As solitary plants, hydrangeas are a real eye-catcher in every garden. With the right companion plants, however, their beauty comes into its own in a perennial border. When combining with hydrangeas, however, there are a few things to consider.

In a nutshell

  • Consider location when combining
  • Hydrangeas love a sunny to semi-shady place
  • Accompanying plants must not become the sole eye-catcher
  • Tone-in-tone combination or mixed colours

Eye-catcher in the garden

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea) are eye-catchers in the garden, even as solitary plants or planted in small groups among themselves. However, this effect can be greatly increased with the right companion plants. The hydrangeas can be combined with their plant partners tone on tone or simply in a colorful mix. However, some things have to be considered, so the accompanying plants should always remain more discreetly in the "background". In other words, they must not steal the show from the hydrangeas. When choosing, it is also important to note that not all hydrangeas love full sun, but most varieties feel more comfortable in partial shade.

Panicle hydrangea loves the sun

The panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) with its creamy white flowers is crazy about the sun. For this reason, a wide variety of plant partners such as

Sweet nettle (Agastache)

  • Growth height: 30 to 250 cm
  • Growth: bushy, upright, clump-forming
  • Flower color: white, blue, orange, red
  • Flowering period: June to September

Larkspur (Delphinium)

  • Growth height: 120 to 180 cm
  • Growth: upright, forming clumps
  • Flower color: blue, violet, white, pink, cream
  • Flowering period: June to September

Red smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple')

  • Growth height: 200 to 300 cm
  • Growth: loose, broadly bushy
  • Flower color: yellowish panicles
  • Flowering period: June to July

Irises (irises)

  • Growth height: 60 to 110 cm
  • Growth: upright, forming rhizomes
  • Flower color: white, blue, violet, yellow, multicolored
  • Flowering period: February to June

Coneflower (Rudbeckia)

  • Growth height: 60 to 100 cm
  • Growth: upright, bushy, clump-forming
  • Flower color: yellow
  • Flowering period: August to October

Soft Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla mollis)

Source: Daderot, Alchemilla mollis - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - DSC03315, Edited from Plantopedia, CC0 1.0
  • Growth height: 40 to 60 cm
  • Growth: clump-forming, bushy, spreading
  • Flower color: green, yellow
  • Flowering period: June to August

Tip: Yew (Taxus baccata) and boxwood (Buxus sempervirens) also go well with panicle hydrangeas.

Peasant Hydrangea (H. macrophylla)

The large flower balls in a wide variety of colors are particularly impressive. These plants feel very comfortable in partial shade. To combine these hydrangeas, you should choose decent planting partners such as

Hosta

  • Growth height: 60 to 100 cm
  • Growth: bushy, fleshy rhizomes
  • Flower Color: White to lilac bell-shaped flowers
  • Flowering period: June to September

Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)

  • Growth height: 200 to 400 cm
  • Growth: bushy, upright
  • Flower color: creamy white candles
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Special feature: excellent for background planting

Royal spars (Astilbe)

  • Growth height: 10 to 100 cm
  • Growth: upright, bushy
  • Flower color: white, soft pink, red
  • Flowering period: June to September

Sheet (Rodgersia)

  • Growth height: 70 to 160 cm
  • Growth: clump-forming, sprawling, upright
  • Flower color: white, pink
  • Flowering period: May to August

Starworts (Astrantia)

  • Growth height: 50 to 70 cm
  • Growth: clump-forming, upright
  • Flower color: red, pink, white, green
  • Flowering period: June to August

Tip: A wide variety of ferns can also set beautiful accents here.

Snowball hydrangea (H. arborescens)

These hydrangeas love sunny to partially shaded locations. Its flowers appear pink and pure white. Suitable plant partners are here

monkshood (aconite)

  • Growth height: 50 to 150 cm
  • Growth: upright, long taproot
  • Flower color: violet, blue-violet, bicolor with white
  • Flowering period: June to September

Tall sedum (sedum hybrids)

Tall stonecrop, Sedum telephium xenox
  • Growth height: 30 to 70 cm
  • Growth: upright, clump-forming, rhizomes
  • Flower color: pink, red, white
  • Flowering period: August to October

Tall Flame Flower (Phlox paniculata)

  • Growth height: 60 to 120 cm
  • Growth: upright, bushy
  • Flower color: red, pink, violet, white, multicolored
  • Flowering period: June to September

Globe thistle (Echinops)

  • Growth height: 80 to 100 cm
  • Growth: upright, forming clumps
  • Flower color: blue
  • Flowering period: July to August

Notice: A wide variety of ornamental grasses are also well suited as neighbors.

