The Hydrangea Companion Plant That Protects Their Beautiful Blooms From Hungry Pests

Whether you're creating an English-style pollinator garden or leaning on a storybook theme for your outdoor aesthetic, hydrangeas have a place in any dreamy border or whimsical landscape. If you're looking for something fun to complement the big leaves and colorful mopheads of your favorite hydrangeas, consider alliums as an unexpected companion plant that will help define your garden style and protect the beautiful blooms in the process.

The strong signature scent of alliums, shared by members of the onion family such as garlic, chives, and leeks, is what makes these plants resistant to pests that will destroy your hydrangeas like deer and aphids. Being a good protector isn't the only benefit of ornamental alliums, however, and this duo works well together in other ways.

Visually, the variety of allium you should grow for the largest blooms, Allium 'Globemaster,' pairs fantastically with the giant pompons of hydrangeas. They have complementary palettes filled with shades of pinks, blues, purples, and whites, so they'll bring color harmony to your garden. Since they both like well-drained soil and tolerate sun to part-shade (depending on the variety), it's easy to find a match for your dreamy garden beds.

Not all hydrangeas are equally vulnerable to pests. Some varieties, especially bigleaf, smooth, and panicle hydrangeas, are more vulnerable to deer, whereas oakleaf and bracted types have coarser or fuzzier leaves that aren't quite as appealing to them. If you're growing one of the more vulnerable varieties, planting alliums is particularly important. It's a welcomed bonus that they look amazing together.

The allium family is huge, with ornamental showstoppers of every globe size, color, and height. They attract bumble bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. However, you might want to reconsider planting the three-cornered leek, as this is the type of allium ground cover you don't want taking over your lawn or garden. 

Instead, focus on the true ornamental cultivars. In addition to large globe varieties like 'Globemaster,' try 'Gladiator' or 'Purple Sensation.' You could also try the Star of Persia (Allium christophii), which has large silvery globes and star-shaped florets. One way to get your money's worth is to order combo packs of allium bulbs in the fall. Check Costco's online deals seasonally to find items such as the Allium Perennial Garden Pack with 75 bulbs from Longfield Gardens.