13 Stunning Plants to Pair with Hydrangeas for a More Vibrant Garden Display

While hydrangeas often take center stage in the garden, selecting the right plants to complement them can feel like a challenge. Should you go for something classic like a lilac or butterfly bush, or try a completely new combination? We consulted with experts to find the best companion plants that will help your hydrangeas thrive and produce even more vibrant blooms for years to come.

Expert Tips for Selecting the Right Companion Plants for Your Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas make a bold statement in any garden with their oversized blooms and expansive leaves. Their eye-catching presence can dominate a landscape, so it’s important to pair them with plants that complement rather than compete with their grandeur. As Katie Tamony, Chief Marketing Officer and trend analyst at Monrovia, advises, "Look for plant varieties that add to, rather than distract from, the beauty of hydrangea."

Opt for plants that share similar light and water needs

If your companion plant has different water or sunlight preferences than your hydrangea, keeping both thriving in the same spot becomes challenging. Choose plants that thrive in partial sun and require consistent moisture. Alternatively, you can position your hydrangea where it enjoys partial sunlight, while the companion plant thrives in either more shade or full sun.

Curate your color palette carefully

If you're leaning towards a monochromatic scheme—say, pairing a hydrangea with pink blooms—consider selecting a slightly lighter or darker shade, or adding flowers with different textures. For example, the feathery, spiky blooms of astilbe create a striking contrast with the rounded, globe-like shape of hydrangea flowers.

For a striking contrast, consider pairing a vibrant hot pink petunia with the soft, cool green of a limelight hydrangea. This bold combination can really make both plants stand out in your garden.

Consider the size and scale of your plants

When selecting companion plants for your hydrangea, it’s important to consider the final size of your hydrangea and choose a plant that complements it in scale. For instance, a large hydrangea like an oak tree variety should be paired with similarly large plants, such as smaller trees, to maintain balance in your garden.

Choose plants that appeal to you

While certain plants are popular choices to grow next to hydrangeas, there's no reason you can't plant your personal favorites. As Lorraine Ballato, master gardener and author of Success With Hydrangeas, A Gardener's Guide, wisely says, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so there's no such thing as a bad pairing." "What I like may be awful to your taste."

1. Astilbe

For those seeking a bit of textural variety, pairing the spiky texture of astilbe with the soft, rounded blooms of hydrangea is an excellent choice for garden design. Astilbe thrives in shadier areas and comes in colors that harmonize beautifully with the classic shades of hydrangeas, such as pinks, purples, and blues.

Sun: Partial to full—but shade-tolerantWater: Keep the soil consistently moistZones: 3-8

2. Japanese Forest Grass

With its vibrant green color and spiky texture, this dense grass makes an excellent pairing with your hydrangeas—especially the macrophylla varieties, according to Ballato. Plus, it’s incredibly low-maintenance: "It's practically bulletproof."

Sun: PartialWater: Keep the soil consistently moistZones: 4-9

3. Daylilies

The bold, vibrant hues of daylilies—ranging from red, orange, and yellow to purple and pink—offer a striking contrast to the softer tones of hydrangeas (imagine a bright orange daylily paired with a pale blue hydrangea). With similar care requirements to hydrangeas, daylilies bloom at the same time, creating a continuous color show all summer long.

Sun: Full or partial shadeWater: Keep soil moistZones: 3-10

4. Hellebore

When selecting plants to accompany hydrangeas, it's helpful to choose varieties that bloom at slightly different times to lengthen your flowering period. As Tamony explains, "Plants that bloom earlier than hydrangeas, such as hellebores, are fantastic choices for extended blooms." Hellebores typically flower in the cooler months, from December to April, providing beautiful, long-lasting blooms that lead into the hydrangea season.

Sun: Partial to full shade during summer, full sun during winterWater: Keep soil consistently moistZones: 3-9

5. Echinacea

Echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, is a beloved choice for pollinator gardens. Its bright, sun-kissed petals provide a vibrant contrast to the rounded, full clusters of hydrangeas. These perennial plants thrive in sunny locations, so ensure you place them where they can bask in the sunlight.

Sun: Prefers full to partial sunlight Water: Enjoys drier conditions Zones: 3-8

6. Ferns

Ferns bring a unique texture to gardens when paired with hydrangeas. Preferring the shade, these plants thrive beneath hydrangeas or nearby trees, creating a lush, verdant ground cover.

Sun: Prefers partial shade Water: Keep soil consistently moist Zones: 2-10

7. Heuchera

If you're in search of vibrant foliage to accentuate your hydrangeas, heuchera is an excellent option. Its striking colors provide a beautiful contrast to the bright green hydrangea leaves and flowers. Tamony suggests pairing darker hydrangea varieties, such as Blue Enchantress, with deeper-colored heuchera varieties like Sirens' Song Dark Night for an added visual impact.

Sun: Prefers partial to full shade in summer, but enjoys sunlight in winter Water: Keep the soil consistently moist Zones: 4a-9a

8. Hosta

Hostas are a go-to plant for shady areas, and Ballato especially recommends pairing them with hydrangea serrata. The delicate lavender flowers of hostas provide a lovely complement to the vibrant blooms of hydrangeas.

Sun: Thrives in full to partial shade Water: Keep the soil moist Zones: 3-9

9. Phlox Paniculata

Phlox features large blossoms that resemble the clustered formation of hydrangeas, making it an ideal choice to complement your hydrangea bush. Available in similar hues of pink, purple, and white, it can enhance your garden’s color palette. Ballato recommends combining them with both daylilies and hydrangeas for a harmonious look.

Sun: Prefers full to partial sunlight Water: Keep soil consistently moist Zones: 4-8

10. Clematis

Vines, such as clematis, can create a striking background for your hydrangeas when trained to grow on a trellis behind them. The vibrant blooms and dense foliage of clematis, which come in shades of purple, pink, white, red, and blue, introduce an added layer of drama to your garden's design.

Sun: Prefers full sunlight Water: Keep the soil consistently moist Zones: 4-9

11. Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce

Hydrangeas lose both their foliage and appeal during the winter months, but placing an evergreen near them ensures there's still beauty and vibrancy in the cold season. A dwarf blue spruce makes a wonderful companion to oakleaf hydrangeas.

Sun: Prefers full sunlight Water: Keep the soil moist Zones: 2-7

12. Petunias

While perennials are often considered ideal companions for hydrangeas, annuals also offer a fantastic way to introduce vibrant colors and refresh your garden each year. These annuals can complement the enduring beauty of hydrangeas. Ballato particularly appreciates the bold, sun-loving annuals as a striking contrast to the white blooms of panicle hydrangeas.

Sun: Full sunlight Water: Keep soil consistently moist Zones: 10-11 (as a perennial)

13. Various Hydrangea Species

If you're a hydrangea enthusiast, why limit yourself to just one variety? Both Ballato and Tamony enjoy curating expansive hydrangea gardens. As Tamony wisely puts it, "The power of planting hydrangeas in large groups is often underestimated." A cluster of hydrangeas can become an impressive hedge or act as a focal point in your garden. Ballato suggests pairing taller hydrangeas, such as hydrangea arborescens, with hydrangea macrophylla for a balanced effect.

Sun: Partial to full
Water: Keep the soil consistently moist
Zones: 5-9