
  • Mature Size:12 in. to 6 ft. tall

  Continue to 5 of 15 below

• 05 of 15

  Foxgloves

  

  These bell-shaped, shade-tolerant flowers are an elegant addition to any garden, and bloom in an array of different colors. Foxgloves enjoy the same growing conditions as hydrangeas, and their tall height makes them really stand out.

  • Name:Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:4-10
  • Flower Color:Pink, purple, red, yellow, white
  • Light:Full, partial
  • Mature Size:2-5 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

• 06 of 15

  Blue Fescue

  

  Ornamental grasses like blue fescue are great for filling in space in your garden beds, and make a great pairing with hydrangeas. These grass-like plants grow well in full sun or partial shade, and don't require any pruning.

  • Name:Blue fescue (Festuca glauca)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:4-8
  • Flower Color:Green, yellow
  • Light:Full, part
  • Mature Size:6-12 in. tall, 6-18 in. wide

• 07 of 15

  Purple Cranesbill

  

  See Also

  How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Hydrangeas

  This hardy perennial plant produces magnificent violet-blue flowers year after year. Purple cranesbill is easy to care for and, like hydrangeas, will put on a vibrant show all summer long.

  • Name:Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:5-8
  • Flower Color:Purple and blue
  • Light:Full, part
  • Mature Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 12-20 in. wide

• 08 of 15

  Coral Bells

  

  Although it is a summer flowering plant, coral bells are more commonly grown for their lush foliage rather than the pink blooms. Plant it in a shaded area with plenty of space, as the plant can spread out and cover a good amount of ground.

  • Name:Coral bells (Heuchera spp..)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:4-9
  • Flower Color:Red, pink, orange, white
  • Light:Full, partial
  • Mature Size:8-18 in. tall, 12-24 in. wide

  Continue to 9 of 15 below

• 09 of 15

  Flowering Dogwood

  

  If your backyard or garden doesn't have any shaded areas, then consider planting a dogwood tree. They bring attractive blossoms and, more importantly, can offer shade that hydrangeas very much need to thrive.

  • Name:Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:5-9
  • Flower Color:White, pink
  • Light:Full sun to partial shade
  • Mature Size:15-30 ft. tall, 20-30 ft. wide

• 10 of 15

  Double Reeves Spirea

  

  Double Reeves spirea is a dense shrub with arching branches that produces an abundance of small white flower clusters. It's a hardy plant, grows rapidly, and is known to attract butterflies. The shrub can grow as tall as six feet and provide shade and protection from the mid-day sun for hydrangeas.

  • Name:Double Reeves spirea (Spiraea cantoniensis)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:6-9
  • Flower Color:White
  • Light:Full sun to partial shade
  • Mature Size: 4-6 ft. tall, 4-6 ft. wide

• 11 of 15

  Lamb's Ear

  

  Lamb's ear is commonly used in gardens as a ground cover plant. The fast-spreading perennial offers a soft texture to a summer flower bed, acting as a nice backdrop for your show-stopping hydrangea blooms.

  • Name:Lamb's ear (Stachys byzantina)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:4-9
  • Flower Color:Purple
  • Light:Full, partial
  • Mature Size:12-18 in. tall, 12-36 in. wide

• 12 of 15

  Catmint

  

  Beloved by bees, catmint is an herbaceous perennial that grows well in similar conditions to hydrangeas. A member of the mint family, it grows quickly, and its purple flowers bloom well into fall.

  • Name:Catmint (Nepetaspp.)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:4-8
  • Flower Color:Purple, white, pink
  • Light:Full, partial
  • Mature Size:10-12 in. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

  Continue to 13 of 15 below

• 13 of 15

  Japanese Maple

  

  A medium-sized Japanese maple is great next to hydrangeas. The trees provide much-needed shade, and their dark red leaves offer a pop of contrast with green hydrangea leaves.

  • Name:Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:5-9
  • Flower Color:Red, purple
  • Light:Partial
  • Mature Size:2-25 ft. tall

• 14 of 15

  Browallia

  

  A low-maintenance annual flower, browallia produces blue, purple, and white blooms. The plant tends to grow better in warmer climates, and like hydrangeas, it prefers afternoon shade.

  • Name:Browallia (Browallia speciosa)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:10-11
  • Flower Color:Blue, purple, white
  • Light:Full, partial
  • Mature Size:1-2 ft. tall, 1-2 ft. wide

• 15 of 15

  Garden Speedwell

  

  This extremely showy perennial is easy to grow and enriches a garden with tall, colorful, and spiky flowers that attract a bounty of butterflies. It thrives best in full sun or partial shade and makes a great companion plant for hydrangea shrubs.

  • Name:Garden speedwell (Veronica longifolia)
  • USDA Hardiness Zones:4-10
  • Flower Color:White, pink, blue, purple
  • Light:Full, partial
  • Mature Size: 2-4 ft.tall, 1-2 ft. wide