What to Plant With Oakleaf Hydrangea?

The oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) offers interest throughout the year. Its large, oak-like leaves create a bold texture from spring through summer, joined by substantial, cone-shaped flower clusters. In autumn, the foliage transitions to shades of deep red, bronze, and purple. When the leaves drop, the plant reveals its exfoliating bark with a rich brown inner layer. This article explores suitable plant companions that enhance the visual appeal of this shrub.

Key Considerations for Companion Planting

The best companions for your oakleaf hydrangea share its preferred living conditions. This shrub flourishes in partial shade, particularly where it can receive protection from the intense heat of the afternoon sun. It performs best in soil that is consistently moist, well-drained, and slightly acidic. Plants with these same requirements are the most likely to succeed when planted nearby.

Beyond shared needs, design principles can elevate your garden’s composition. The hydrangea’s large, coarse leaves provide a backdrop for plants with contrasting textures, like fine, feathery foliage. Contrasting forms, such as upright plants or low groundcovers, can highlight the hydrangea’s mounding shape. Companion plants also offer opportunities to complement the white summer blooms or the rich fall display.

Best Perennials to Pair with Oakleaf Hydrangea

Perennials add layers of texture and color around an oakleaf hydrangea. Hostas are a strong choice, providing a contrast with their broad, smooth leaves. Available in colors from deep blue-greens to chartreuse and variegated patterns, hostas fill the space at the hydrangea’s base with bold, season-long foliage. Their differing leaf shapes and colors create a dynamic ground-level look.

For a softer textural element, consider astilbes. Their feathery, plume-like flowers in shades of pink, white, and red rise above lacy foliage. This offers a delicate counterpoint to the hydrangea’s large blooms.

Ferns contribute a fine texture that complements the coarse leaves of the hydrangea. Varieties like the Japanese Painted Fern or the Autumn Fern are effective choices. Heuchera, or coral bells, introduce foliage color with varieties in shades of deep purple, lime green, and rich bronze, creating contrast against the hydrangea’s leaves.

Complementary Shrubs for Garden Structure

Pairing the oakleaf hydrangea with other shrubs helps build the garden’s structure and extend seasonal interest. Azaleas and rhododendrons are good companions, with colorful spring blooms that appear before the hydrangea’s flowers. Planting them nearby ensures a continuous sequence of color.

Fothergilla, or witch alder, is another suitable companion. In spring, it produces fragrant, bottlebrush-like white flowers. In the fall, its foliage turns brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and scarlet, creating a stunning autumnal display alongside the hydrangea’s own colorful transformation.

Virginia sweetspire (Itea virginica) is a choice for gardens with consistently moist soil. In early summer, it bears drooping, fragrant white flower spikes. Its value is apparent in autumn when its leaves turn a long-lasting shade of reddish-purple, echoing the hydrangea’s fall palette.

Low-Growing Plants and Groundcovers

Low-growing plants and groundcovers unify a garden bed by filling empty spaces and suppressing weeds. Foamflower (Tiarella) is a fine choice for planting beneath an oakleaf hydrangea. It produces airy, white flower spikes in the spring, and its delicate appearance provides a textural contrast.

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) forms a dense groundcover of heart-shaped leaves that remain green all season. This living mulch helps retain soil moisture for surrounding plants. Its deep green carpet also makes the hydrangea’s white flowers appear brighter.

Bugleweed (Ajuga) is an adaptable groundcover that spreads to fill in areas around shrubs. In late spring, it sends up spikes of blue flowers. Many cultivars are available with bronze or deep purple foliage, offering a color contrast with the hydrangea’s green leaves.