Even the most stunning shrubs and trees can shine brighter when paired with the right companion plants. These lacy, grassy, or leafy partners create a natural fringe or “skirt” of greenery around the base, the finishing touch known as facer plants.
Even better, their staggered bloom times and multi-season foliage keep the show going, extending the flowering, color, and interest of your garden long after the main plant’s moment has passed.
Let’s look at the top companion plants for filling in the space beneath popular shrubs and trees. Pulling double-duty as the best companion and facer plants for healthier, more beautiful gardens year-round.
Why Use Companion Facer Plants?
Acting like the perfect visual transition between lawn and garden bed in your landscape design. Facer and edging plants:
- Soften transitions between taller specimens and the ground
- Conceal bare stems, which is especially important for older, leggier plants
- Complete the look with layered texture and color
- Beautify and elevate a landscaping bed like a finishing touch
- Extend flowering beyond one season of color
- Attract pollinators and beneficial insects
- Act as a living mulch, which retains soil moisture and keeps roots cooler
- Are buffer zones between lawn and garden, preventing mower and weed-whacker damage to tree trunks
- Stop foot traffic from compacting soil around delicate feeder roots.
- Repel pests, improve soil, and help your garden thrive season after season
These companion plants don’t just fill space; they elevate it. Like a perfectly tuned orchestra surrounding a soloist, they frame the tree or shrub in rhythm and color, softening its edges and drawing the eye to its natural grace.
Together, they turn a single plant into a living composition, a harmony of texture, tone, and movement that makes the whole landscape sing!
Top 5 Shrubs and Their Best Companion Plants
If you love classic Hydrangea blooms, fragrant Lilacs, or the sculptural elegance of Japanese Maples, the right companions will make your landscape come alive from top to bottom!
1. Hydrangea Bushes and Tree-Form Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas love dappled shade, consistent moisture, and rich soil. Choose companion plants that enjoy similar conditions and accent their lush blooms to help fill in gaps and keep the roots cool.
Best Companions:
- Hostas: Their broad leaves complement Hydrangea's bold blooms and protect roots from drying out.
- Ferns: Add texture and a woodland feel while thriving in the same shaded conditions.
- Astilbe: Its feathery plumes echo Hydrangea's fullness and bloom in sync.
- Heuchera (Coral Bells): Vibrant foliage contrasts beautifully against Hydrangea leaves.
- Boxwood: Perfect for structure and evergreen contrast in mixed borders.
Bonus Tip: Mulch well and use compost to retain moisture around both Hydrangeas and companions.
2. Rose Bushes
Roses flourish with good air circulation, full sun, and nutrient-rich soil. Their companions should deter pests and complement the bold flowers with color or texture without sapping nutrients from their needy neighbor.
Best Companions:
- Lavender: Repels pests like aphids and enhances the romantic cottage garden look.
- Catmint: Soft, mounding foliage contrasts beautifully with upright Rose stems.
- Sage (Salvia): Attracts pollinators and adds spikes of blue and purple hues.
- Allium: Natural pest deterrent that adds height and structure.
- Geraniums (Hardy Cranesbill): Groundcover that shades roots and blooms beneath Roses.
Bonus Tip: Avoid crowding Roses; companions should stay at least 12–18 inches away for airflow.
3. Lilac Bushes
Fragrant Lilacs are spring superstars that pair beautifully with plants that bloom later in summer to extend your season of color.
Best Companions:
- Peonies: Bloom around the same time and share similar sunlight needs.
- Catmint: Blue tones balance Lilac's purple or pink hues.
- Daylilies: Keep color flowing after Lilacs fade.
- Phlox: Fragrant summer follow-up that loves full sun.
- Boxwood: Adds year-round green structure to frame Lilac's airy blooms.
Bonus Tip: Companion plants like Catmint and Daylilies keep pollinators coming long after Lilacs finish blooming.
4. Crape Myrtle Shrubs
Crape Myrtles thrive in heat and full sun, making drought-tolerant perennials perfect companions for these trees.
Best Companions:
- Russian Sage: Silvery foliage and lavender blooms contrast beautifully with Crape Myrtle bark.
- Coneflowers (Echinacea): Summer color that draws bees and butterflies.
- Black-Eyed Susan: Golden blooms enhance pink and red Crape Myrtle flowers and thriving in full sun.
- Ornamental Grasses: Soften the base of multi-trunk forms and add motion.
- Salvia: Long-blooming color echoing Crape Myrtle tones.
Bonus Tip: Choose low-growing companions to show off Crape Myrtle's trunk and bark patterns.
5. Butterfly Bushes
A pollinator magnet, Butterfly Bushes love sun and well-drained soil. Companion plants should also attract butterflies while extending seasonal color and thriving in the sun and xeric conditions.
Best Companions:
- Coneflowers: Peak summer color and nectar-rich blooms.