Hydrangea (H. serrata)

These hydrangeas are an eye-catcher in their own right, especially in gardens that are designed to be close to nature. They prefer to grow in semi-shady places. The flowers shine in a blue to violet hue. The plate hydrangea can be combined well with the following companion plants

Flower dogwood (Cornus group)

  • Growth height: 120 to 250 cm
  • Growth: bushy, compact
  • Flower color: red, white, pink
  • Flowering time: April to July

Autumn anemone (Anemone hupehensis)

  • Growth height: 50 to 130 cm
  • Growth: bushy, upright
  • Flower color: crimson, pink, white
  • Flowering period: July to October

Purple Bells (Heuchera)

  • Growth height: 15 to 60 cm
  • Growth: upright, bushy
  • Flower color: white, red, pink, cream
  • Flowering period: May to August

Rhododendron (Rhododendron)

  • Growth height: 30 to 400 cm
  • Growth: evergreen shrubs
  • Flower color: blue-violet, violet, white, yellow, pink, red
  • Flowering period: January to August

Sedges (Carex)

Source: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, Carex umbrosa kz02, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Growth height: 5 to 120 cm
  • Growth: herbaceous, rhizomes
  • Flower color: yellowish, green, brown
  • Flowering time: April to June

Velvet hydrangea (H. sargentiana)

This wild form from China loves a sunny to partially shaded location. The small shrub produces white to violet pseudopanicles. These hydrangeas are easy to plant under

Christmas roses (Helleborus niger)

  • Growth height: 10 to 30 cm
  • Growth: herbaceous, clump-forming
  • Flower color: pink, white
  • Flowering period: January to March and November to December

Sweet violet (Viola odorata)

Source: Jörg Hempel, Viola odorata 02, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE
  • Growth height: 10 to 20 cm
  • Growth: rhizomes, herbaceous
  • Flower color: violet
  • Flowering time: March to May

Notice: Purple bells and rhododendrons are also good planting partners for the velvet hydrangea.

Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis)

  • Growth height: 10 to 30 cm
  • Growth: herbaceous, forming rhizomes
  • Flower color: white
  • Flowering time: April to June

Foam Blossom (Tiarella)

  • Growth height: 10 to 20 cm
  • Growth: runners, carpet-forming
  • Flower color: pink, white
  • Flowering time: April to May

Oakleaf Hydrangea (H. quercifolia)

The hydrangea, which comes from North America, loves a spot in the semi-shade. The white flower spikes can grow up to 25 cm long and the foliage resembles that of the American red oak (Quercus rubra). Good neighbors are

Japanese maple (Acer japonicum)

Acer japonicum with autumn leaves
  • Growth height: 100 to 200 cm
  • Growth: well branched, compact
  • Flower color: red, crimson
  • Flowering period: May to June

Cranesbill (Geranium)

Geranium wallichianum
  • Growth height: 15 to 80 cm
  • Growth: herbaceous
  • Flower color: white, violet, blue, magenta, pink
  • Flowering period: June to July

witch hazel (witch hazel)

Hamamelis x intermedia
  • Growth height: 200 to 400 cm
  • Growth: upright, spreading
  • Flower color: dark red, reddish brown, yellow, orange
  • Flowering time: February to March

Tip: Hydrangeas can also be combined well with each other. For example, the plate hydrangea goes well with the farmer's hydrangea.

frequently asked Questions

What should be considered when choosing companion plants?

Of course, these plants must have the same requirements for location and care. The required lighting conditions are decisive. It should also be borne in mind that not every type of plant is suitable for every type of hydrangea.

What demands does a hydrangea place on the location?

Normally they love the penumbra. Some also tolerate full sun. The soil should be moist, rich in nutrients and humus, deep, with a pH between 5 and 6. Hydrangeas have a high water requirement.

Can hydrangeas just be planted under?

Yes. Flowering bulbs and bulbous plants such as tulips, daffodils, snowdrops or crocuses are well suited for this. In addition, ground covers such as ivy (Hedera helix) and Günsel (Ajuga) cut a fine figure.

Category:

Garden plants