Hydrangeas, with their lush inflorescences, rich colors and attractive fragrance, have become the darling of many gardening enthusiasts. They are not only suitable for planting in courtyards and gardens, but also shine in POTS on balconies. However, to make the beauty of hydrangeas even more prominent, you need to carefully select a few plants to complement hydrangeas. This article will introduce you to some perfect hydrangeas to help you create a colorful and harmonious garden.
1. The Basic Characteristics Of Hydrangea
Its inflorescences are umbrella-shaped, with flowers clustered in oval green leaves, as beautiful as snowballs. The color of hydrangeas changes with the opening of the flower, from white to pink, purple and blue, giving people endless surprises. They are native to the Sichuan region of China and Japan, and have since been widely cultivated in Europe and New Zealand.
Hydrangeas prefer moist, well-drained soil, and their need for light varies from species to species. Some varieties require full sun (more than 6 hours per day), while others are better suited to semi-shade (2-5 hours per day). Therefore, when planting hydrangeas, it is necessary to choose the appropriate location according to its variety characteristics.
2. The Perfect Companion For Hydrangeas
Azaleas
Rhododendrons and hydrangeas are the leaders of the flower industry, their flower time is similar, rich colors, very suitable for planting. Rhododendrons have dense and vivid flowers in red, pink, white and other colors that provide a beautiful background for hydrangeas. In addition, the dark green leaves of rhododendrons complement the green leaves of hydrangeas, making the whole garden more vivid.
Boxwood
The box tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree with elliptical, dense and bright leaves. The compact shape of the box view tree makes it ideal as a foil for hydrangeas. The beauty of the hydrangea can be highlighted by pruning the box tree into a neat spherical or cylindrical shape that contrasts sharply with the inflorescence of the hydrangea. In addition, box trees provide hydrangeas with a degree of shade from the hot summer sun.
Hosta flower
Hosta is a large herb with broad, dark green leaves that are ideal as a background plant for hydrangeas. The paniculate inflorescences of hostas have small but brightly colored flowers that can add a different color to hydrangeas. In addition, hosta flowers prefer cool, moist environments and have similar growth habits to hydrangeas, so they are able to grow together in a harmonious garden environment.
Coleus
Coleus is a colorful foliage plant with multi-colored markings and stripes on its leaves. Pairing coleus with hydrangeas can make the whole garden more colorful. The leaf shape of the colored leaf is different, some are round, some are oval, and the leaf of the hydrangea forms a sharp contrast. In addition, colored leaf grass can also provide hydrangea with a certain degree of shading and moisturizing effect, making its growth more vigorous.
Clematis
Clematis is a climbing plant with slender and soft branches that can grow on walls, fences and other objects. Clematis flowers are large and beautiful, in a variety of colors such as red, pink, and white, and can provide a vertical landscape effect for hydrangeas. Planting clematis next to or above hydrangeas can make the whole garden more three-dimensional and vivid.
Lavender
Lavender is a perennial herb with linear or lanceolate leaves and spike-shaped flowers that are purple or blue-purple in color. Lavender prefers dry, sunny conditions and has a slightly different growth habit than hydrangeas. However, pairing lavender with hydrangeas can make the whole garden more colorful. The purple flowers of lavender complement the blue or pink flowers of hydrangea to create a romantic and mysterious atmosphere.
Rose
The rose is a popular ornamental flower with large and beautiful flowers in red, pink, yellow, white and other colors. The rose has strong, upright branches that can be used as support plants for hydrangeas. Planting roses next to or behind hydrangeas can add layers and dimensions to the whole garden. In addition, the flowers of the rose can also add a charming fragrance to hydrangeas.
Japanese Maples
The Japanese maple is a small deciduous tree or shrub with palmately split leaves that are brightly colored and varied. The Japanese maple has soft, slender branches that give it a graceful tree shape. Planting Japanese maple with hydrangeas can make the whole garden more Oriental. The leaves of the Japanese maple turn red or yellow in autumn, which contrasts sharply with the green leaves of hydrangeas and makes the whole garden more colorful.
3. Hydrangea And Partner Plant Matching Skills
Color matching
When matching hydrangeas with companion plants, pay attention to color coordination and contrast. You can choose plants with similar colors as the background to highlight the beauty of hydrangea; You can also choose plants with contrasting colors with hydrangeas as embellishment to add layers to the garden.
Uneven height
When planting hydrangeas and companion plants, pay attention to their height differences. Tall plants can be planted behind or to the side to form a background; Plant dwarf plants in the front or center to highlight the hydrangea inflorescence. Through the combination of high and low, the whole garden can be more hierarchical and three-dimensional.
It is very dense
When pairing hydrangeas with companion plants, pay attention to their density. Do not plant plants too densely or sparsely, so as not to affect the ventilation and light effect of the garden. The density of the plant can be adjusted by proper pruning and finishing to make it more beautiful and coordinated.
Seasonal variation
When pairing hydrangeas with companion plants, also consider the changing seasons. Different plants have different flowering and growth habits, and plants should be selected and replaced according to seasonal changes. For example, in the spring you can choose early flowering plants to pair with hydrangeas; In summer, plants with high temperature tolerance can be selected to make up for the lack of high temperature intolerance of hydrangea; In autumn you can choose brightly coloured plants to add colour to your garden.
4. Hydrangea And Companion Plant Maintenance Points
water
Hydrangeas like wet conditions, so keep the soil moist during the maintenance process. However, it is also important to avoid root rot caused by over-watering. The amount and frequency of watering can be adjusted according to weather conditions and plant growth conditions. In the summer high temperature period, the amount and frequency of watering should be appropriately increased; Reduce the amount and frequency of watering during cold winter periods.
fertilize
Hydrangeas need sufficient nutrient support during their growth. Therefore, in the maintenance process to regularly fertilize to supplement nutrients. You can choose organic fertilizer or compound fertilizer for application, but be careful not to over-fertilize to avoid burning the roots. The amount and frequency of fertilizer application should be appropriately increased during the vigorous growth period in spring and summer. During the slow growth period in autumn and winter, the amount and frequency of fertilization should be reduced.
prune
Hydrangeas need proper pruning as they grow to maintain their beauty and harmony. Pruning can be done in the spring to remove old branches and leftover flowers; Pruning in the summer to promote growth and flowering of new branches; Pruning is done in the autumn to tidy up the tree and keep it ventilated and transparent. Care should be taken not to damage the trunk and main branches during pruning so as not to affect the growth and flowering of the plant.
Pest control
Hydrangeas are vulnerable to pests and diseases during their growth. Therefore, the prevention and control of pests and diseases should be strengthened in the course of conservation. The occurrence of pests and diseases can be prevented and controlled by spraying pesticides, strengthening ventilation and keeping the soil moist. At the same time, pay attention to regularly check the growth of plants and timely detection and treatment of pests and diseases.
Conclusion
As a beautiful and charming ornamental flower, hydrangeas play an important role in the garden. By carefully selecting and matching some plant companions that complement each other, you can make the whole garden more colorful and harmonious. I hope this article has provided you with some useful advice and guidance to help you create your own colorful garden!
Related topics: