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The genus Hydrangea provides an excellent alternative for roses due to their low criminal maintenance demand and unusual trait .
Like roses , hydrangea ( especiallyHydrangea serrata ) are used in tea and are consider to have wellness benefits in many cultures .
Unlike rose wine , the most plebeian hydrangea mintage can change color .
This fascinating phenomenon often occur inHydrangea macrophyllaandHydrangea serrata , and is associate to soil acidity level .
But something else unusual about hydrangeas is their consumption in companion planting .
Unlike most plant , companion planting ( or complimentary gardening ) is rarely done to minify care on a bed .
rather , fellow planting make on a far more aesthetic economic value for hydrangea .
But if this is the case , what are excellent hydrangea familiar plants ?
What Are The Best Hydrangea Plant Companions?
There ’s something to be said for picking good familiar with hydrangeas .
Here are the reasons why the unconscious process is strange , as well as a bunch of plants that work really well with hydrangea .
Unusual Circumstances
unremarkably , companion planting is based on group plants together so that each plant provides some health benefits to others in the grouping .
This is n’t the case with hydrangeas , however .
Due to their generally large size of it , many common comrade plant would be unable to grow alongside a hydrangea .
rather , there are 3 major aspects to be considered when fellow plant in this case :
Note that this list does n’t admit pest or disease control , normally important aspects of companion planting .
However , pollination is an important factor for rather unusual reasons .
Hydrangeas And Pollinators
The relationship between hydrangeas and pollinator is a rum one .
The great panicles of flowers you see are pure decoration , with the prolific flowers being small , white , and unremarkable ( hidden beneath the more colorful display ) .
Most hydrangeas provide a veritable fete for bees . Still , many cultivars ( the most common in garden ) are sterile , which forage bee will quickly pick up on and disport their beehive mates out from .
As a result , industrial plant that attract pollinator are some of the crucial companions you may add to a hydrangea bottom .
Related : When Should You Deadhead Hydrangeas ?
Excellent Hydrangea Companions
The following plant work well with hydrangea , fulfilling at least two of the 3 criteria for an first-class hydrangea associate and develop in the same conditions as the hydrangea plant .
Astilbe (Astilbe spp.)
With lacy leaves and spiky flowers , astilbe are quite the contrast to hydrangeas , supply a lot of great visual appeal to the bed .
As they ’re tone lovers , they grow really well alongside bush plants , with the tall varieties being great intermixture in with the hydrangea .
The regular - sized ones figure out well in the front row , where their summer - long blooms can flourish from the more dappled sunshine .
Azalea (Rhododendronsubsp.Azaleastrum)
When talking aesthetics , it does n’t get much near than a combined bed of azalea and hydrangeas .
azalea blossom all spring , beginning to fade just as the hydrangeas start their summer - foresighted blooming rhythm .
Another advantage of these plants is their resistance to insect pests , which can carry over to protect the hydrangea to some degree .
Campanula (Campanulaspp.)
When plant in a manner that yield them the same full sun as hydrangeas , the two flora exploit astonishingly well together .
Campanulas ( a type of campanula ) boom in the same condition as hydrangeas and have summertime - farseeing blooms that set about in June .
Pair the two plant up for the best result with complimentary bloom colors .
Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
As any flowerbed aficionado knows , the honest wager are planted in row , with the tallest plants to the back ( or in the eye , if the bed is round ) and the smallest serving as boundary line .
That said , dogwoods depart in size of it , with the smaller ones enjoying the full break of day sun and light-colored afternoon refinement , while the tall unity avail to give your hydrangea a routine of that nicety .
Another great vantage to dogwoods is that they bloom in May through June , make them a gross lead - in for hydrangea ’s summer video display .
Fern
fern are rattling shade - lovers with delicate lacy fronds , providing intricate groundcover around taller plants such as hydrangea .
As a bonus , many specie of fern are edible , helpenrich the filth , or even remove toxins from the land , such as arsenic .
Heuchera (Heuchera spp.)
Now here ’s a companion plant with a mass of versatility .
well roll in the hay as coral bells , the plant is an excellent groundcover and is often grow just for the foliage .
There are around 37 accepted species , but cross are quite common within the genus and a few cultivar .
What makes these such great fellowship to hydrangea are high adaptability , primer coat - level protection for your hydrangea ’s roots in wintertime ( heucheras are evergreen ) , and ( when they bloom ) magniloquent , thin spike that really compliment the rounded hydrangea rosiness .
Hosta (Hosta spp.)
Funka are one of the most popular ornamental shrubs out there for indoor and outdoor planting , and with proficient reasonableness .
These shade - bonk plants run outstanding around the stem of your hydrangea and add surplus visual grain to the bed .
The only downside is that deer love to crunch on them , so you should plant deer - repellent plants in front of ( or among ) the hostas to forfend having your hydrangeas nibble on .
Nepeta (Nepeta spp.)
More ordinarily known as catmint , genus Nepeta attracts plenitude of pollinators , not to observe the silvery gullible foliage and summer - prospicient purple spike flowers .
imbed these in front of your hydrangea where the sunshine can give them , and you ’ll be rewarded by a pleasant minty smell that may help revolt some blighter .
Veronica (Veronica spp.)
For a genus containing more than 500 coinage , Veronica is greatly underappreciated .
The leafage form in pocket-sized mounds , making it a cracking foreground plant for hydrangeas .
The summertime - farseeing bloom spikes compliment ball - shaped hydrangea panicles even more telling .
Other Great Companions
We could go on all day about plants that go groovy with hydrangeas , but here ’s a quick sampling of some inters deserving noting :