- Lantana: Colorful clusters butterflies adore.
- Zinnias: Annuals that fill sunny gaps with nonstop color.
- Russian Sage: Adds height and fragrance while repelling pests.
- Coreopsis: Sunny yellow flowers pair perfectly with purple or blue Butterfly Bush blooms.
Bonus Tip: Deadhead companions and the Butterfly Bush itself for an extended bloom season.
Top 5 Trees and Their Best Companion Plants
1. Japanese Maple Trees
These graceful trees thrive with filtered light and moisture-retaining soil. Companions should respect their roots and accentuate the foliage color.
Best Companions:
- Hostas: Large leaves contrast perfectly with delicate Maple foliage.
- Ferns: Add soft texture and shade tolerance.
- Coral Bells: Colorful foliage enhances red or gold Maple leaves.
- Small Azaleas: Love the same slightly acidic soil and partial shade.
- Japanese Forest Grass: Flowing texture mirrors Maple branches beautifully.
Bonus Tip: Avoid aggressive rooters near Japanese Maples; shallow-rooted companions are best.
2. Chaste Trees (Vitex)
With fragrant purple blooms and airy, aromatic foliage, Chaste Trees attract pollinators and love sun and heat.
Best Companions:
- Lavender: Drought-tolerant and aromatic.
- Salvia: Echoes the Chaste Tree's bloom color and attracts bees.
- Coneflower: Adds bold texture and contrast.
- Russian Sage: Silvery foliage makes blue blooms pop.
- Coreopsis: Long-lasting color for the base of Vitex trees.
Bonus Tip: Pair Chaste Trees with other water-wise perennials to create pollinator-friendly xeriscapes.
3. Fruit Trees (Apple, Pear, Peach, etc.)
Herbal companions around Fruit Trees can improve pollination by attracting pollinators, repelling pests, and enriching the soil.
Best Companions:
- Chives & Garlic: Repel aphids and fungal diseases.
- Comfrey: Feeds the soil and attracts beneficial insects.
- Borage: Improves pollination and deters hornworms.
- Marigolds: Ward off nematodes and aphids.
- Clover: Fixes nitrogen for overall tree health.
Bonus Tip: Underplanting fruit trees with pollinator-friendly perennials helps boost fruit set naturally. Try following fruit tree pruning guidelines to keep them healthy.
4. Evergreen Trees
Evergreens like Arborvitae, Spruce, and Pine benefit from companions that handle shade, acidic soil, and the drier soil beneath their canopy.
Best Companions:
- Hostas: Thrive in evergreen shade and offer lush foliage contrast.
- Ferns: Add woodland beauty under mature evergreens.
- Heuchera: Colorful leaves pop against deep green needles.
- Astilbe: Handles partial shade and moist spots around evergreens.
- Liriope: Excellent groundcover tolerant of pine needles.
Bonus Tip: Use pine needle mulch beneath evergreens to mimic their natural forest habitat and preserve soil moisture.
5. Dogwood Trees
Dogwoods love partial shade and rich, moist soil - perfect for woodland-style companions.
Best Companions:
- Ferns: Classic woodland partners.
- Wild Ginger: Groundcover that thrives in shade.
- Bleeding Heart: Spring blooms complement Dogwood flowers.
- Hostas: Fill in gaps with broad, lush foliage.
- Trillium: Native wildflower that pairs beautifully under Dogwoods.
Bonus Tip: Keep roots cool with leaf mulch and moisture-retaining companion groundcovers.
Planting and Spacing Tips for Companion Planting
Companion planting around trees and shrubs takes a bit of care and planning. Here’s how to help both thrive:
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Give Roots Room: Avoid disturbing the main roots of your tree or shrub with proper spacing. Plant companions outside the root flare (where the trunk meets the soil). Keep plants about 12–24 inches away from the base for airflow and access to water.
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Use the Drip Line: Place most companion plants around the “drip line” - the circle on the ground where rain drips from the outermost leaves. This ensures roots receive adequate moisture without competing with the central root zone.
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Layer Heights: Taller companions (like Salvia or Catmint) should go toward the midline, and shorter plants or groundcovers (like Heuchera, Clover, or Liriope) should hug the edge.
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Mulch Generously: Add a 3–4 inch layer of mulch around the base to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate temperature - but keep mulch away from the trunk or stems.
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Water Deeply: Both trees and companions benefit from deep, consistent watering, especially in their first year of establishment.
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Choose Similar Soil Needs: Always match the pH and moisture needs of your companion plants with those of your main tree or shrub. Using compost when planting helps balance nutrients and improve soil structure for both.
Perfect Plant Partnerships!
From the romantic pairing of Roses and Lavender to the serene harmony of Japanese Maples with Ferns, the best gardens are built on companionship. Smart plant pairings boost soil health, deter pests, and create layered beauty that keeps your landscape thriving across the seasons.
Happy Planting!
