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Endless summer hydrangea Companions?

I found one of these on the clearance rack at a local big box store. While it looked terrible, I could see that it had been hit by frost, and there was a lot of new growth. So I bought it! Of course!

Now I need to plant it, I have a spot picked out, but I am trying to decided whether to treat it as a stand alone shrub. Or to create a bed, and plant companion plants with it.

What do you guys do?

Jenny P

Comments (9)

  • 17 years ago

    I have six planted in a long bed with boxwood, Phlox David, Alchemilla Mollis, Geranium (Roxanne and a few others), Dianthus (Fire Switch, Greystone and something Rubies) and some artemisia. This garden is all blue/purple, pink, white with touches of yellow. The ES are just starting to bloom now.

  • 17 years ago

    I have two Endless Summers planted about 12 ft apart along the east side of my house, towards the south end. The whole area is underplanted with White Nancy Lamium, which makes a very pretty contrast with the large green leaves of the Hydrangeas.

    In the center between the 2 hydrangeas is a Honeysuckle vine on a large trellis, a couple of small powder blue hostas centered in the White Nancy, and a scattering of various asiatic lilies in shades of pink to red.

    I add a few bulbs every couple of years since these do not get quite enough sun for them to be really prolific here, but the effect is really very pretty, so I feel it is worth it.

    I add later color with a few Stargazer (white with deep pink centers) type Oriental lilies and two smallish Monkshoods (dark blue-purple blooms in early August). Sorry, I can't remember the exact names of the hostas or monkshoods and can't look them up today because of computer problems.

    BTW, I have had fun with the ESs changing the color in various years from pink to blue by adding aluminum sulfate to the soil. My planting scheme works well with either and the overall effect is simple & soothing, but colorful - LOL - if that makes sense to you.

  • 17 years ago

    That sounds gorgeous! Do you have pictures?

  • 17 years ago

    I have my Endless Summer Hydrangeas planted on either side of my front entrance and use Black-Eyed Susans as a companion planting. This picture is from last year.

    {{gwi:237114}}

  • 17 years ago

    Garry, that looks really nice. Just wondering what is the exposure (direction) in the front of your house?

  • 17 years ago

    This bed is on the north/northwest side of my house. This time of year, the hydrangeas get early morning and late afternoon sun. The Black-eyed Susans are out further from the house and get sun all day long.

  • 17 years ago

    Garry, your Endless Summers are beautiful. Don't imagine you have to cut them to the ground each Spring as we do in zone 4. Suppose that's why I only get a few blossoms each year. Had it planted in too much sun so moved it three years ago to a shadier spot. Wilts quickly in our humid summers. No comparison to yours. Mary

  • 17 years ago

    I finally decided on a spot, it gets morning sun until about noon, then shade until late afternoon around 7 or so.

    This is going to have to be an island, so I am thinking I will just underplant it with some Lamium, or sweet woodruff, which I have plenty of! I will carry the pot over to where I have these growing, and see which looks better.

    Now I am off to see what kind of soil amendments I need, and how big a hole to dig.

    Thank you everyone!
    Jenny P