Azaleas are prized for their ability to produce an abundance of colorful flowers in spring. Their flowers come in a wide range of hues like pink purple red, orange, yellow and white. Azaleas brighten up any garden with their spectacular floral display.
However, azaleas have a relatively short bloom period. After they are done flowering azaleas take on a more subdued appearance for the rest of the growing season. This is why it’s important to interplant azaleas with other flowers shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. The right companion plants can prolong the garden’s springtime floral display and provide interest before and after azaleas bloom.
When choosing plants to combine with azaleas, the ideal selections will thrive in the same growing conditions preferred by azaleas. Azaleas need mildly acidic soil that is rich in organic matter. They require consistently moist, well-drained soil. Azaleas grow best with partial to full shade exposure. Companion plants also need to complement azaleas visually in terms of height, form, texture and color.
Here are some of the best options for plants to grow in front of azaleas:
Spring Bulbs
One way to get color in the garden before azaleas bloom is to plant spring flowering bulbs around them. Bulbs like crocuses, hyacinths daffodils and tulips blossom very early in spring and help welcome the new growing season. These bulbs come in a diverse range of colors like purple blue, yellow, white, pink and more. Underplanting azalea shrubs with drifts of bulbs creates beautiful multi-colored displays before the azaleas flower. Just make sure the bulbs get sufficient sunlight early in spring before the azalea leaves emerge.
Groundcovers
Low growing groundcovers planted at the base of azaleashelp suppress weeds. They also help shade and cool azalea roots. Some evergreen groundcovers remain attractive year-round. Options like ajuga, liriope, sedum, and vinca minor thrive in the same conditions as azaleas. Variegated types add extra visual interest with their colorful foliage. Plants like sweet woodruff and wild ginger produce flowers in spring before azaleas bloom.
Ferns
Ferns naturally grow in shaded woodland environments, so they perfectly complement azaleas. The fern’s graceful fronds contrast beautifully with the larger leaves and showier flowers of azaleas. Choose from many fern varieties to combine different textures and forms. Plant taller ferns behind azaleas and lower growing types in front. Evergreen ferns like Christmas fern and holly fern provide year-round greenery.
Hostas
Hostas are another shade loving perennial with attractive foliage that work well with azaleas. The wide range of hosta varieties allows you to vary textures from wide, bold leaves to narrow, frilly and crinkled forms. Foliage comes in many different shades of green, plus variegated types with white or yellow edges. Plant the larger hosta varieties behind azaleas and smaller kinds in front. This creates a layered look.
Heucheras
Also known as coral bells, heucheras thrive in shade and produce a mound of ornamental foliage. The leaves display striking colors like chartreuse, burgundy and near-black purple. Flowers bloom in late spring to early summer on tall wiry stems rising above the foliage. Grow heucheras with azaleas to add long-lasting color impact. Plant them in drifts along the front edge of azalea shrubs. The colorful heuchera foliage nicely complements azaleas’ flowers.
Astilbes
Astilbes produce fluffy, feathery plumes of flowers in summer to early fall. They come in both short and tall sizes. Astilbes do best in moist, partly shaded areas with rich soil, so they make ideal companions to azaleas. Plant the taller astilbe varieties behind azaleas and shorter ones in front. Colors include white, pink, red, purple and salmon. The flowers elegantly contrast with azaleas’ leaves.
Liriopes
Also called lilyturf, liriope is a low maintenance grass-like groundcover perfect for growing around azaleas. It remains attractive year-round with its grassy foliage. Clusters of lilac or white flowers emerge on stalks above the leaves in late summer. Liriope thrives in partial to full shade and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Plant it as an evergreen groundcover to supplement azaleas’ springtime color.
Carex
Carex belongs to the sedge family and works well as an ornamental grass with azaleas. There are many types of carex to choose from with thin, grass-like leaves. Foliage colors include green, gray, gold and variegated. Carex makes a nice evergreen or semi-evergreen groundcover around azaleas. Its fine texture contrasts nicely with azaleas’ broader leaves. Shorter carex varieties can be planted in front of azaleas. Taller types work well behind them.
Barrenwort
Also known by its botanical name epimedium, barrenwort is a shade loving perennial groundcover for woodland gardens. Delicate flowers bloom in spring with an open, airy look. Barrenwort foliage often takes on attractive reddish tones in fall and winter. Plant barrenwort around azaleas to provide ornamental interest through the seasons. It thrives in moist, well-drained, acidic soil ideal for azaleas.
Hellebores
Hellebores produce gorgeous, large, rose-like flowers early in the growing season. Blooms come in shades of white, pink, purple, red and green. Foliage remains evergreen in milder climates. Hellebores tolerate partial shade, so plant them around azaleas. Position taller hellebores behind azaleas and lower growing hybrids up front to complement the spring floral display.
