If you like hIsra’s there are thousands of the of course. Depending on your light situation and your hydrangea color there could be numerous ones that can work. Maybe post a photo so we have a better understanding of where your plant is and how it looks.

I don't have one yet, just thinking ahead for my fall planting. It's probably a part sun to full sun location but after some growth on the QF, I presume it will be much shadier.

Yes, shrub. Ok, what would look good as a pairing on each side? I thought about ninebark, boxwood... or maybe I can do small conifers?

I like seeing the pinkness of the hydrangea, accented with something dark purple like, heucheras, purple basil, or perilla (if you can stand the reseeding).

Ninebarks tend to get pretty large, but maybe one of the smaller varieties of cotinus, like 'Winecraft Black'.

How about phlox panicula "David" which is white, heucheras, a maroon coreopsis, monarda.

I do think boxwood looks nice next to hydrangeas also. I personally wouldn't plant a boxwood on each side because I do not care for this kind of look: oOo

Im a nursery guy, and a landscaper costumer of mine always gets a Quickfire and 6 Allium ‘Summer Beauty’ to put under the Hydrangea for just about every job. He says his costumers go nuts over it.

The Quickfire blooms before any other panicle hydrangeas and is the same time the Alliums are blooming

Oh, my quickfire is blooming now and allium done for a while. Am going to look into summer beauty.

You might have hit on something... why do I always feel the need to plant like that? oOo? Is it my need for symmetry?

I have been thinking about adding shrubs but perennials might be the better option, now that you mention it! I'll look into those!

Quickfire Has foliage to the ground

do you mean to say in front of the shrub Not really under?

re: allium millennial/ium

it is blooming now. the Spring alliums such as giganteum, and 4-6 feet purple ones bloomed in May-june

a. Millennium and All Summer Beauty are scattered around my garden,just opening up and several are next to hydrangea paniculata

lovely combo

my Phlox David is no where ready to bloom

it might overlap but Not at the white stage of qf’s bloom

it is way too big and bulky ‘ I might put it in the vicinity to echo the color and form but not next to QI.

I am about to experiment with a big chunk of shiny European ginger in front of a paniculata if it doesn’t burn it could look cool and refreshing and I wouldn’t have dead head or fertilize.

Pick a Hosta with a contrasting color to the blooms.