Azaleas are originally forest dwellers, but they can now be found in more and more gardens and impress with their splendor of flowers and their evergreen foliage. Not many other plants meet your requirements. Which ones can you combine them with?
What factors should you consider when combining azaleas?
Before you look for beautiful partners for your azalea, you should consider the following factors:
- Flower color: white, yellow, orange or red
- Flowering time: March to May
- Location requirements: partially shaded, acidic and humus substrate
- Growth height: up to 150 cm
Azaleas do not like to be exposed to direct sunlight, but prefer to be under sparse treetops. Your companion plants should be able to handle it. Sun worshipers are therefore not suitable planting partners for azaleas. Likewise, azaleas should not be combined with lime-loving plants.
There are dwarf azaleas that only grow to a height of 40 cm, but there are also specimens that can grow up to 150 cm. Make the choice of planting partners dependent on the height of growth to be achieved.
Also, consider the blooming time of the azaleas and the color they produce during that time. Ideally, this should harmonize with those of the companion plants.
Combine azaleas in the bed or in the pot
Plants that hold back their flowers or at least don't bloom at the same time are suitable for azaleas. This also includes foliage plants such as hostas and ferns. Combinations with light trees such as pine trees are also very popular as they provide shade for the azaleas. First of all, keep in mind that the companion plants should be able to accommodate the location requirements of the azaleas.
These specimens, among others, go fantastically with azaleas:
- Astilbene
- Funkia
- Pines
- Ferns such as sword fern, rib fern and peacock fern
- Golden Nettles
- Columbines
- hydrangeas
Combine azaleas with hydrangeas
Both hydrangeas and azaleas like an acidic substrate. In addition, both plants do not like to be exposed to direct sunlight, but prefer to be in partial shade. Also convincing: Since the azaleas bloom early, there is no color overload with the hydrangeas, which only bloom in summer.
Combine azaleas with golden nettle
This association has proven itself. The golden nettle fits nicely as a ground cover at the foot of the azalea. There it protects the azalea from drying out. Its pretty leaves make the azalea decorative from below, while in spring the azalea can devote itself entirely to presenting its flowers.
Combining Azaleas with Peacock Orb Fern
To underline the forest character of the azalea, you can combine it with the peacock wheel fern. This prefers a similar location to the azalea and does not steal the show when it is blooming. It is best to place this fern slightly offset in front of the azalea so that both plants can easily come into view.
Combine azaleas as a bouquet in a vase
In spring, azaleas provide exceptional color intensity in the bouquet. Compositions with similarly or very simply colored flowers therefore look visually pleasant. Otherwise the bouquet in the vase will appear too colorful and intrusive. For example, white azaleas can be wonderfully combined with pink peonies or red tulips. Delicate columbines form the missing delicate counterpart.
- Columbines
- Tulips
- Peonies
- Daffodils
