Great Ferns as Companion Plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons

Azaleas and Rhododendrons, with their beautiful flowers, are some of the best-loved sights of spring. Producing a blaze of color, these popular ornamental shrubs are 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.

Shade-loving plants, Ferns are lovely companion plants to Rhododendrons and Azaleas. They are both desirable and suitable additions to the splendid flowers of Azaleas or Rhododendron and give an extra dimension to the garden. They make a charming groundcover and, thanks to their light rooting, do not take away the required moisture from their shrub companions if planted thickly. Their form and texture also tend to reduce the legginess of your Azalea shrubs, and handsome effects can be created by choosing the perfect leaf shapes that complement and contrast beautifully with the growth habit of your Azaleas and Rhododendrons.

Here is a list of favorite Ferns as companion plants for Azaleas and Rhododendrons.

Many other varieties are suitable for companion planting with your Azaleas and Rhododendrons, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find your own successful plant combinations! These companion plants must, however, be able to thrive under the same growing conditions as Azaleas and Rhododendrons.