Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp. is one of the most popular ornamental plants for landscaping because it has big, showy flower heads that add interest to the yard in the late summer. This tough deciduous shrub has a beautiful growth habit, pretty serrated leaves, and flowers that last for a long time. It adds structure and color to mixed borders, woodland landscapes, foundation plantings, and shrub borders.
This versatile landscape plant pairs well with many other shrubs, trees, and perennials. When choosing what to plant with hydrangeas, select companions that thrive in similar growing conditions. Hydrangeas grow best in partial shade with rich, well-draining soil and regular water. These plants go well with hydrangeas, and here are some ideas for how to use them in your yard.
Zones 3–9: Full sun to partial shade; flowers best in partial sun. Habit: Spreads out straight. Height: 1 to 4 feet tall and wide. Bloom time: Summer.
Astilbe is a popular garden plant with fern-like leaves that are cut up and showy flower plumes that can be white, pink, or red. This hardy herbaceous perennial prefers similar growing conditions to hydrangeas of dappled shade and rich, moist soil. Plant in a mixed border alongside a pink or white flowered panicle hydrangea or mass in the landscape. Learn more about growing astilbe.
Plants can grow in full sun to partial shade, but they need to be out of the hot afternoon sun. They can be upright, bushy, open, spreading, or ground cover. They can be 1 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 10 feet wide, but most are 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. They bloom from early spring to summer, and some varieties bloom again in the fall.
This popular spring-blooming shrub has evergreen or deciduous foliage, with bell-shaped flowers in a range of colors. Azaleas enjoy the same growing conditions as hydrangeas of partial shade, rich, acidic soils, and regular moisture. Plant alongside hydrangeas in a woodland or shrub border. Learn more about growing azalea bushes.
Zones: Most begonias are hardy in Zones 8-11 and are grown as annuals. Hardy begonias survive to USDA Zone 6. Full sun to partial shade. Mounding, bushy, or upright growth form. 6 to 36 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. Blooms from early summer to frost.
Begonias are grown for their long bloom time, decorative foliage and versatility in the landscape. This shade-loving plant is often used in pots or as bedding plants. For months of color from late spring until frost, put it around the base of hydrangeas. Learn more about growing begonias.
The little lime hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Jane’) is a gorgeous addition to any garden with its lime-green colored blooms and dark green foliage. Reaching 3-5 feet tall and wide, this compact shrub looks beautiful planted in beds and containers. While little lime hydrangeas can be grown solo, pairing them with companion plants helps draw more pollinators and adds visual interest.
When choosing companion plants, select ones with similar growing conditions to little lime hydrangeas. These flowers thrive in moist, well-draining soil and need partial sun, ideally morning sun and afternoon shade. The following perennials, grasses, and shrubs make excellent companions that complement little lime hydrangeas beautifully:
Helenium
Also called sneezeweed, helenium produces clusters of brightly colored daisy-like blooms from early summer to fall. The flowers come in shades of yellow, orange, bronze, and mahogany. Helenium grows 2-4 feet tall and spreads 1-2 feet wide. It thrives in moist soil and partial shade. The bold colors of helenium look striking next to the soft green hues of little lime hydrangeas.
Sedum
Known as stonecrop, sedum is a drought-tolerant groundcover that grows 6-18 inches tall. Its succulent leaves come in various shapes like round, spoon-shaped, or spiraled. Sedum flowers bloom in summer and early fall in white, pink, red, and yellow. Plant sedum around little lime hydrangeas for texture contrast. The low-growing sedum also helps suppress weeds.
Hakonechloa
An ornamental grass, hakonechloa or Hakone grass has graceful, arching foliage that sways gently in the breeze. Growing 1-3 feet tall and wide, it has bamboo-like leaves striped with white, pink, and green variations. Plant hakonechloa behind little lime hydrangeas as an attractive backdrop that sways and rustles.
Monarda
Commonly called bee balm monarda produces dense fuzzy flowers in summer that attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Monarda grows 2-4 feet tall and spreads 1-3 feet wide. It thrives in moist soil and partial shade. Choose a red or purple monarda variety to complement little lime hydrangeas.
Echinacea
Also known as coneflower, echinacea is a daisy-like perennial that blooms from early to late summer. Its colorful flowers come in white, pink, red, orange, yellow, and purple. Echinacea grows 2-4 feet tall with a 1-2 foot spread. It tolerates drought well once established. The bright coneflowers pair nicely with the lime green blooms of hydrangeas.
Rudbeckia
A classic perennial, black-eyed Susan or rudbeckia produces cheerful yellow flowers with dark brown centers. It blooms from midsummer to early fall and grows 1-3 feet tall and wide. Rudbeckia thrives in average to dry soil and full sun to partial shade. The bold yellow blossoms provide a nice contrast to the soft green hydrangea blooms.
Spirea
For a shrub companion, consider spirea. These spring-blooming shrubs produce frothy clusters of white or pink flowers. There are many dwarf spirea varieties that grow 3-5 feet tall and wide. They thrive in moist soil and tolerate partial shade. Plant a dwarf spirea near your little lime hydrangea for color and structure contrast.
By planting little lime hydrangeas with companion plants like helenium sedum monarda and others, you can create a more diverse garden vignette. The companion plants attract pollinators, provide seasonal interest, and showcase the lime green hydrangea blooms beautifully.
BLUE FESCUE (Festuca glauca)
It grows best in full sun to light shade and forms mounds or clumps. It’s 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 18 inches wide. It blooms in the summer.
