The Ideal Companion Plant For Showing Off Gorgeous Hydrangea Blooms In The Garden

Hydrangeas are a classic addition to any garden. With their calming hues of pink, blue, and purple, their iconic flowering clusters are always a welcoming sight. But it can be challenging to know what to plant alongside these showstoppers! You don't want to distract from their blooms or make your garden bed too busy. When choosing the best plants to grow next to hydrangeas, adding greenery and foliage plants helps to create the perfect backdrop for your blooms. One option for achieving this is bringing in the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum). With its sprawling silvery green leaves, the Japanese painted fern adds texture and shape to your beds without taking the attention away from the stunning hydrangea blooms. 

The Japanese painted fern originates from East Asia, growing in woodlands in Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea. It is a shade-loving, low-maintenance plant that thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. With a spread and height of 18 inches, this plant can be used as a ground cover in flower beds to add contrast. There is a range of cultivars and varieties of Japanese painted fern to consider bringing into your yard, such as the glistening 'Silver Falls' (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum). Most will look great alongside your hydrangeas, with the different shades of green found in both plants unifying the space. 

Just like Japanese painted ferns, many varieties of hydrangeas prefer shady areas, so pick a spot where they have some protection from the afternoon sun. Both thrive in rich, moist soil that is high in organic matter, so you may want to check the health of your soil beforehand to ensure that it's suitable for these plants. If your hydrangea is already established and thriving, it's a good sign that a Japanese painted fern will enjoy the same location, too. 

When planting out your hydrangeas and Japanese painted ferns, it's essential to consider how big the plants are going to get. Placing plants too close together is an easy mistake to make, especially if you aren't aware of their mature size. As there are hundreds of different hydrangea species and cultivars, you can find this flowering shrub in a range of sizes. So, check out the variety you have to find out its maximum growth. If your hydrangea is at its maturity, plant your Japanese painted fern around the base of taller growing varieties, or intersperse the ferns between the hydrangeas, if yours are of the smaller type. This will allow the fronds to merge with the big leaves and cover the soil. You could also plant the Japanese painted ferns in front of your hydrangea to create an attractive multi-tiered or woodland look in your garden beds.