Rhododendron companion plants such as mountain laurels, witch hazel, ferns and primroses can complement the colors of your plants and boost the appearance of your garden.
Most of these plants are also very easy to care for, and they bring many benefits to your rhododendrons, including repelling pests and attracting pollinators.
Read this article to learn about some of the best species and varieties to grow with your rhododendrons.
Contents
12 Rhododendron Companion Plants to Boost Your Garden’s Appearance
1. Mountain Laurel
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Mountain laurels (Kalmia latifolia) make good companions to rhododendron plants, as they have similar growing requirements and bloom periods. Mountain laurels are also a good match because their white, cream or peach flowers contrast the pink or purple flowers of our rhododendrons.
When planting rhododendrons and laurels in the same garden, you can place the rhododendrons in the more sun-exposed parts, as mountain laurels can do just fine in partial sun.
However, if you have enough space, you might want to provide your laurels with more sunlight, as they’ll love that.
2. Witch Hazel
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One reason gardeners love growing companion plants is so that they can maintain the beauty of a garden when the main plant stops blooming. Rhododendrons bloom in warm months, so you may choose to keep plants that bloom in the cold months so that your garden can stay beautiful throughout the year.
Hazels bloom in winter and fall, producing yellow leaves to give your garden a touch of gold. These trees are a favorite of gardeners, as they can grow maintenance-free. They are also very resistant to many pests, so planting them near your rhododendrons can help repel some of them.
3. Japanese Andromeda
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Here is a very beautiful shrub that you can grow with your rhododendrons. If you keep both plants together, the Japanese Andromeda will most likely steal the show because of its dazzling leaves and flowers. This shrub has glossy leaves and white, peach or cream flowers. It is compatible with rhododendrons, as they share similar care requirements.
Note that the soil must be well-drained so that your shrubs do not get attacked by fungi. Also, you want to make sure that the soil is fertile, especially in the cold months so that your Japanese Andromeda shrubs can produce their beautiful flowers.
4. Summer Sweet
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If you are looking for native plant species to grow with your rhododendron shrubs, here’s a perfect one for you. The summer sweet shrub (Clethra alnifolia) is a beautiful plant with dazzling white, cream or pink flowers. The colors of its flowers contrast those of your rhododendron flowers, so adding the plants to your garden is just what someone skilled in the arts will do.
As a native shrub, a lot of native pests have found the summer sweet plant as their perfect shelter. This means that you need to regularly inspect and prune your plants so that your rhododendrons do not get attacked by pests hiding under the summer sweet shrubs.
5. Hostas
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Why not add beautiful hostas to your rhododendron garden? These are among the most popular plants to add to temperate-climate gardens, as they are very easy to care for yet very beautiful. The variegated and thick leaves of the hostas can attract a lot of eyes to your garden.
Remember that hosta plants do have some unique needs to take into consideration. Ensure that the plants only grow in airy soil or one that drains water quickly. Also, prune the plants when they are growing larger than you want so that they can stay in shape.
6. Ferns
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Ferns are some of the oldest plants on the planet. The ferns act as the missing piece that completes the beauty of your gardens. While most of them have green fronds, you can go for those with pale or cream fronds.
Ferns are not picky when it comes to their care requirements, as they are very hardy plants that can continue growing in your garden with or without your care. Remember to put their growth in check by always pruning them, so that they do not outgrow the rhododendrons.
7. Astilbes
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When it comes to bragging in the world of flowers, you have to give it to plants from Asia, as their beauty is mostly second to none. Astilbes are very beautiful shrubs that produce pink, white or cream flowers. Their flowers, especially the pink ones, match the colors of your rhododendron flowers, so you can use both plants to set a color theme in your garden.
Just in case you see your astilbes dying, you should check for cutworms and weevils, as these pests are very disastrous to the plants. Also, check the soil and make sure that it does not hold water for long.
8. Bleeding Heart
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Here is another Asian plant that can give your garden just the appearance that you have been looking for. The pink, red or white heart-shaped flowers of the bleeding heart plant (Dicentra spectabilis) will surely steal the show in your garden. Well, both plants have similar requirements and they grow just fine together, so you can use the bleeding heart plant as a companion for your rhododendrons.
Pay attention to the light exposure of bleeding hearts, as they can easily get sunburnt if you overexpose them. They can grow just fine in a partially shaded area so long as they get at least four hours of direct sunlight every day.
9. Primrose
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Primroses are very beautiful flowers for your spring gardens, as they come in different colors. There is always a primrose variety that would match the color of your rhododendron’s flowers or garden’s color theme.
Primrose flowers are also very easy to care for. Unlike many plants listed so far, primrose flowers need full sun to grow and produce flowers. Also, ensure that the soil is never completely dry and does not hold water for long.
10. Grape Holly
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The holly or Oregon grape plant (Mahonia aquifolium) is a beautiful tree that you can use alongside your rhododendrons. This tree produces beautiful yellow flowers in the spring months and these easily contrast those of the rhododendron plants. These trees are also low-maintenance, so you can grow them with ease.
They are low-maintenance so long as their growing conditions are easily met. Do not grow this tree in soil that dries out quickly, as it constantly needs moisture around its roots. Also, ensure that the soil is not waterlogged so that the plants do not die of root rot.
11. Spotted Dead Nettle
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Here is another beautiful plant that you want to grow with your rhododendrons. Spotted nettles have pink flowers and glossy leaves which are soft to the touch. They also have variegation in their leaves, as the centers sometimes appear white or pale. These plants match rhododendrons when you select a pink or purple-themed garden.
These nettle plants are very beautiful, and they are indeed very easy to care for. Just prevent snails and slugs from reaching them, as these pests can destroy their leaves easily. Also, their soil should be kept moist even though it should easily drain water quickly.
12. Blueberries
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The lowbush blueberry plant (Vaccinium angustifolium) makes an awesome companion plant for rhododendrons because it produces beautiful flowers that can match your garden’s color theme. It also gives you a lot of fruits that you can enjoy. These fruits attract birds, squirrels and beneficial insects into your garden.
To grow this plant, ensure that the soil is well-drained and has a lot of nutrients. Also, watch out for harmful pests that can attack and destroy the beautiful and edible fruits.
Conclusion
Truly, you have a lot of beautiful plants that you can grow with your rhododendrons.
Here are some points that you should remember:
- If you want to grow plants with contrasting flowers for your rhododendrons, opt for species such as mountain laurels and Japanese Andromedas.
- Witch hazels and summer sweets will keep your garden beautiful even when your rhododendrons have stopped blooming,
- Low-maintenance plants that you can grow in your garden are ferns, bleeding hearts and primroses.
- Before adding a new plant to your garden, ensure that you are prepared to get rid of the pests that it attracts (if it attracts any).
- Put the lighting needs of your plants into consideration and ensure that plants that need full sun do not grow in partial shade.
With the essential plant care tips in this article, we hope you’ll enjoy your companion planting experiences.
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