Best Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons

Azaleas and Rhododendrons, with their beautiful flowers, are one of the best-loved sights of spring. Producing a blaze of color, these popular ornamental shrubs are, however, showy for only a relatively short season when in bloom. Their spectacular display can be extended by selecting species or cultivars with different blooming times or planting companion plants for greater diversity.

Appealing and long-lasting planting combinations can be created with companion plants that enjoy early or late blooming periods, showy fall color, persistent showy berries, or attractive textural contrast with your Azaleas and Rhododendrons. These companion plants, whether shrubs, bulbs, or perennials, must, however, be able to thrive under the same growing conditions as Azaleas and Rhododendrons.

• Among the most popular companion plants for Rhododendrons and Azaleas are Kalmia latifolia (Mountain Laurel) and Pieris japonica (Japanese andromeda). Both species are medium-sized evergreen shrubs with great flower interest, providing a textural contrast to Azaleas and Rhododendrons.
• Since most Rhododendrons and Azaleas provide colorful interest in spring, choose companion plants with fall and winter interest, such as: Hamamellis species (Witchhazel), Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet), Berberis koreana or thunbergii (Barberry).
• Don’t limit yourself by considering trees and shrub species as the only adequate companions for Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Winter color can also be provided by perennials and bulbs such as Hellebores, Narcissus (Daffodil), Galanthus (Snowdrop).
• Hosta is another group of plants offering an enormous diversity of foliage color, shape, size, texture, and plant habit.
• Ferns are a group with a great variety of height, texture, and color whose arching, graceful fronds create pretty combinations with Rhododendrons and Azaleas.