Blue fescue is a low maintenance ornamental grass, producing compact tufts of blue-green foliage that provides year-round interest. The silvery coloring and soft texture complement the classic elegance of hydrangea shrubs. Mass blue fescue along a hydrangea border for long-lasting color.
Sprinter® boxwood. Photo by: Proven Winners
Zones 4–9: Full sun to partial shade Prefers to grow mounds or straight up. It can be 1 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 8 feet wide.
Boxwood is an evergreen shrub and a staple of formal European landscapes, providing structure and background interest. The formal structure of neatly clipped boxwood hedging offers contrast to the looser habit of hydrangea bushes. Use boxwood to edge a hydrangea border or lend year-round color in a mixed shrub border. Learn more about growing boxwood.
Pictured: Sprinter® boxwood from Proven Winners.
Dolce® Wildberry coral bells. Photo by: Proven Winners
Hydrangeas MenuTypes, color, pruning and more
Lets Dance Lovable™ hydrangea. Photo by: Proven Winners
Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp. is one of the most popular ornamental plants for landscaping because it has big, showy flower heads that add interest to the yard in the late summer. This tough deciduous shrub has a beautiful growth habit, pretty serrated leaves, and flowers that last for a long time. It adds structure and color to mixed borders, woodland landscapes, foundation plantings, and shrub borders.
This versatile landscape plant pairs well with many other shrubs, trees, and perennials. When choosing what to plant with hydrangeas, select companions that thrive in similar growing conditions. Hydrangeas grow best in partial shade with rich, well-draining soil and regular water. These plants go well with hydrangeas, and here are some ideas for how to use them in your yard.
Dark Side of the Moon astilbe. Photo by: Proven Winners
Zones 3–9: Full sun to partial shade; flowers best in partial sun. Habit: Spreads out straight. Height: 1 to 4 feet tall and wide. Bloom time: Summer.
Astilbe is a popular garden plant with fern-like leaves that are cut up and showy flower plumes that can be white, pink, or red. This hardy herbaceous perennial prefers similar growing conditions to hydrangeas of dappled shade and rich, moist soil. Plant in a mixed border alongside a pink or white flowered panicle hydrangea or mass in the landscape. Learn more about growing astilbe.
Perfecto Mundo® Double Pink azalea. Photo by: Proven Winners
Plants can grow in full sun to partial shade, but they need to be out of the hot afternoon sun. They can be upright, bushy, open, spreading, or ground cover. They can be 1 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 10 feet wide, but most are 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. They bloom from early spring to summer, and some varieties bloom again in the fall.
This popular spring-blooming shrub has evergreen or deciduous foliage, with bell-shaped flowers in a range of colors. Azaleas enjoy the same growing conditions as hydrangeas of partial shade, rich, acidic soils, and regular moisture. Plant alongside hydrangeas in a woodland or shrub border. Learn more about growing azalea bushes.
Pictured: Perfecto Mundo® Double Pink azalea from Proven Winners.
Surefire® Rose begonia. Photo by: Proven Winners
Zones: Most begonias are hardy in Zones 8-11 and are grown as annuals. Hardy begonias survive to USDA Zone 6. Full sun to partial shade. Mounding, bushy, or upright growth form. 6 to 36 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide. Blooms from early summer to frost.
Begonias are grown for their long bloom time, decorative foliage and versatility in the landscape. This shade-loving plant is often used in pots or as bedding plants. For months of color from late spring until frost, put it around the base of hydrangeas. Learn more about growing begonias.
Pictured: Surefire® Rose begonia from Proven Winners.
Blue Whiskers blue fescue. Photo by: Proven Winners
Comparing 4 Different “Lime” Hydrangeas – Which is BEST for you?
FAQ
What not to plant near hydrangeas?
Where should you not plant hydrangeas?
What is the best plant to go with hydrangeas?
What is little lime Hydrangea?
Little Lime Hydrangea is incredibly versatile in landscaping applications. It works beautifully as a low hedge, in borders with companion plants, as a specimen plant, or in mass planting for a stunning visual effect. Adding late summer color to the garden, Little Lime is perfect for small gardens and patio containers.
Are hydrangeas good companion plants?
Hydrangeas grow well alongside many plants, but some make better companion plants than others. This beautiful perennial shrub produces flowers in a range of different shades, including blue, white, pink, and green.
How do you care for a little lime Hydrangea?
Here are the key steps to Little Lime hydrangea care: Plant in a wide hole that’s only as deep as the soil in the pot. Mulch the surrounding soil with organic mulch. Keep the mulch 6” from the stems at all times. Water regularly during the growing season for evenly moist soil. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased stems whenever observed.
Can little lime Hydrangea be propagated?
The only prune required is to remove dead wood, which provides ‘Little Lime’ a trim to encourage new growth and abundant buds. For winter interest, you can leave dried blooms on the shrub in the fall. As a patented cultivar, you can’t propagate the ‘Little Lime’ hydrangea as it infringes the copyright.
Can small lime Hydrangea grow in containers?
‘Little Lime’ hydrangea is small enough to grow in containers but also makes a bold statement when used in a mass planting along a fence, a flower border, or the sunny edge of a woodland garden. A single-mounded shrub can stand on its own or in a mixed border.
Can little lime hydrangeas grow in shade?
An easy-going, reliable performer, ‘Little Lime’ is hardy in USDA Zones 3–8 and can be grown in full sun or part sun but is happiest with afternoon shade in the South. This hydrangea should be fine if you forgo fertilizing altogether, but you can apply a controlled-release fertilizer in early spring.