Hydrangeas MenuTypes, color, pruning and more

Let ’s Dance Lovable ™ hydrangea . Photo by : Proven winner

Hydrangea ( Hydrangeaspp . ) is one of the most popular ornamental landscape painting plant for its large showy flower psyche that render former - season interest to the landscape . This hardy deciduous bush has an graceful ontogenesis habit , attractive serrated foliage , and long - last bloom that lend structure and color to mixed border , woodland landscapes , substructure planting , and shrub borderline .

This versatile landscape plant pairs well with many other bush , Tree , and perennial . When choosing what to plant with hydrangeas , select fellow that thrive in similar grow condition . Hydrangeas grow best in fond shade with rich , well - draining soil and even body of water . Here are some of the respectable companions to plant with hydrangeas , along with ideas on how to utilize them in your yard .

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HYDRANGEA COMPANION PLANTS

' Dark Side of the Moon ' astilbe . Photo by : Proven winner

ASTILBE (Astilbespp.)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to shade off ; flush unspoilt in partial sunHabit : Upright spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 4 feet tall and wideBloom sentence : Summer

Astilbe is a pop garden plant life with analyze fern - like foliage and showy flower plumes in colors of bloodless , pink or reddish . This hardy herbaceous perennial prefers similar mature conditions to hydrangeas of dappled shade and rich , dampish soil . Plant in a mixed border alongside a pink or livid flowered panicle hydrangea or heap in the landscape . find out astilbe .

Pictured:‘Dark Side of the Moon ' astilbefrom Proven Winners .

Let’s Dance Lovable Hydrangea, Hydrangea Macrophylla
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

Perfecto Mundo ® Double Pink azalea . picture by : Proven winner

AZALEA (Rhododendronspp.)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full Dominicus to fond shade , with auspices from hot afternoon sunHabit : Upright shaggy-haired , undefendable , diffuse or dry land binding habitHeight / Spread:1 to 20 feet tall , 2 to 10 feet across-the-board ; average size of it of 4 to 6 foot tall and wideBloom time : former spring to summer ; some varieties rebloom from summer to fall

This pop outflow - blooming shrub has evergreen plant or deciduous foliage , with Alexander Graham Bell - form bloom in a range of coloring material . Azaleas enjoy the same uprise conditions as hydrangeas of partial spook , rich , acidulent soils , and regular moisture . flora alongside hydrangeas in a woodland or shrub border . Learn azalea bushes .

Pictured : Perfecto Mundo ® Double Pink azaleafrom Proven Winners .

Let’s Dance Lovable Hydrangea, Hydrangea Macrophylla
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

Surefire ® Rose begonia . Photo by : Proven winner

BEGONIA (Begoniaspp.)

geographical zone : Most begonias are hardy in Zones 8 - 11 and are grown as annuals . Hardy begonia survive to USDA Zone 6.Exposure : Partial sun to shadeHabit : Mounding , bushy or upright habitHeight / Spread:6 to 36 inches improbable , 6 to 12 column inch wideBloom clip : former summer to ice

Begonias are grown for their farsighted flush time , cosmetic foliage and versatility in the landscape painting . usually used in containers or as bedding flora , place this shade buff around the base of hydrangea plants for calendar month of continuous color from late leap until rime . Learn begonia .

depict : Surefire ® Rose begoniafrom Proven Winners .

Let’s Dance Lovable Hydrangea, Hydrangea Macrophylla
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL

' Blue Whiskers ' low-spirited fescue . Photo by : Proven Winners

BLUE FESCUE (Festuca glauca)

Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to light shadeHabit : mound clumping habitHeight / Spread:6 to 12 inches tall , 6 to 18 in wideBloom time : Summer

Blue Festuca elatior is a lowly upkeep ornamental Mary Jane , producing summary tussock of blue - greenish foliage that provides year - round sake . The silvery colour and soft grain complement the classical elegance of hydrangea shrubs . Mass juicy fescue grass along a hydrangea border for long - endure colour .

Pictured:‘Blue Whiskers ' bluish fescuefrom Proven Winners .

‘DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’ ASTILBE

Sprinter ® box . exposure by : Proven Winners

BOXWOOD (Buxusspp.)

Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sun to shadeHabit : Mounding or erect habitHeight / Spread:1 to 20 feet tall , 2 to 8 feet wide

Boxwood is an evergreen shrub and a staple of courtly European landscapes , providing structure and background sake . The courtly social organization of neatly clipped Turkish boxwood hedging offers contrast to the looser habit of hydrangea bushes . Use boxwood to edge a hydrangea mete or lend year - bout color in a mixed shrub moulding . see boxwood .

figure : Sprinter ® boxwoodfrom Proven Winners .

‘DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’ ASTILBE

Dolce ® ' Wildberry ' coral bells . Photo by : Proven Winners

CORAL BELLS (Heucheraspp.)

Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Partial sunshine to fond shadeHabit : mound or spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 inch tall , 12 to 30 inches wideBloom clip : belated outpouring to mid - summer

Coral Bell are audacious perennial with attractive evergreen or semi - evergreen foliage in a wide range of colors . flora tolerate a range of a function of growing conditions and flourish in woodland place setting that hydrangeas also favor . Underplant hydrangea with coral bells for uninterrupted color throughout the growing time of year . check coral bells .

project : Dolce ® ' Wildberry ' coral bellsfrom Proven Winners .

‘DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’ ASTILBE

crane’s bill geranium . Photo by : Janet Loughrey

CRANESBILL(Geraniumspp.)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright or low spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 24 inch grandiloquent , 6 to 36 inch wideBloom time : springtime to fall

Cranesbill hardy geranium is a reliable miserable - care perennial that is unremarkably used in formal English - style landscape . The attractive scallop foliage and flowers in coolheaded hues of blank , pink , over-embellished , and gamey provide complementary coloration to hydrangea blooms . flora along the edge of a hydrangea border or around plants to cool the solution geographical zone and suppress smoke . Learn crane’s bill geraniums .

Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' day lily . Photo by : Proven Winners

‘DARK SIDE OF THE MOON’ ASTILBE

DAYLILY (Hemerocallisspp.)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to light shadeHabit : upright piano spreading habitHeight / Spread:1 to 6 feet marvellous , 1 to 4 feet wideBloom time : Late fountain to fall , depending on the miscellany

Daylily is grown for its cornet - regulate efflorescence that come in a spacious array of color and design . This reliable herbaceous perennial blossom in summer around the same time as many hydrangeas , making it a unspoilt companion in mixed borders and bed . The strappy foliage supply pleasing demarcation to the rounded leaves of hydrangea bushes . instruct daylilies .

Pictured : Rainbow Rhythm ® ' Orange Smoothie ' daylilyfrom Proven Winners .

Perfecto Mundo® Double Pink azalea

picture by : Mark Turner

DOGWOOD TREE (Cornusspp.)

Zones:3 - 9 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : upright piano habitHeight / Spread:10 to 40 foot tall and wideBloom prison term : Spring

Flowering dogwood tree is a small deciduous tree with an elegant canopy that provides tone for understory industrial plant including hydrangea . Showy pinkish or white peak appear in saltation for other season color . This popular landscape Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree thrives in standardised conditions to hydrangeas of full sun to partial subtlety and moist , well - draining dirt . determine dogwood tree tree and shrubs .

Photo by : Sophia Changaroon / Shutterstock

Perfecto Mundo® Double Pink azalea

FOXGLOVE (Digitalisspp.)

Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : Upright habitHeight / Spread:2 to 6 foot tall , up to 2 feet wideBloom time : former outpouring to summer

This perennial , biennial , or annual is grown for the tall spires of bell - shaped flowers in shades of white , pinkish , and lavender . The upright spiky habit provides contrast to the rounded form of hydrangea shrubs . Create a companion planting with hydrangeas in a motley border or cottage - style landscape . Learn digitalis .

pic by : Janet Loughrey

Perfecto Mundo® Double Pink azalea

HAKONE GRASS (Hakonechloa macra)

Zones:5 - 9Exposure : fond sun to shadeHabit : Mounding habitHeight / Spread:1 to 2 substructure tall , 2 substructure wideBloom time : Summer ; flowers are insignificant

Hakone grass is one of the few ornamental grasses that thrives in fond shade . Also bonk as Nipponese forest Gunter Wilhelm Grass , the strappy lucky or variegate foliation lights up funny area and beautifully complements the rounded green leaves and blossom color of hydrangeas . Use in a woodland landscape or mass planting in front of hydrangea . teach to spring up Japanese forest grass .

