Azaleas are the showstopper of the garden during the spring season. The sight of vibrant and beautiful funnel-shaped blooms brings immense joy to gardeners. However, the blooming of these ornamental shrubs doesn't last for long, but rather for a shorter span. This creates the need for companion plants for more diversity and to extend the blooming sight. Selecting the best companion for Azaleas is of utmost importance because companion plants add color to the azalea garden. Hence, companion plants should have similar growing conditions to azaleas. There are many companion plants to choose from, which we discuss in this blog.
Tips to Consider When Growing Companion Plants
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Look for plants that need acidic, moist, organic, fertile, and well-drained soil to grow, just like azaleas.
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Don't select a companion plant that competes with azaleas for nutrients and moisture.
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The blooming season of companion plants should be the same as azaleas to maintain visual interest.
The Best Companion Plants to Grow With Azaleas
Selecting the companion plant for Azaleas is an interesting yet challenging task. This is because the companion plant should be selected based on its growing needs and vibrancy. Companion plants are divided into three categories: shrub, annual, and perennial. Here is the list of plants you can grow with Azaleas under the three categories:
Shrub Companion Plants for Azaleas
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea is admired for its white and light pink blooms, which add to the beautiful color palette of azaleas. The other reason why gardeners like oakleaf is its similar requirement of sun and soil type.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 5-9
Light Requirement- Full or partial
Type of Soil Needed- Moist, well-drained, and acidic
Height- 4-8 feet tall
Miss Lemon Abelia
Miss Lemon abelia is an evergreen shrub whose foliage has a yellow color with a green center at the beginning of the bloom, which matures to ivory and green. This shrub is a perfect companion for azaleas, as the light pink bloom of Miss Lemon abelia and green foliage of azaleas pop against each other.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 6-9
Light Requirement- Full or partial
Type of Soil Needed- Prefers well-drained soil, but it can grow in any soil type.
Height- 3-4 feet tall
Korean Barberry
There are different views regarding barberry as a companion for azaleas. Some believe that another variety of barberry is suitable as a companion plant for azaleas. While other gardeners opine that Korean barberry is one of the species of barberry to grow as companion plants for azaleas. This is because Korean barberries fill the garden with their beautiful foliage color in the fall and produce edible berries around the same time.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-7
Light Requirement- Full sun and partial shade
Type of Soil Needed- Prefers well-drained soil
Height- 3-5 feet tall
Annual Companion Plants for Azaleas
Annuals are also preferred as companion plants for azaleas. Some of the hardy varieties of annuals with early spring bloom are Pansy, Violas, Dianthus, Larkspur, and Alyssum. White Alyssum is used as a companion for azaleas to act as a weed-suppressing groundcover under azaleas. Pansy, violas, and dianthus add vibrant color from spring to summer. It's advisable to choose a color that is similar on the color wheel, such as yellow and purple.
The biggest advantage of opting for annuals as companions for azaleas is that gardeners can change the combination from year to year, unlike perennials.
Perennial Companion Plants for Azaleas
Blueberry
Blueberry is an amazing companion plant choice for azaleas because blueberry gives a sweet spring harvest. There are other reasons that gardeners choose blueberries- they belong to the same family as azaleas, and like acidic soil to grow. Blueberries have red fall foliage.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-9
Light Requirement- Full sun
Type of Soil Needed- Sandy, acidic, and well-drained
Height- 1-15 feet tall(depending on the type of blueberry)
Witch Hazel
Another perennial to grow with azaleas is "Witch Hazel" because they have a short growth habit and root system, and their preference for soil doesn't interfere with the growth of azaleas. Another feature is that witch hazel spreads beauty in the garden during winter and fall with its changing leaf color.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-8
Light Requirement- Full sun or partial shade
Type of Soil Needed- Rich in organic content, moist, and well-drained
Height- 15-25 feet tall
Daffodils
Azaleas and daffodils are the perfect match for each other as both complement each other in the garden. Azaleas provide shade to daffodils, and daffodil flowers act as an organic mulch above the roots of azaleas. An important tip to consider is to select the species of azaleas and daffodils that can give similar shade flowers to fill the garden with bright blooms in orange, pink, white, and yellow.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-8
Light Requirement- Full sun or partial shade
Type of Soil Needed- Well-drained
Height- 6-16 inches tall
Wood Forget- Me- Not
It's an easy-to-maintain short-lived perennial which is loved for its stunning white, blue, or pink blooms with white and yellow centers. Wood forget-me-not has a blooming period from mid-spring to mid-summer. One of the interesting features is that its flowers attract butterflies and bumblebees. The leaves are elongated and lush green.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-8
Light Requirement- Full sun or partial shade
Type of Soil Needed- Well-drained and moist soil
Height- 15cm-30cm tall
Virginia Bluebells
It's an amazing perennial companion of azaleas. Virginia bluebells have blue flowers which can be planted as a border to complement with vibrant blooms of azaleas.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-8
Light Requirement- Full sun or partial light
Type of Soil Needed- Moist and neutral soil
Height- 1-2cm feet tall
Ostrich Fern
This perennial loves to thrive in a moist area of the garden, preferably next to a pond or any other water feature. Ostrich fern is usually planted away from azaleas because ostrich fern grows rapidly and can interfere with azaleas for nutrients. Also, azaleas and ostrich fern will have their own growing space.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-7
Light Requirement- Full sun or partial shade
Type of Soil Needed- Moist and rich soil
Height- 3-6cm feet tall
Hostas
Hostas need acidic soil to thrive and partial shade. It covers the area below where the azaleas bloom with greenery. Hostas add greenery to the garden, especially when a variegated variety is selected.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 3-9
Light Requirement- Partial sunlight or shade
Type of Soil Needed- Acidic, loamy, and well-drained
Height- 2 inches- -4 feet
Red Vein Enkianthus
This is another perennial companion for azaleas, which provides shade to flowering azaleas due to its tall habit. The shade keeps the flowering azaleas from the hot and drying sun.
USDA Hardiness Zones- 4-7
Light Requirement- Full sunlight or partial shade
Type of Soil Needed- Moist, rich, and well-drained
Height- 6 feet -16 feet
Conclusion
There are many companion plants to grow with azaleas, and each falls under distinct categories like shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Select the companion for azaleas after considering all the factors, such as soil requirements, amount of sunlight needed, and the desired aesthetic. Make sure the companion plants don't compete with azaleas for nutrients, etc.