Hardy Begonias
Many begonia varieties can’t tolerate cold weather, but certain hardy types thrive as perennials in shade gardens. Hardy begonias produce colorful flowers and ornamental foliage that last from spring through fall. They combine beautifully with azaleas, flowering before, during and after azaleas bloom. Plant them in raised beds if your soil doesn’t drain well enough for begonias.
Wild Ginger
Wild ginger (Asarum species) is a low growing woodland plant good for areas beneath azaleas with poor fertility or dry shade. Rounded, kidney-shaped foliage remains attractive all season long. Wild ginger produces unusual cup-shaped flowers near the ground in spring before azaleas bloom. Plant it as a lush evergreen groundcover around azaleas.
Lenten Rose
Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus)blooms very early, often near the end of winter. Flowers come in a diverse range of colors including purple, magenta, pink, white, green, and speckled variations. The leathery evergreen foliage is also quite ornamental. Plant lenten roses in front of azaleas to extend the bloom season. Both plants thrive in partly shaded areas with rich soil.
Lungwort
Also called pulmonary or Bethlehem sage, the delicate flowers of lungwort blossom in spring before azaleas. Flowers display unique spotting and come in shades of pink, purple, white and blue. The foliage is also quite decorative, often marked with white variegation. Lungwort thrives in shade and spreads readily to form an attractive flowering groundcover around azaleas.
Foamflowers
Foamflowers (Tiarella species) produce frothy spikes of star-shaped flowers in spring before azalea blooms peak. Foliage often displays pretty veining and remains attractive all season long. Foamflowers do best with partial to full shade exposure and moist, organic soil. Plant shorter types in front of azaleas and taller foamflowers in back for layered color.
Japanese Forest Grass
This ornamental grass has gracefully arching, wide blades that offer wonderful texture paired with azaleas. It spreads by underground rhizomes to form attractive clumps. Japanese forest grass grows 1-2 feet tall. Foliage turns vibrant shades of orange and red in fall. Plant it around azaleas to add year-round interest and movement from the grassy texture.
Ferns
Ferns naturally thrive in the same woodland conditions preferred by azaleas. Their lush, frilly foliage elegantly contrasts the larger leaves and showier blooms of azaleas. Choose from dozens of fern varieties to combine different textures and forms. Plant larger ferns behind azaleas and lower growing types in front of them. Evergreen ferns add winter interest.
Lamium
Lamium, also known as dead nettle, blooms in late spring to early summer with clusters of pink, purple, yellow or white flowers. Decorative silver, green and pink foliage also provides ornamental value. Lamium spreads readily to form dense groundcover and suppress weeds. Plus it tolerates light foot traffic. Plant lamium around azaleas for long lasting color in shady beds.
Trail Azalea
For a coordinated look, plant low growing azalea varieties in front of taller deciduous or evergreen azaleas. Trail azaleas like ‘Crimson Tide’ only reach 10-18 inches tall with cascades of vibrant crimson blooms. Plant them along the edges of taller azaleas like Encore, Exbury and Kurume types. The trail azaleas enhance the floral display without hiding the larger varieties.
Dwarf Conifers
Small conifers like dwarf hinoki cypress, false cypress and chamaecyparis work well in front of azaleas. They offer fine evergreen textures to complement azaleas’ leaves and flowers. Use compact mounded, globose and prostrate varieties under 3 feet tall. Avoid fast-growing conifers that will quickly obscure the azaleas. Conifers provide structure during seasons when azaleas aren’t blooming.
Heathers
Heathers and heaths are dwarf evergreen shrubs that bloom in late summer and fall after azaleas finish flowering. Heaths and heathers both thrive in acidic, well-drained soil ideal for azaleas. Plant shorter growing varieties like winter heath and spring heath in front of azaleas. Use small-leaved kinds to contrast with azaleas’ larger foliage. Heathers and heaths nicely extend the garden’s floral display.
Flowering Perennial Vines
Plant vine type flowers like clematis and honeysuckle along fences, arbors and trellises behind azaleas. This shows off the colorful vines while preventing them from overgrowing the azaleas. Clematis offer fluffy flower clusters in spring and summer followed by attractive seed heads. Honeysuckles bloom heavily in summer and fall with clusters of tubular flowers. The vines prolong seasonal color near azaleas.
Frequency of Entities:
azaleas: 44
bulb: 1
fern: 5
hosta: 2
heuchera: 1
astilbe: 2
liriope: 1
carex: 1
barrenwort: 1
hellebore: 1
hardy begonia: 1
wild ginger: 1
lenten rose: 1
lungwort: 1
foamflower: 1
japanese forest grass: 1
lamium: 1
trail azalea: 1
dwarf conifer: 1
heather: 1
flowering perennial vine: 1
Need some summertime suggestions for what to pair with your Encores when the temperatures are high?
While your Encores are moving on to their next bloom stage, here are some plants that can fill in as fill-in flowers.
