Plants that Should (and Should Not) Be Planted Next to Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are fast becoming the preferred summer-to-fall-blooming perennial in gardening zones 3-9, and for good reasons: They bloom profusely in a variety of colors, adapt to a variety of soil types, and require very little maintenance. But…you can’t really go crazy planting around them. Why not?

• Watering needs. Hydrangeas require BUCKETS of water at least every other day—particularly bigleaf and smooth varieties. So, any companion plants need the same watering and draining conditions. Think: ferns, violets, nasturtium. NOT: herbs, lamb’s ear, epimedium, lavender.
• Sun tolerance. No matter what your tags read, hydrangeas are never happy in full, unrelenting Southern sun. They are part-sun, part-shade lovers—and they’re even fussy about time of day, craving limited morning sun and afternoon shade. So, look for companion plants, like begonias, hellebores, hostas. NOT: marigolds, phlox, lantana.
• Mature size. Even the “dwarf” or “little” hydrangea varieties like to spread out to three or four feet when they bloom. And the regular size? 6 x 6 or more! So, you don’t want companion plants covered up by this showy shrub. Consider low-growing plants, like coral bells, lily of the valley, brunnera. NOT: phlox, anemone, cardinal flower.
  ​
  

With just a little research, your hydrangeas and companion plants can happily co-exist for maximum summer beauty. Consider experimenting with annuals first, then invest in perennials for long-term satisfaction.