Shadowland ® ' Autumn Frost ' genus Funka . Photo by : Proven Winners

Surefire® Rose begonia

HOSTA (Hostaspp.)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Partial sun to shadeHabit : Mounding spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 to 48 inches improbable , 5 to 60 inches wideBloom time : Summer

Hosta is grown for the bold leafage that make out in an regalia of color , shapes , and patterns . The spreading wont of hosta complement the elegant upright structure of hydrangea . Combine hostas with more shade - tolerant hydrangea varieties towards the front of a motley or woodland border . con hosta plant life .

figure : Shadowland ® ' Autumn Frost ' hostafrom Proven Winners .

Surefire® Rose begonia

Photo by : Philip Bird / Dreamstime

JAPANESE MAPLE (Acerspp.)

Zones:5 - 8Exposure : Partial Dominicus to fond shadeHabit : vertical , spreading , or weep habitHeight / Spread:8 to 30 feet tall and wide

This small to average - sized Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a pop option for Asian - style and formal landscapes , with an elegant structure and dissected leaf that pass in a range of colors . Burgundy or flushed - foliaged varieties lend a pop of demarcation against green hydrangea foliage . Japanese maples revel similar originate conditions to hydrangea of partial nicety and plenteous , dampish soil . study Nipponese maple trees .

JAPANESE PAINTED FERN (Athyrium niponicumvar.pictum)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Partial to full shadeHabit : upright piano arching habitHeight / Spread:8 to 30 feet magniloquent and wide

Ferns are a large companion plant for hydrangea , preferring the same growing weather condition of partial nicety and fertile , moist dirt . Japanese painted fern produces silvery leaf with a lacy social system that counterpoint with the bolder leaves of hydrangeas . Plant underneath hydrangea shrubs or function to butt timberland edge .

exposure by : Proven Winners

Surefire® Rose begonia

JAPANESE PIERIS (Pieris japonica)

Zones:5 - 8Exposure : Full sun to partial shadeHabit : vertical shaggy-coated habitHeight / Spread:3 to 12 feet magniloquent , 3 to 8 feet spacious , depending on the varietyBloom metre : Late wintertime to other spring

Also known as lily - of - the - vale shrub or andromeda , this broadleaf evergreen shrub bring on attend bunch of whitened or pinkish flowers and attractive sheeny foliage . Nipponese pieris is commonly used in Asiatic - trend landscape and woodland perimeter , enjoying like growing conditions to hydrangeas of partial tone and rich , moist dirt . get a line Japanese pieris shrubs .

Pictured : Interstella ® Japanese pierisfrom Proven Winners .

‘Blue Whiskers’ blue fescue

Montana Moss ® Genista raetam . exposure by : Proven Winners

JUNIPER (Juniperusspp.)

Zones:2 - 10 , depending on the varietyExposure : Full sun , with trade protection from hot afternoon sun in hotter climatesHabit : upright piano , spreading , ground cover , or weeping habitHeight / Spread:6 inches to 130 feet tall , 1 to 25 feet wide

conifer cater evergreen contrast to deciduous hydrangea Dubyuh in mixed or shrub borders . Juniper comes in many forms , sizes , and foliage colors to accommodate a range of landscape needs . Use a low priming cover type to butt a hydrangea moulding , or a taller diverseness as a background plant . Learn retem shrubs and trees .

Pictured : Montana Moss ® juniperfrom Proven Winners .

‘Blue Whiskers’ blue fescue

' Silver Carpet ' lamb ’s ear . Photo by : Kristine Rad / Shutterstock

LAMB’S EAR (Stachys byzantina)

Zones:4 - 9Exposure : Full sunHabit : Mounding or spreading habitHeight / Spread:6 to 18 inches tall , 12 to 36 inches extensive

This perennial ground covering fire produces silver leafage with a piano fuzzy texture , hence the common name . industrial plant are virtually carefree once established . The velvety foliage pairs well with hydrangeas as edging for a bush border . Learn lamb ’s ear plants .

Magic Show ® ‘ Purple Illusion ’ spike veronica . Photo by : Proven victor

‘Blue Whiskers’ blue fescue

SPEEDWELL (Veronicaspp.)

Zones:3 - 9Exposure : Full sun to fond shadeHabit : Upright or ground binding habitHeight / Spread:3 to 48 in tall , 18 to 24 inches wideBloom time : Spring to fall , depending on the variety ; some with repeat bloom of youth

Speedwell produces spiky or open - faced flower in tone of white-hot , pinkish , blue , or purple . This carefree perennial is tolerant of dissimilar growing conditions . Place groundcover type underneath hydrangea shrubs or use as edging . marvellous upright multifariousness impart contrast to hydrangeas in assorted borders or mountain planting . Learn speedwell plants .

Pictured : Magic Show ® ‘ Purple Illusion ’ spike speedwellfrom Proven Winners .

Sprinter® boxwood

Double Play Doozie ® spirea . Photo by : Proven Winners

SPIREA (Spiraeaspp.)

Zones:4 - 8Exposure : Full sun to easy shadeHabit : Upright shaggy habitHeight / Spread:2 to 10 feet tall and wideBloom prison term : Spring to fall , reckon on the mixed bag ; some with repeat blush

One of the most versatile flowering landscape painting shrubs , spirea can be used as hedge , in aggregate plantings and shrub molding . This hardy deciduous shrub is nigh devil-may-care once established . Combine amber - foliaged diverseness with bluish - blossom hydrangeas for dramatic contrast . Learn spiraea .

render : twofold Play Doozie ® spireafrom Proven Winners .

Sprinter® boxwood

Little Henry ® sweetspire . Photo by : Proven winner

VIRGINIA SWEETSPIRE (Itea virginica)

Zones:5 - 9Exposure : Full sunlight to partial shadeHabit : Upright arching habitHeight / Spread:2 to 8 feet grandiloquent and wideBloom time : recent spring to mid - summer

Virginia sweetspire is a deciduous shrub grown for the refined arching use and ashen bottle - brush flowers that appear in late spring . make a bush border with sweetspire , hydrangeas , and other shrubs that blossom at different times for season - tenacious people of color . Learn sweetspire .

show : Little Henry ® sweetspire.from Proven Winners .

Sprinter® boxwood

WHAT NOT TO PLANT WITH HYDRANGEAS

Not all plants couple well with hydrangeas . Here are some combination to fend off :

Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ coral bells

Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ coral bells

Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ coral bells

Cranesbill geranium

Cranesbill geranium

Cranesbill geranium

Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Orange Smoothie’ daylily

Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Orange Smoothie’ daylily

Rainbow Rhythm® ‘Orange Smoothie’ daylily

Dogwood tree blooms

Dogwood tree blooms

Dogwood tree blooms

Foxglove flowers

Foxglove flowers

Foxglove flowers

‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass

‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass

‘Aureola’ Japanese forest grass

Shadowland® ‘Autumn Frost’ hosta

Shadowland® ‘Autumn Frost’ hosta

Shadowland® ‘Autumn Frost’ hosta

Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple

Acer palmatum, Japanese Maple

Japanese painted fern

Japanese painted fern

Japanese painted fern

Japanese Pieris

Japanese Pieris

Japanese Pieris

Montana Moss® juniper

Montana Moss® juniper

Montana Moss® juniper

‘Silver Carpet’ lamb’s ear

‘Silver Carpet’ lamb’s ear

‘Silver Carpet’ lamb’s ear

Magic Show® ‘Purple Illusion’ spike speedwell

Magic Show® ‘Purple Illusion’ spike speedwell

Magic Show® ‘Purple Illusion’ spike speedwell

Double Play Doozie® spirea

Double Play Doozie® spirea

Double Play Doozie® spirea

Little Henry® sweetspire

Little Henry® sweetspire

Little Henry® sweetspire

Let’s Dance Lovable Hydrangea, Hydrangea Macrophylla
Proven Winners
Sycamore, IL