What Grows with Hydrangeas?

Evergreen Shrubs

• Add multi-season interest and a green backdrop to the planting area with evergreens such as winter daphne or holly. Winter daphne boasts growing requirements that are similar to that of hydrangeas -- areas that receive partial shade and have moist, well-drained soil. Winter daphne blooms in late winter and early spring with rosy-pink, fragrant flowers. Foliage is shiny and deep-green, providing year-round color to the planting area. Holly also provides visual interest throughout the year and prefers moist, well-drained soil. Hollies grow well in locations that receive morning sun and afternoon shade, although they will also grow in areas that receive full sunlight.

Perennials with Attractive Foliage

• Select perennials with colorful leaves to compliment the showy blossoms of the hydrangea. Hostas, for example, are renowned for their attractive foliage and prefer morning sun with afternoon shade. Size differs among the 2,500 cultivars available, ranging from a diameter of a few inches to 8 feet wide. Japanese spirea also boasts colorful foliage, with leaf colors that include bronze, bluish-green, burgundy, chartreuse or red, depending on the variety. Japanese spirea will grow well in partial shade, but flowers more profusely and displays more colorful leaves when planted in full sunlight. These are best planted with hydrangea varieties (such as Peegee hydrangeas) that prefer sunny spots in the garden.

Flowering Perennials

• More than 10,000 different varieties of azaleas exist, most of which bloom during spring and summer. Some varieties bloom during late summer and early fall. Succulent foliage and star-shaped flowers characterize the low-maintenance sedum. Sedums can be planted in locations that receive light shade to full sun. Flowers bloom from summer through fall in shades of gold, yellow, pink, red and white. Plants grow to varying heights, depending on the cultivar, and can be used as border plants (low-growing varieties) or specimens to compliment hydrangeas (taller varieties). Select plants that bloom at similar times as hydrangea, or stagger bloom times to extend the flowering time of your garden bed.

Border Plants

• Use colorful, smaller perennials in borders or edges near hydrangeas. Select plants that bloom with complimentary or contrasting colors, depending on your garden style. Coral Bells (heuchera) and astilbe flourish in growing conditions similar to hydrangeas. Coral Bells blooms with small, bell-shaped flowers in vibrant shades of white, pink, coral and red during June and sporadically through the summer. Coral Bells grows to heights of approximately 1 foot. Astilbe grows to average heights of 1 to 5 feet, depending on the cultivar and blooms for two to six weeks throughout the summer. Flowers feature vibrant shades of lavender, violet, scarlet, purple, pink, cream or white.