13 Gorgeous Companion Plants To Pair With Tropical, Flowering Hibiscus

Some plants are lovely on their own, but fare even better with a friend growing nearby. One of these is hibiscus, a member of the mallow family well known for its brightly colored, dish-shaped flowers that bring a tropical flair to the garden when they bloom in the late summer. This tropical evergreen belongs to a large genus, with 35 native species in the United States, but the most commonly encountered type is tropical hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), a tall shrub with large vibrant pink or red blooms and a showy tube extending from its center that grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11. Growing hibiscus next to companion plants like bee balm, bigleaf hydrangea, milkweed, and others, benefits your garden due to many factors, including shared pollinators, common soil preferences, and weed protection. 

As you ponder the best companion plants for hibiscus, however, avoid planting the cultivar known as rose-of-sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) in Connecticut, where it has a tendency to be invasive and can displace native plants. Outside this problem area, though, there are varieties of hibiscus that thrive outside tropical climates, in places including the Midwest. The hybrid known as hardy hibiscus or swamp mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is especially handy in moist areas with soil that tends to flood. Despite the climate, we're here to help you find the right hibiscus (and beautiful neighbors for it) to make your garden into a tropical paradise. 

Bee balm (Monarda didyma) not only prefers moist soil, just like types of hibiscus including the 'Lord Baltimore' cultivar and rose mallow, but it also attracts bees and other pollinators it has in common with hibiscus. When you plant bee balm near hibiscus, which you can do in Zones 4 through 9, it creates a haven for butterflies and hummingbirds. Bee balm grows low to the ground, so it's a good choice for a ground cover in front of your hibiscus. Even though Monardra didyma is native to the U.S., be aware that it can still spread aggressively.

One drawback to hibiscus is waiting for their blooms, which don't reach a high volume until August and September. Daylily (Hemerocallis) has a variety of cultivars with earlier bloom times, so as a companion plant, they'll give you color as a prequel to huge hibiscus flowers when planted in Zones 3 through 9. This isn't the only reason daylily shines as a companion: Like tropical hibiscus, it prefers acidic soil. The deer-resistant tropical hibiscus benefits the daylilies in this growing arrangement, since they are a favorite snack for deer when left exposed.

Hardy hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos) and marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) share space well, so pair them to flood your rain garden with abundance in Zones 3 through 7. The red- or white-blooming hardy hibiscus is a fan of soil that stays moist, as is marsh marigold, a cheery yellow member of the buttercup family. Marsh marigold also blooms early, so it will fill the space with color before your hibiscus reaches its blooming season, and its low-growing habit makes it a handsome carpet to grow in front of the taller hibiscus, which can provide it some shady relief.

There are a few reasons you can intersperse bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) among your hibiscus. This shrub blooms in spring and early summer, but with cultivars that re-bloom later in the summer, the hydrangea and hibiscus have a chance of blooming at the same time. And, like tropical hibiscus, bigleaf hydrangea favors well-draining soil that can be on the moist side. Since both of the plants can tower, planting them alongside one another yields the best results. Try out this pairing if you garden in Zones 6 through 11.

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis), a shrub with intriguing flowers that look like white pincushions, shares a love of moist soil with hibiscus. This makes it a perfect companion if your hibiscus grows alongside water; they will both feed pollinators seen near wetlands. Situating the two plants near each other will keep the patch of the garden they share interesting in the winter, since buttonbush bears reddish-brown fruits in the cooler months. Buttonbush, which thrives in Zones 5 through 10, is also deer resistant, so together they can help form a barrier to protect the rest of the garden.

If you're growing tropical hibiscus in a container, consider adding sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas), a hearty vine that cascades beautifully in long flower boxes. It's known to attract pollinators, which will also flock to the hibiscus' flowers. Sweet potato vine can also be used as a ground cover, where it may even keep weeds from taking root. Whether it's trailing out as a spiller or quickly spreading on the ground to fill in open space, this vine is a great pairing for hibiscus. Grow it in Zones 9 through 11.

The showy blooms of trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) complement those of a hibiscus shrub, and the two plants both do best with plenty of sun and moist soil, making them a perfect match. Hummingbirds are the main pollinator of trumpet vine, so they'll be glad to neighbor hibiscus, which can be a hummingbird magnet. Plant trumpet vines outdoors in Zones 4 through 10, and you can look forward to stunning red or orange blooms. Just be aware that the vines need to be pruned or trained to climb a surface.

Pairing hibiscus, which can grow up to 10 feet, with sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima), an edging plant which grows lower to the ground, creates a pleasant contrast. Alyssum plants spread out in mats up to 4 inches wide, making for a fast-growing ground cover. It shares a preference for good drainage and full sun with tropical hibiscus. Not only is sweet alyssum a petty filler, but its white, pink, or light purple flowers nourish the butterflies and bees that may frequent the hibiscus. Plant these easy-to-grow favorites in Zones 5 through 9.

It's best not to let the soil get too dry if you're growing hardy hibiscus, and milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is a companion plant that won't mind this. These plants are adapted to growing along ponds and streams in Zones 3 through 9, so they can more than handle a little water. The purplish-pink flower clusters will complement the vivid colors of hibiscus blooms. Like hibiscus, it attracts many types of pollinators, including hummingbirds, but the best idea is to plant both of them in a butterfly garden. Swamp milkweed has the distinction of nourishing milkweed butterflies.

A plant like elephant ears (Caladium) has leaves that provide vibrant interest but still let hydrangea blooms take center stage when planted nearby. Just like there are many color variations among hibiscus plants, caladium leaves range in color, including red, salmon-colored, solid green, and variegated types, sporting a heart shape. In Zones 9 and 10, they grow well in the shade of other plants. In fact, too much sun can make their leaf colors less intense, so it's best to plant them under a canopy of hibiscus and other tall plants when they're fully grown.

Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is adaptable to different soil types, making it a versatile companion plant for the water-loving hardy hibiscus or tropical hibiscus, which favors more drainage. They bloom in July and August, which can overlap with the time of year hibiscus flowers. Much of their companion value can be realized by growing them with hibiscus in a pollinator garden, since bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects love their daisy-shaped flowers. Reaching up to 4 feet tall, they would look beautiful growing in front of your hibiscus. Plant your purple coneflower in Zones 3 through 8. 

Hibiscus and crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) have a preference for lots of sun and moist, well-drained soil. However, the plant is invasive in parts of the southern U.S., so do your research before considering it as a companion plant. Its outdoor hardiness range is from Zones 6 through 9. Another feature crape myrtle shares with hibiscus is that both are resistant to deer. Their blooming season, from July through September, lines up nicely with that of hibiscus. It will create a stunning effect to have both vibrant plants flowering at the same time.

You can plant the bright red cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) with hardy hibiscus in a rain garden, since they can both grow beautifully in moist, marshy areas. The two plants can also share the attention of pollinators. Since the plant benefits from some shade in the afternoon heat, it's smart to plant it in front of a tall hibiscus. Its blooms endure through the middle of summer and into the autumn, adding a long-lasting pop of red near your hibiscus and keeping color in the area into the next season. It's best grown in Zones 3 through 9.