The light pink blooms of Miss Lemon™ Abelia pop against the dark green foliage of Autumn Angel. Miss Lemon is an evergreen shrub with beautiful leaves that start out yellow with green centers and turn ivory and green as they age. This item spreads into a mounding shape that is 3-4 ft. tall. Plant next to Autumn Angel® to showcase the best of both varieties. Miss Lemon is hardy in USDA Zones 6-9.
Jubilation™ Gardenia is another showstopper for which an Encore can provide a stunning companion. Its glossy dark green leaves are studded with double blooms that emit an intoxicating fragrance. With similar soil requirements to Encore Azaleas, gardenias make a perfect pairing. Plant this alongside Autumn Starburst®, a compact green-leaved shrub with white-and-pink bicolor blooms. The contrast in flowers between the two shrubs is enlivening. Jubilation is hardy in USDA Zones 7-10.
The globular clusters of white trumpet-shaped flowers on Ever White™ Agapanthus sparkle against both the purple flowers and medium-green foliage of Autumn Majesty azalea. A season-long bloomer, Ever White’s flowers begin to bloom atop 2-ft. tall flower stalks in spring much earlier than most other varieties. Its clumping nature means it won’t become a “spreading bully”; and, with bright-green straplike leaves, it provides color and texture to a planting even when not in bloom. Hardy to USDA Zones 8-11.
Bells of FireTM Tecoma is a bright red-orange trumpet-shaped perennial flower that will look great when Autumn Bonfire®’s red blooms aren’t around. Its tubular flowers not only appear from spring through fall, they are also beloved by hummingbirds. In addition to being a pollinator plant, it’s drought and heat tolerant, as well as low maintenance. Bells of Fire is hardy in USDA Zones 8-11.
For an electric summer display that really sizzles, the bright yellow-green leaves of EverColor® ‘Everillo’ Carex go great with any Encore from the collection. That being said, ‘Everillo’ positively pops with purple. Try it with Autumn Twist® for a texture-rich grouping that brightens dull or dim corners of the landscape. Once Twist’s signature white and purple bi-color blooms appear, the contrasting color shines against Everillo’s chartreuse foliage. Everillo is hardy to USDA Zones 5-9.
Choosing annuals to pair with Encore Azaleas is like picking ice cream flavors to go with chocolate sauce. It’s pretty much the same, but some annuals may do better than others depending on the light and other conditions in the garden. The Garden Jewels™ Gerbera Daisy series comes in a number of colors. Pink and Frosted Hot Pink pair well with the medium pink blooms of Autumn Carnation. These bright pink daisies float on top of foot-tall stems when Autumn Carnation® isn’t in bloom, giving your garden a welcome boost.
If you want to draw attention to an Encore that is changing from one bloom stage to the next, you should always plant annuals with white, light pink, or light yellow flowers. The more flowers there are, the better! For example, the big, flat blooms of New Guinea Impatiens or the tubular flowers of grandiflora petunias are great. They also smell great at night! Cock’s comb celosia, tuberous begonias, and annual salvia all add color as well as texture to azalea plantings. The sky, or in this case the garden bed, is your only limit.
Pair your Encore Azaleas with these landscape shrubs, annuals and perennials for a smashing summertime look.
Encore Azaleas give gardeners something to cheer about season after season. These reblooming beauties produce a spectacular floral display in spring and then rebloom in summer and fall. During those seasons, there will be times when these shrubs have lost their flowers but are getting ready for the next round of blooms.
When your Encores’ blooms aren’t out, you might miss that pop of color. But there’s another way to look at it: their mid- to dark-green evergreen leaves make a great background for flowers from other shrubs, perennials, and annuals when they’re not in bloom.
How to Grow & Care for Azaleas – Keep Your Plants Healthy & Blooming Year After Year
FAQ
What do you put around azaleas?
How to landscape with azaleas?
What to pair with Encore Azaleas?
Is it good to put coffee grounds around azaleas?
What plants go with azaleas?
Azaleas can be planted alongside trees, shrubs, and low-growing plants. Some of the best plants to pair with Azaleas are Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas, Kalmias, and Pieris. When it comes to filling in your Azalea garden, the sky is the limit.
What to plant with rhododendron and azaleas?
What to Plant with Rhododendron and Azaleas Light and pH compatibility are the keys to finding plants suitable as companions for azaleas and rhododendron. Like most members of this family, azaleas and rhododendron thrive in acidic soils. When choosing rhododendron and azalea companion plants, look for those that can tolerate a pH between 4.5 and 6.
How do I choose the best azalea plants?
When selecting plants to complement your azaleas, it is crucial to opt for those that thrive in comparable conditions, particularly acidic soil and shaded areas. You are not limited to only flowering plants. You can choose trees, shrubs, and low-growing plants as options as well.
What kind of soil do azaleas need?
You are not limited to only flowering plants. You can choose trees, shrubs, and low-growing plants as options as well. Azaleas thrive in well-draining acidic soil with a soil pH between 4.5 and 6.0. They need a soil texture that retains some moisture but not so much as to drown the plant.