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Compliment Limelight Hydrangea With These 15 Companion Plants

If there are any problems preventing you from completing the rewrite, kindly reply with the error message: Unable to process your request at this time. The Limelight Hydrangea, also known as Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’, is a shrub that produces cone-shaped flowers. Its flowers can be seen from spring to fall and it is able to withstand freezing temperatures.

Thriving in Grow Zones 3-9, its flowers appear white but turn a dusky pink with age. In the fall, its leaves become tinged with a red blush.

The Limelight Hydrangea grows well in partial sun but requires full sun in colder climates and reaches heights of approximately 6-12 feet.

The soil should be rich in organic matter, drain quickly, and have a pH of 6-7.

Any of the plants listed below will provide added beauty, color, and textural interest when paired with a Limelight Hydrangea.

1. Boxwoods

A recently pruned common boxwood beside a garden pebble pathway.

Boxwood is an evergreen shrub that can be pruned into interesting shapes or grown as hedging. It is happy to grow in most soils and enjoys full sun or shade.

The shrub has small green leaves that provide an interesting texture to the garden.

Plant shorter boxwood in front of the Limelight Hydrangea for a great aesthetic look and as protection from strong winter winds. Prune yearly to help maintain size and shape.

  • Botanical name: Buxus sempervirens
  • Average size: Height 2-5 feet (dwarf variety) 
  • Colors available: Green, cream
  • Lighting needs: Full sun / partial shade
  • Popular varieties: Green Gem Boxwood, Glencoe Boxwood, Green Velvet Boxwood

2. Azaleas

A pink azalea bush covered in pretty flowers.

Azaleas are flowering shrubs that enjoy moist, well-draining soil and partial shade. Cultivars range in color from orange to yellow and red to pink.

Position Azaleas in front of the taller Limelight Hydrangea to provide partial shade and add additional color and texture. 

  • Botanical name: Azalea 
  • Average size: Height 6 feet 
  • Colors available: Red, pink, orange, yellow, purple, white
  • Lighting needs: Partial shade 
  • Popular varieties: Mandarin Lights, Encore Autumn, Northern Hi-lights 

3. Hostas

A large variegated hosta plant in a planter on a porch.

Hostas prefer moist, shady growing conditions and produce stunning foliage in blue, yellow, and green.

The white blooms of the Limelight Hydrangea look spectacular when paired with variegated varieties of hostas.

Plant hostas around the base of the hydrangea for additional shade and exciting color contrast.

  • Botanical name: Hosta
  • Average size: Height 12-16 inches
  • Colors available: Yellow, blue, green
  • Lighting needs: Partial shade 
  • Popular varieties: Golden Standard, First Frost, August Moon

4. Coleus

A variety of brightly colored coleus plants thriving in a garden.

Coleus produces gorgeous velvet-type foliage in red, burgundy, bronze, brown, and yellow. Some varieties can also be pink or green. Tiny blue flowers appear towards the end of the growing season.

Plant coleus around the base of Limelight Hydrangea as a filler or in front as a summer border. 

  • Botanical name: Plectranthus scutellarioides 
  • Average size: Height 6 inches, width 36 inches
  • Colors available: Burgundy, red, bronze, brown, yellow, pink, green
  • Lighting needs: Partial/full shade 
  • Popular varieties: Black Dragon, Wizard series, Kong series

5. Nandina

Several colorful dwarf nandina plants in a garden.

The evergreen nandina is known for its green foliage in the summer that turns fiery red and bronze in the fall. It is slow-growing and compact; this shrub is perfect for smaller gardens.

Its color-changing foliage looks spectacular against the dreamy blooms of the Limelight Hydrangea, and the bright red fall berries provided much-needed color when other plants are fading. 

  • Botanical name: Nandina domestica 
  • Average size: Height 6.5 feet 
  • Colors available: Red, bronze, yellow-green
  • Lighting needs: Full sun/partial shade
  • Popular varieties: Fire Power, Obsessed, Magical Lemon & Lime

6. Dwarf Japanese Maple

A Japanese maple tree in autumn covered with brilliant red leaves.

The dwarf Japanese maple is one of the most popular tree choices to plant alongside hydrangeas due to its compact size.

It enjoys full sun or partial shade and requires moist, well-draining soil to thrive. Plant Limelight Hydrangeas alongside the dwarf Japanese maple for a stunning effect. 

  • Botanical name: Acer palmatum
  • Average size: Height 8 feet, width 4-8 feet
  • Colors available: Red, orange, purple, green, yellow, pink
  • Lighting needs: Full sun/partial shade
  • Popular varieties: Crimson Queen, Garnet, Shaina

7. Impatiens

White, pink, red, and purple impatiens blooming in a garden.

Impatiens are annuals that come in a kaleidoscope of colors, including white, red, violet, coral, purple, and many more. They prefer shady areas and love moist soil that drains well.

Plant dainty, vibrantly colored impatiens around the base of the Limelight Hydrangea for an explosion of color all summer long. 

