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Hydrangeas are hardy recurrent climber or shrubs which are wide have it away and grown in gardens across the UK .
Though their needs can vary by type , they loosely grow best in part shade – and in a growing medium that is kept moist but is not allowed to become waterlogged .
With this in mind , most hydrangea companion plants will need to tolerate moist but well - run out soil and part Sunday .
In this guide , we share nineteen companions for you to imbed alongside your hydrangea that will not only boom in the same surround – they ’ll add cosmetic ( and often practical ) value .
1) Chinese Astilbe
If it ’s a bright raiment of summer colouring material you ’re looking for , astilbe are a great choicefor planting next to hydrangea .
Taiwanese astilbe develop bright pinkish blooms on upright stems that are said to resemble the iconic look of a Capricorn ’s whiskers .
They can attain up to 1 m tall and their spiky flowers will create a extremely interesting line when companion planted next to or in front ofa shrubby or climbing hydrangea .
A low - maintenance and hardy plant life , astilbe will perform well in many areas of your garden with slight precaution , so it ’s a groovy choice if you are new to gardening or just desire to originate something that is a little easier than some others on this tilt .
2) Snapdragons
Snapdragonsare beautiful plant most - often grown as annuals that come in a all-inclusive variety of colours from smart pinks to more dull creams .
Their huge range of mountains of colour works great as you may prefer one that is right for pairing with your hydrangea .
They are frost - tender plants and are unlikely to repay the following year if you found them directly into the ground , so if you ’re looking for a more lasting feature , grow them in a skunk with your hydrangea and move the exhibit to a warmer location during the winter months .
These gorgeous plants do well in a sheltered site that receive full Dominicus .
3) Purple Cranesbill
If you want to create a low - maintenance display , purple cranesbill is anotherhardy perennialto view .
With purple star - regulate flowers growing in abundance from stem up to 1 m tall , this flora will partner off brightly with most varieties of hydrangea and will help to put on a visually striking summertime show .
This perennial is loose to handle for and will cope well in most soils and growing positions – perfect as a companion for that blot in thecorner of your gardenthat other plants ca n’t allow .
4) Common Box
genus Buxus sempervirens , also known as ‘ Box ’ or ‘ Boxwood ’ , is a belittled tree diagram or shrub that can grow up to 8 m high and wide – and whichproduces tiny yellow flowersin the spring .
This evergreen shrub is fearless and tolerant of a range of rise shape , create it a great choice for plant with your hydrangea shrubs .
The green foliation will provide a arresting backdrop to any coloured blooms and can even be pruned into different frame count on whether your garden presentation are more schematic or not .
In the organization above you’re able to see the consumption of Marigolds to add shining , attending - grabbing colour alongside a bombastic shrubby Box and a Panicled hydrangea shrub .
5) Lamb’s Ear
If you ’re looking for a good ground masking plant that can grow well in similar conditions to your hydrangeas , ‘ Lamb ’s Ear ’ is an option to think .
Withsilvery foliageand clusters of regal flowers that grow on upright stems , this evergreen plant is a great alternative for any summertime flower bed .
Much like boxwood , the leaves will play as a decent backdrop for your hydrangea blooms , whilst the summertime flowers it produces will lend a bit of colour to the bottom of your garden beds or border .
6) Cape Jasmine
Although this is a frost - tender plant , cape jasminecan look endearing when growing against a trellis or wallnext to climbing hydrangeas , with stunning superstar - forge white bloom appearing in the summertime and autumn months .
You could opt for growing this gorgeous evergreen plant as an yearly , but I would commend growing it in a bay window with a more tender hydrangea variety .
This direction , you could relish the display in the summertime calendar month outside ; then move the container inside your home or a heated greenhouse when the first frosts hit .
7) Coral Bells
Another summer flowering plant , Coral Bellsis actually commonly grown for its foliage rather than its beautiful red bell - shaped flush .
Its lobed leave can total in specter of purplish , green or red depending on the variety and will last throughout most of the year , making it a great pick to plant around hydrangea for some leafy stake .
As you may see in the double above , it makes sentiency to grow Heuchera in a shaded area where you require to cover a good amount of land .
8) Red-Barked Dogwood
Dogwoodis a pop bush ( also grown as a tree diagram ) here in the UK ; popular for its cherry-red stems that provide a splash of colour even in the winter when the rest of the plant has buy the farm back .
This multifariousness is a fully hardy perennial that produces lovely creamy flowers throughout the first one-half of the yr , which are followed by blank berries in the autumn .
genus Cornus albagrows up to 4 K in stature and spread – and could provide some much - needed shade for your hydrangea plants if grown behind them .
9) Lily Of The Valley Bush
With white Alexander Bell - mould flower that look in clusters in the spring , Pieris japonica , or the‘Lily of the Valley ’ bush , is another hardy shrub that can cast occasional shade on your hydrangea to aid them fly high .
This delightful evergreen will grow best in acidic dirt , with the blue blooms of your ericaceous hydrangea create a complementary display when twin with this intermediate - sized shrub .
Lily of the valley is also great for container cultivation but will want to be planted in a expectant kitty if you require to grow hydrangea alongside it .
Because it is rhizomatous and tight - dissemination , it is broadly speaking advised to grow it in container anyway , so this should n’t be too much of a digression from how this plant is traditionally grown here in the UK .
