What plants are suitable for planting together with hydrangea?

Conifers

Hydrangea or hydrangea, as it is more often called in scientific literature, prefers well-lit areas, but during flowering it is afraid of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. To shade the bush, coniferous crops are chosen as a pair.

Juniper, thuja, dwarf spruce, mountain pine are suitable. In mixborders, evergreen shrubs and trees are usually placed on the south side. This way they do not block the light needed by flowers in the first half of the day, but protect them from the scorching sun in the afternoon.

By alternating conifers with hydrangea bushes, you can make an original hedge, highlight a recreation area or frame the path from the entrance to the porch. Dark green needles will become a harmonious frame for the lushly blooming hydrangea bushes.

Astilbe

Large lacy leaves, inflorescences collected in spreading panicles and dozens of different shades of astilbe have made it a frequent guest in garden plots. It is distinguished by long flowering, suitable for creating lush flowerbeds, including next to hydrangea.

The bushes are approximately the same height, do not block each other’s sunlight. The only “dispute” can arise due to watering. Astilbe prefers more moist soil. To prevent hydrangea from becoming weak due to excess moisture, you will have to water the flowerbed pointwise.

It is better to choose shades that are close in tone or that match harmoniously with each other. Purple astilbe looks original next to the white “caps” of hydrangea.

Spiraea

Spiraea is chosen to accompany hydrangea to create flowerbeds of continuous flowering. The former blooms in May and fades by the beginning of July. Just at this time the second one is gaining active color.

Dwarf varieties of spirea next to lush hydrangea bushes may not have enough sunlight. For mixed flowerbeds, choose medium-sized seedlings 100-150 cm in height.

Hosta

Hosta is considered one of the best companions for most flowering shrubs. Located in the foreground, it hides the unremarkable root part and serves as an excellent background for bright inflorescences. Such multi-level flower beds always look neat and complete.

The variety of hosta varieties allows you to achieve an interesting play of color not only during the blooming of hydrangeas, but also after the buds have faded. Its rich green, variegated or bordered foliage looks very decorative until the frosts.

Like hydrangea, hosta prefers slightly moist soil and acidified soil mixture. The two crops do not compete with each other for sunlight, water or minerals, so the plants can be placed quite close to each other.

Ferns

In the wild, hydrangea often grows next to ferns. This combination can also be used to create garden flower beds. Both crops like moderate watering, but do not tolerate stagnant water. Choose a well-drained and well-lit place for the flowerbed.

Rose

Hydrangea and rose are two shrubs that are often given the role of first violin in a garden ensemble. Both flowers look quite bright and expressive in mono-flowerbeds, in a paired composition they will also look interesting.

If the bushes are placed too close, the plants can compete for nutrients and moisture. For healthy growth and abundant flowering, holes for seedlings are dug at a distance of at least 1.5 meters. For each crop, an individual watering and fertilizing regime is made.

When choosing varieties, you can show maximum creativity: make a contrasting composition of snow-white hydrangeas and bright red roses or choose seedlings blooming with delicate pastel buds.

Cereals

Grains are an expressive background for flowering shrubs: fescue, millet, miscanthus, phalaris, etc. They easily take root in slightly acidic soils and prefer moderate watering.

Compositions with cereals fit perfectly into modern landscape design. Flowerbeds look stylish and do not overload the garden space.

Annuals

To create a lush, multi-colored flowerbed or to cover the space around a standard hydrangea, annuals are used. Pansies, petunias, and marigolds will create a bright “cushion” in the tree trunk circle, adding mood and lightness to the flower arrangement.

When selecting companion plants, it is important to take crops with similar requirements for lighting, watering, and soil quality. Light-loving hydrangea is unlikely to get along with flowers that prefer shade. You should also avoid proximity to crops that acidify the soil. On highly alkaline or highly acidic soil, the bush begins to wither, which negatively affects the abundance and duration of flowering.