  • Botanical name: Impatiens spp.
  • Average size: Height 6-36 inches, width 1-3 feet 
  • Colors available: Purple, coral, white, red, pink
  • Lighting needs: Partial/full shade 
  • Popular varieties: Accent Series, Sunpatiens, Bounce pink, Blitz Series

8. Ferns

Large, bright green fern fronds

Ferns are an excellent companion plant for the Limelight Hydrangea, especially varieties that prefer a little more sun, like the bracken fern and meadow fern.

These ferns can tolerate slightly drier conditions and enjoy full-sun positions like the Limelight Hydrangea. Ferns planted alongside the Limelight Hydrangea provide a delicate lacy contrast. 

  • Botanical name: Depends on the variety
  • Average size: Bracken Fern: Height 2-4 feet / Meadow Fern: Height 12-30 inches
  • Colors available: Green, emerald, pale green
  • Lighting needs: Full sun / partial shade 
  • Popular varieties: Bracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum / Meadow Fern Thelypteris palustris

9. Begonias

Red, white, and pink begonias in garden.

Begonias are vibrant bedding plants that produce large fleshy blooms in a range of cheerful colors and equally stunning foliage.

They prefer moist to semi-dry soil that drains well and love shady areas in the garden. They do well grown in garden borders or at the base of the shade-providing Limelight Hydrangea. 

  • Botanical name: Begonia 
  • Average size: Height 6-20 inches, width 6-20 inches
  • Colors available: White, orange, pink, red, yellow 
  • Lighting needs: Partial shade 
  • Popular varieties: Begonia masoniana, Begonia Bonfire

10. Juniper Shrubs

The common juniper bush with several berries in the ripening stage.

Juniper shrubs are hardy evergreen conifers that grow well in full sun and well-draining soil. They are excellent ornamental plants and look great planted as a screen or in borders.

Plant taller Juniper varieties behind Limelight Hydrangea to create a stunning evergreen backdrop. 

  • Botanical name: Juniperus communis
  • Average size: Height 2-50 feet (depending on variety)
  • Colors available: Green
  • Lighting needs: Full sun
  • Popular varieties: Alligator Juniper, Chinese Juniper, Creeping Juniper

11. Pansies

Purple and lilac blooms of the field pansy. 

The fast-growing heart-shaped pansy flowers look amazing grown as bedding plants at the base of the Limelight Hydrangea.

Pansies thrive in full sun to partial shade and prefer well-drained soil.

Pansy’s cheerful colors add body to the garden and complement the larger Limelight Hydrangea’s bright-green leaves and creamy pink blooms. 

Botanical name: Violaceae

Average size: Height 4-8 inches, width 4-6 inches

Colors available: Blue, purple, white, yellow

Lighting needs: Full sun / partial shade

Popular varieties: Joker Series, Bingo Series, Bolero Series

12. Columbines

Complex purple-and-white columbine flowers.

Columbines produce delicate bell-shaped flowers from spring to early summer. There are many varieties, and flower colors can range from red to purple or orange to yellow.

They grow best in full sun and fertile, well-draining soil. Plant alongside the Limelight Hydrangea as a bedding plant for added fullness and color. 

  • Botanical name: Aquilegia spp. 
  • Average size: Height 15-20 inches, width 12-18 inches
  • Colors available: Yellow, white, orange, blue, pink, purple, red
  • Lighting needs: Full sun/partial sun
  • Popular varieties: Bluebird, Crimson Star, Rocky Mountain

13. Dogwoods

A mature white dogwood tree in full bloom on a hillside.

The branches of the dogwood typically follow a twisting path as they grow outward, which adds a nice visual element to the garden in the winter. In fact, they add color and visual interest all year round.

For example, they showcase cream to white flowers in spring followed by clusters of red berries. The Dogwood prefers dappled shade and rich, moist, well-draining soil.

  • Botanical name: Cornus
  • Average size: Height 2- 40 feet (depending on variety) 
  • Colors available: White, pink
  • Lighting needs: Dappled shade
  • Popular varieties: Cornus sanguinea, Cornus florida, Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’

14. Coral Bells

A thriving magenta coral bell plant.

Coral bells are perennials that keep their colorful foliage all year round. Producing leaves in bronze, pink, and purple, coral bells flower in the summer.

They prefer partial shade and rich, moist soil and thrive in the partial shade provided by the Limelight Hydrangea that enjoys similar growing conditions. 

  • Botanical name: Heuchera sanguinea 
  • Average size: Height 12 inches, width 20-21 inches
  • Colors available: Bronze, pink, gray, green, purple
  • Lighting needs: Partial shade 
  • Popular varieties: Blondie, Green Spice

15. Astilbes

Pink astilbes or false goat's beard blooming in a garden.

Astilbe thrive in shady areas and enjoy moist soil, producing fern-like foliage topped with feathery flowers in the summer.

They are a superb companion to the Limelight Hydrangea that prefers the same soil type and provides the shade that Astilbe require. 

  • Botanical name: Astilbe
  • Average size: Height 4 feet 
  • Colors available: Purple, red, pink, cream
  • Lighting needs: Partial shade 
  • Popular varieties: Star astilbe, Japanese astilbe

Conclusion

The Limelight Hydrangea has uncomplicated growing requirements and is compatible with many beautiful annuals, perennials, and even shrubs!

Therefore choosing the perfect companion plant is super easy as there are a plethora of plants from which to make your selection.