Shade gardens don’t have to be boring—pairing the right plants with hostas can add vibrant color, texture, and year-round interest.
From feathery ferns to bright blooms, these perfect companions bring contrast and life to your garden’s shady spots.
Get ready to create a lush, eye-catching landscape with these must-have plants!
Best Companion Plants to Pair With Hostas for a Stunning Shade Garden
1. Jacob’s Ladder
Delicate, fern-like foliage with ladder-like leaf arrangements adds soft texture to hosta beds.
Clusters of violet-blue flowers bloom in spring, attracting pollinators while brightening up shady areas.
Compact growth and a mounding habit make it an excellent filler plant that complements bold hosta leaves.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soil and thrives in partial to full shade. Tolerates cooler climates and benefits from regular watering in dry conditions.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Blue, Purple
• Botanical Name: Polemonium caeruleum
2. Ferns
Graceful, arching fronds provide a soft, airy contrast to hosta’s bold, structured foliage.
Lush greenery thrives in shady areas, creating a layered, woodland-inspired look in the garden.
Reliable and low-maintenance, ferns add texture and movement without overpowering nearby plants.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Grows best in moist, well-drained soil with high organic matter. Prefers full to partial shade and consistent moisture.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
• Average Size: 1-4 feet tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Non-flowering
• Botanical Name: Various species (e.g., Dryopteris, Athyrium, Polystichum)
3. Trillium
Delicate, three-petaled blooms in white, pink, or red add a woodland charm to hosta plantings.
Slow-growing but long-lived, trilliums naturalize well in shady gardens.
Unique foliage and elegant flowers provide seasonal beauty in spring before going dormant in summer.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers rich, moist, well-draining soil and thrives in full to partial shade. Best planted in fall for spring emergence.
• USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: White, Pink, Red
• Botanical Name: Trillium
4. Japanese Forest Grass
Graceful, cascading blades of golden-green foliage bring movement and contrast to hosta beds.
Slow-growing and non-invasive, this ornamental grass thrives in shade while softening hard edges in the garden.
Subtle color changes in fall add seasonal interest, ranging from deep gold to hints of red.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, well-draining soil and thrives in partial to full shade. Performs best in cool, humid climates with protection from intense afternoon sun.
• USDA Growing Zones: 5-9
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial Grass
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Non-flowering
• Botanical Name: Hakonechloa macra
5. Coral Bells
Vibrant foliage in shades of purple, red, green, and silver adds year-round interest alongside hostas.
Delicate bell-shaped flowers on slender stems attract hummingbirds and pollinators in late spring.
Compact growth fills in gaps beautifully, creating a full and colorful shade garden.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers well-draining, humus-rich soil and thrives in part shade. Tolerates full sun in cooler climates with adequate moisture.
• USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: White, Pink, Red
• Botanical Name: Heuchera
6. Siberian Bugloss
Heart-shaped leaves, often variegated with silver, create a luminous effect in shady areas.
Clusters of tiny blue flowers resemble forget-me-nots and add a delicate touch in spring.
Durable and low-maintenance, brunnera spreads gently to form a lush, weed-suppressing ground cover.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Thrives in moist, well-drained soil with partial to full shade. Prefers cooler climates and benefits from mulch to retain moisture.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Blue
• Botanical Name: Brunnera macrophylla
7. Bleeding Heart
Elegant, arching stems carry heart-shaped pink or white flowers that dangle like tiny ornaments.
Soft, fern-like foliage adds a delicate, airy feel to the garden and pairs beautifully with hostas.
Naturally dies back in summer, allowing hostas to take center stage for a seamless seasonal transition.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soil and thrives in partial to full shade. Cooler climates help prolong blooming, with best planting times in early spring or fall.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
• Average Size: 2-3 feet tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Pink, White
• Botanical Name: Dicentra spectabilis
8. Foamflower
Frothy spikes of white or pink flowers rise above deeply lobed foliage in spring.
Low-growing mounds of green or burgundy-tinted leaves create a soft, naturalized look in shady beds.
Spreading habit helps suppress weeds while complementing hostas with its delicate charm.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Grows best in moist, well-drained soil with partial to full shade. Prefers cool conditions and benefits from mulch to retain soil moisture.
• USDA Growing Zones: 4-9
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: White, Pink
• Botanical Name: Tiarella cordifolia
9. Lungwort
Speckled foliage in silver and green provides a striking contrast to hostas’ solid leaves.
Clusters of pink, purple, and blue flowers appear in early spring, attracting pollinators to shaded gardens.
Hardy and adaptable, lungwort thrives even in difficult growing conditions.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows best in partial to full shade. Tolerates drought once established but benefits from consistent moisture.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
• Average Size: 12-18 inches tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Pink, Blue, Purple
• Botanical Name: Pulmonaria
10. Wild Ginger
Lush, heart-shaped leaves form a dense ground cover that naturally suppresses weeds.
Small, hidden maroon flowers bloom beneath the foliage, adding intrigue to the shade garden.
Native to woodland settings, this plant is an excellent low-maintenance choice for filling gaps.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Grows best in rich, moist soil with partial to full shade. Thrives in woodland or naturalized garden settings with consistent moisture.
• USDA Growing Zones: 4-8
• Average Size: 6-12 inches tall, spreads wider
• Type: Perennial Groundcover
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Maroon (hidden beneath foliage)
• Botanical Name: Asarum canadense
11. Astilbe
Feathery plumes in shades of pink, red, and white create a striking contrast against hosta’s broad, textured leaves.
Continuous blooms bring color to shady garden spots while attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Deep green, fern-like foliage stays vibrant throughout the growing season, adding structure and elegance.
Optimal Growing Conditions: Prefers rich, moist, well-draining soil and thrives in partial to full shade. Best planted in spring or fall for strong root establishment.
• USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
• Average Size: 1-3 feet tall and wide
• Type: Perennial
• Thrives In: Part Shade, Shade
• Flower Color: Pink, Red, White, Purple
• Botanical Name: Astilbe
