Companion Plants
Trees:
Acer circinatum (Vine Maple) - 5’ to 35’
Acer palmatum (Japanese Maple) - 3’ to 25’
Cornus kousa (Korean Dogwood)
Enkianthus campanulatus (Redvein Enkianthus) - 6’ to 12’ high
Stewartia pseudocamellia (Japanese Stewartia)
Stewartia monodelphus
Shrubs:
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’ (Dwarf Hinoke Cypress)
Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Lutea’ (Dwarf Yellow Hinoki Cypress)
Corylopsis pauciflora (Winter Hazel) - 3’ by 7’ eventually
Corylopsis sinensis (Winter Hazel) - 12’ to 15’ high
Fuchsia magellanica - 6’ tall by 3’ wide
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel) - 9’ to 12’ high
Hydrangea quercifolia (Oakleaf Hydranges) - 4’ tall by 6’ wide
Pieris japonica ‘Flaming Silver’ - 2’ to 3’ tall
Vaccinium glauco album - 2’ tall by 2’ wide
Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry) - 3’ tall by 3’ wide
Vaccinium viti-idaea (Cowberry) - 16” high spreads by underground runner
Perrenials:
Aconitum napellus (Monkshood), Anemone blanda (English Wood Anemone)
Aruncus aethusifolius (Dwarf Goatsbeard), Asarum europaeum (European Wild Ginger), Asarum ‘Splendens’ (Chinese Wild Ginger), Astilbe (all are nice),
Astrantia major (many cultivars are nice), Beesia deltophylla,
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (lightens up the shade), Cardamine trifolora
Cardiocrinum giganteum (Giant Himalayan Lily - Wow!),
Cornus canadensis (Bunchberry), Cyclamen hederifolium (wonderful leaf patterns),
Cyclamen coum (bright winter flowers), Disporum cantoniense ‘Night Heron’,
Disporum flavens (Fairy Bells), Epimedium (There are many nice ones),
Erythronium oregonum (Fawn Lily), Hakonechloa macro ‘Aureola’ (Japanese Forest Grass - lightens up the shade and has good texture), Helleborus hybrids,
Helleborus argutifolius (Corsican hellebore), Heuchera (There are many nice ones, such as ‘Obsidian’), Hosta (You can never have too many, but the slugs love them.) Omphalodes cappadocica ‘Starry Eyes’,
Polyganatum odoratum ‘Variegata’ (Variegated Solomon Seal),
Primula (There are many nice ones), Pulmonaria, Saxafraga umbrosa ‘London Pride’,
Thalictrum delavayi (Yunnan Meadow Rue), Thalictrum kiusianum (Kyoshu Meadow Rue),
Tricyrtis (Toad Lily), Trillium ovatum (Western Wake Robin)
Ferns:
Ferns are a wonderful way to create contrast in shape, form, and texture in the rhododendron garden and there are many from which to choose.
Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern) is one of the best as it adds a pleasing architectural element to the garden and is evergreen.
Polystichum neolobatum has beautiful, shiny green fronds and has year-round interest.
Polystichum polybrephrem (Japanese Tassel Fern) has softer texture in the summer but unrolls fronds magnificently in the spring.
Polystichum setiferum ‘Divisilobum Multilobum’ is a wonderfully soft twisted mass of fronds. Terrific change in texture for rhododendrons and a lighter green.
Adiantum aleuticum (Western Maidenhair Fern) is a terrific, light and airy plant.
Athyrium angustum forma rubellum (Lady in Red). Red stipes. Spreads very slowly.
Athyrium filix-femina x niponicum ‘Ghost’ has a silvery sheen on the green fronds.
Blechnum spicant (Deer Fern) is a very interesting native fern.
There are many good Dryopteris ferns but among the best is Dryopteris wallichiana ‘Molten Lava’, a large handsome fern. Most Dryopteris are deciduous.