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A Charming Plant Combination for Shady Gardens: Hydrangea, Japanese Maple and Boxwood

Perennial Combinations, Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Spring Borders, Summer Borders, Fall Borders

Garden Ideas, Border ideas, Perennial Planting, Perennial combination, Spring Borders, Summer Borders, Fall Borders, Shade gardens,  Bxwood, Buxus, Hydrangea Annabelle, Astilbe, Hosta

This effortlessly graceful plant ensemble creates an inviting garden sanctuary from spring to fall. Designed for shady spots, its calming green and white palette delivers a cooling visual impact. The arrangement features Buxus sempervirens ‘Suffruticosa’ (Boxwood), an evergreen easily shaped into ornamental topiaries.

The scent and subtlety of deciduous Azaleas herald the garden’s awakening in spring, paving the way for the summer show-stopper—Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’—with its dazzling white blooms.

In the autumn, the Acer palmatum ‘Elegans’ (Japanese Maple) steals the scene, its foliage transforming into a brilliant display of orange and red hues.

Complementing these star shrubs are award-winning perennials: variegated Hostas for a touch of pattern, Astilbes for a delicate spray of lasting blooms, and the newly opened green fronds of Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern).

This garden set-up is not only visually stunning but also low maintenance and mostly rabbit-resistant. Each plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society’s coveted Award of Garden Merit, making this a collection of exceptional performers you can enjoy from spring through fall.

Garden Information

Hardiness 5 - 7
Heat Zones 2 - 8
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Formal Garden

Plants In This Garden

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Acer (Maple) Buxus (Boxwood) Hosta Hydrangea Rhododendron
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Alternative Plants to Consider

Rhododendron ‘Narcissiflorum’
Rhododendron schlippenbachii (Royal Azalea)
Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’ (Japanese Maple)
Acer palmatum ‘Katsura’ (Japanese Maple)
Hosta ‘First Frost’ (Plantain Lily)
Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball® (Smooth Hydrangea)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Garden Information

Hardiness 5 - 7
Heat Zones 2 - 8
Exposure Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid, Late)
Summer (Early, Mid, Late)
Fall
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam
Soil pH Acid, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained
Characteristics Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Plant of Merit, Showy
Attracts Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Landscaping Ideas Beds And Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Formal Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Acer (Maple) Buxus (Boxwood) Hosta Hydrangea Rhododendron
Get Garden Design Ideas
Search Gardens

Similar Garden Ideas

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Plant Quantity
Acer palmatum 'Elegans' (Japanese Maple) N/A Buy Plants
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Smooth Hydrangea) N/A Buy Plants
Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa' (Boxwood) N/A Buy Plants
Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern) N/A Buy Plants
Astilbe 'Bridal Veil' (Arendsii Hybrid) N/A Buy Plants
Rhododendron 'Daviesii' N/A Buy Plants
Hosta fortunei var. aureomarginata (Gold-Edged Plantain Lily) N/A Buy Plants

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