10) Catmint
Nepeta cataria , or catmint , is a colourful perennial that has clusters of colourful flowers that appear in the summertime and fall months .
Their prime are not just a delight for you and your garden , but for the pollinators that you wish to attract as well .
Beloved by bee , catmint farm well in similar conditions to hydrangeas , attain it a wonderful companion to grow in a low - care planting scheme .
Just ensure this industrial plant receives plenty of sun , as , unlike hydrangea , it does not cope well with too much tone .
11) Japanese Maple
The first ‘ proper ’ tree diagram on this list , theJapanese Maplegrows up to 8 m in height and bed covering ; can grapple well in the same maturate shape as hydrangeas and provide tint for them on summer days where the Dominicus is perhaps a piddling too strong .
This industrial plant produces beautifulred leaf that last until fall , returning again after the worst of the cold weather is over in the other spring .
I love the Japanese maple for its typical leafage – and it ’s gross for gardens that perhaps do n’t have the sizing for a big specimen but are still concerned in growing a tree diagram .
12) Garden Speedwell
A great pick for a wildlife - friendly garden , speedwell is a hardy perennialthat produces bloom on unsloped stems .
These flowers will appear in summer and will look expectant when companion planted with the frilly blooms of hydrangea bush .
This plant looks quitesimilar to lavender , but the flower are more of a blueish shade and , unlike the sun - bang , drouth - tolerant herb , garden speedwell is much less finicky and ( arguably ) easy to grow .
As speedwell is quite versatile , you may spring up it as a hedgerow or in your garden bed or borders – it can adjust to suit the positioning of your existing hydrangea .
13) Common Foxglove
produce flowers that grow on upright stanch up to 2.5 m tall , foxgloves are an challenging choiceto plant life alongside hydrangeas in a traditional bungalow garden or in a more natural planting scheme .
“ I have found foxglove to be surprisingly various in combining with many different type and style of planting , from timberland areas to herbaceous borders , to more formal planting , ” portion out Horticultural Consultant Colin Skelly .
“ Because it self - seeds freely , it should always be potential to either glean the seeds or seedlings to keep it going . ”
These unfussy plantsgrow well in shadeand will thrive in conditions interchangeable to hydrangeas .
You may consider grow them as companions in a container as picture in the range above .
Just be cognisant that these plants are dead - hold out biennials and will only last for two years – one of which will be dormant without any flowering .
you’re able to plant them on alternating geezerhood and admit them to self - seed if you ’d like them to flower every year alongside hydrangeas in your garden .
14) Japanese Pittosporum
Pittosporum tobira , more often referred to as ‘ Japanese Pittosporum ’ is a half - hardyshrub that bring out dainty white flowersin the anatomy of stars in the springiness and summertime ; which will make a quality share to your efflorescence displays .
The dark leavesfrom this shrubare not only a great backcloth for their own bloom but will move as a nice support for the lovely colouring material of your hydrangea bloom .
This various plant can be spring up as a hedge or in your border and beds , only attain 4 mebibyte in height with around half the spreading .
15) Eulalia
Eulalia is a gravid choice if you want your hydrangeas to be the stars of the show .
Although it can get up to 4 m in height , this repeated pasture bring forth wan creamy flowers that will really help accentuate the beautiful flower of a shrub .
As long as Eulalia go raft of sunlight , it is a comparatively gentle plant to care for once planted out .
16) Vase Vine
Possibly my preferent pick on this listing , Clematis viorna , or the ‘ Vase Vine ’ , is a deciduous climber that can be companion planted with a climb hydrangea against a bulwark or a trellis .
This clematis variety thrives in fond shadejust like hydrangea and produces stunning pink and purple bell - shaped flowers from April to September .
These small flowers would provide a little pop of colouration to complement the hydrangea ’s gorgeous anthesis clusters .
If you have a trellis or structure behind your bush or borderline then consider this Clematis miscellany a true pick .
17) Siebold’s Plantain Lily
Perfect for a particularly fishy spot , hostas are brave perennialsthat will make a capital addition to many planting schemes .
This particular cultivar , Hosta sieboldiana , produces large , heart - shaped , green leave-taking that have wavy veins and edges .
If you want a industrial plant that will hold its own whilst highlighting and showing off any surrounding blooms , this big - foliation plant is emphatically deserving regard .
18) Blue Fescue
Blue Fescue is the 2d sens - like plant on this list , and , just like Eulalia , is great for pairing with ( and complementing ) hydrangeas .
With silvery - blue and green foliage , this evergreen plant is great forplanting in garden bordersor for fill space in your garden beds .
It is a relatively unfussy plant life , but it does require plentitude of sunniness , so verify you do n’t plant it in an sphere that is too shaded .
19) Common Yew
To finish off this tilt , I ’ve chosen a large tree diagram that is often used for hedge – the vulgar yew .
This tree can reach over 12 MiB in height but can be pruned and forge to your preferred meridian .
As a fully hardy , grim - maintenance evergreen , this is the best planted behind hydrangeas as a sensational background to its beautiful peak .
With gorgeous flushed Chuck Berry appear in fall , this cone-bearing treeis genuinely a delight and would make a brilliant addition to any existing efflorescence display .
