But what should those other plants be?

Here are 12 shade-tolerant species that work well as astilbe companion plants.

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Purple astilbes alongside leafy hostas

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Looking forideas for your small garden?

Planting fine-formed astilbes behind your coarser-textured azaleas helps to create a feeling of space.

Plus, evergreen azaleas will ensure you have year-round interest.

Bright pink azalea flowers on small azalea bush filling frame, Surrey, England.

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Plus, their contrasting round leaves and compact form add visual interest when sitting alongside tall, soft astilbes.

Plus, both of theseplants grow in full shadeand still produce impressive blooms.

However, this combination isnt one for the shadiest of gardenstoo little light causes coneflowers to flop.

Pink scarlet begonia (Begonia coccinea) flower bush with green glossy background. Begonia coccinea is a plant in the begonia family, Begoniaceae. It is native to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

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Just double-check to allow enough space between them, as coral bells can spread to be 3 feet wide.

Their juxtaposing formsground-hugging, fuzzy-foliaged pulmonaria and tall astilbescreate a visually cohesive look.

Plus, both species aredeer-resistant shade plantsthat arent likely to get damaged by greedy grazers.

Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) flowers lined up on their stem.

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Columbine plant with blue-purple bell-shaped flowers and buds on thin red stems closeup

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

pink echinacea coneflower

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Group of coral bells plants in bloom.

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Crested Iris (Iris cristata) close up of the lavender-blue flowers and sword-like leaves

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Black-eyed susan daylilies with long leaves and yellow and red flowers

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

A cluster of Japanese painted fern leaves in a garden

The Spruce / Adrienne Legault

Hosta

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Front view of hellebore plants

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Lungwort

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