Hydrangeas are the star blossoms in the summer garden. With the right planting partners, every hydrangea bed can be transformed into an island of opulence. Important aspects must be taken into account for a representative overall picture. Read this guide for imaginative ideas and useful tips.
Which planting partners harmonize with hydrangeas in the bed?
Companion plants such as magnificent spars, hostas and star umbels for farmer's hydrangeas go well with hydrangeas; Lavender, sage, flame flowers, cockade flowers and girl's eye in panicle hydrangeas; Purple bells, silver bells, hostas, pennisetum grasses and riding grasses in velvet and plate hydrangeas; as well as floribunda, clematis, sedge and boxwood with viburnum hydrangeas.
Which planting partners harmonize with hydrangeas in the bed?
Open your eyes when choosing a partner. This secret of success also applies to a successful combination of hydrangeas and companion plants. Hydrangea species come with different growth forms and location requirements. The popular farmer's hydrangeas prefer apartially shaded location Snowball and panicle hydrangeas also thrive in sunny locations. With their flower shapes, velvet and plate hydrangeas differ significantly from the spherical flowers of their counterparts.
The ideal planting partner for a farmer's hydrangea does not look good next to a plate hydrangea. How to include important selection criteria in the planting plan for hydrangeas in the bed can be found in the following sections.
Which companion plants go well with farmer's hydrangeas?
Planting partners of a farmer's hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) should come to terms with its visual dominance,shade-tolerant, thrive in slightly acidic soil and have a similarly high watering requirement. These perennials meet the requirements:
- Astilbe
- Funkie (Hosta)
- Star umbel (Astrantia)
- As ground cover: large-leaved periwinkle (Vinca major)
What are nice planting partners for panicle hydrangeas?
When choosing a partner for location-tolerant panicle hydrangeas, you have plenty to choose from. With its funnel-shaped growth and sunny disposition, Hydrangea paniculata gives its neighbors plenty of room to develop. Five recommended companion plants in the most important flower colors:
- Blue flowers: Lavender (Lavandula)
- White flowers: Sage 'Snow Hill' (Salvia nemorosa)
- Pink flowers: Tall phlox 'Kirmesländer' (Phlox paniculata)
- Red flowers: cockade flower 'Burgundy' (Gaillardia grandiflora)
- Yellow flowers: Girl's Eye 'Sun Child' (Coreopsis grandiflora)
What goes well with velvet and plate hydrangeas in the bed?
Velvet hydrangeas (Hydrangea aspera) and plate hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) bloom predominantly inpink-red and blue tones With their plate-shaped flowers, these types of hydrangeas appear more discreet than cocky ball hydrangeas. All perennials that do not compete with hydrangeas for the most magnificent flowers join in in perfect harmony. These include these ornamental foliage plants and ornamental grasses:
- Purple bells 'White Cloud' (Heuchera sanguinea)
- Silverbell 'Plum Pudding' (Heuchera micrantha)
- Heartleaf Hosta 'Fire and Ice' (Hosta)
- Pennisetum 'Hameln' (Pennisetum alopecuroide)
- Diamond riding grass (Calamagrostis brachytricha)
- Japanese blood grass 'Red Baron' (Imperata cylindrica)
Which neighbors complement snowball hydrangeas?
The legendary snowball hydrangea 'Annabelle' (Hydrangea arborescens) is predestined for an elegant bed design in white and green. The white-flowering floribunda rose 'Snowflake' and the bright white clematis 'Madame le Coultre' are suitable as companion plants. The white-edged sedge 'Ice Dance' (Carex foliosissima) is useful as a ground cover. The white and green hydrangea bed is stylishly framed by a boxwood hedge.
Tip
Bee-friendly planting partners for hydrangeas
With barren flower balls, garden hydrangeas are a feast for the eyes; Of course, this is a bitter disappointment for bees. Only with the right companion plants does the hydrangea bed become a bee-friendly eye-catcher. Blue-flowering traditional plants include bee friend (Phacelia tanacetifolia), cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) and larkspur (Delphinium). White-flowering bee pastures include lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis) and scented stonewort (Lobularia maritima). Zinnias (Zinnia) and decorative baskets (Cosmos bipinnatus) shine purple.
