Best Companion Plants for Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas' big, romantic blooms pair beautifully with evergreens and flowering plants. Companion choices depend on your climate and soil pH adjustments for hydrangea color. Hydrangea is hardy to USDA Zone 8, but buds may be harmed below 30°F.

Black-Eyed Susan

Yellow-orange wildflowers contrast strikingly with hydrangea's soft blooms. Hydrangeas prefer less sun than Susans. Plant hydrangea near the house for afternoon shade, Susans out front for full sun.

Aconitum (Monkshood)

Purple-flowered perennial with stalks. Loves the same moist, acidic soil as hydrangea. Very hardy, blooms into late fall. Highly toxic—fatal if ingested.

Baptisia (False Indigo)

Low-growing with tall flowering spikes in yellow, white, or blue. Blooms early spring, stalks to 12 inches. Attractive with hydrangea.

Inkberry

Medium evergreen shrub, one of few that thrives in wet soil. Hydrangea works well planted in front of it for greenery contrast.

Select companions that share moisture and soil preferences for a harmonious, thriving planting.