Hydrangea efflorescence fall into one of two chemical group : mophead and lacecap . Both make beautiful addition to your garden . Here ’s a look at some of the most colorful varieties , and how to care for them so they ’ll raise the most blooms possible .

Mopheads

Mopheadhydrangeasoffer big , noggin - shaped clump of florets in blue , pink , or bloodless . Most bloom in late spring or other summer . Theirflower head often dry justly on the plantand go along looking good into winter . Mopheads arise best in a spot with moist , well - drain soiland a snatch of good afternoon ghost .

Big Daddy

One of the showiest mophead hydrangeas you could grow , ' Big pa ' is avariety of bigleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla ) that boast huge , 14 - in - wide clusters of blue or pinkish blossom . The long - lasting flowers are great for cutting , since they have such potent stems . The large flowers , however , can cause the stems to fall through if you grow the plant in special - rich soil or too much shade . It grows six foot marvellous and wide in Zones 5–9 .

Pink Shira

A relatively new bigleaf hydrangea variety with mophead peak , ' Pink Shira ' is a variety ofHydrangea macrophyllawith strong stems , compact habit , and long - lasting blossom . Its flower start out a adorable shade of lime green , then ferment pinkish or lavender ( this one does n’t go blue ) . It produce five feet tall and six animal foot panoptic in Zones 5–9 .

Cityline Paris

' Cityline Paris ' is another recent mophead initiation that stand out , thanks to its erect stems and compact habit . It features vivid fuchsia - pinkflowers that last a long timebefore pass off to a lovely shade of cat valium . It grows three metrical foot tall and three feet wide in Zones 5–9 .

Cityline Mars

A sis to ' Cityline Paris , ' ' Cityline Mars ' offer the same sloshed habit and strong stems . The bloom on this mophead are bicolored with white and either recondite drab — in acidulent soil — ormagenta in more alkaline filth . It farm three metrical unit tall and three feet wide in Zones 5–9 .

Black-Stem Hydrangea

blackened - fore hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla’Nigra ' ) has beautiful mophead flower , but as its name suggests , the stem are what stand out most . They ’re a dark purple - black colouration that contrasts with the green foliage and pastel blue-blooded or pink bloom . It grows six feet grandiloquent and wide in Zones 6–9 .

Lacecaps

Lacecap hydrangeasgive the garden a more finespun look . Instead of producing large rounded clustering of showy floweret , they organize a flower header compile of a anchor ring of colourful floweret surround a lacy cluster of small floret . Those small florets check ambrosia that feeds pollinator . When it comes to lacecap care , they have similar needs as their mophead cousins .

‘Lanarth White’

Considered one of the good lacecaps , Hydrangea macrophylla’Lanarth White ' record offlarge clusters of white floretsfaintly brushed with depressed or pink . Stiff stanch keep the spectacular flowers stand upright . ' Lanarth White ' grows four feet tall and panoptic in Zones 5–9 .

Rough-Leaf Hydrangea

Rough - foliage hydrangeas ( Hydrangea villosa ) are afavorite of gardeners in areas of the Southand Northwest and are a little more alone in coming into court than your average lacecap . They feature farseeing , narrow , hirsute foliage and bloom in later summer and free fall . They ’re also much larger , uprise to 12 foot tall and extensive in Zones 7–9 .

Light-O-Day

You ’ll have sex this hydrangea ’s beautiful leaf , even when it does n’t bloom . ' Light - O - Day ' is aHydrangea macrophyllavariety that features robust green foliage loosely edged in white . Its white lacecap blooms are an attractive accompaniment . ‘Mariesii Variegata’offers clean - edged leaf as well , and ' Lemon Wave ' have a wide band of mottled white , emollient , and yellow around the leaves . This shrub grows five feet improbable and wide in Zones 5–9 .

Reblooming Hydrangeas

A fistful ofmophead and lacecap hydrangeashave the ability to produce heyday on unexampled growth and run torebloom throughout the summer and into fall . They ’re a good choice for gardeners in northerly regions , because you do n’t ask to interest about inhuman temperature kill the prime bud in winter .

Endless Summer

' Endless Summer ' hydrangeais one of the most famed rebloomers . Introduced in 2004 , it set aside gardener in Northern climate to enjoy hydrangeas . It features grown mopheadclusters of gloomy or pinkish flowersand develop five feet tall and extensive in Zones 4–9 . There ’s also alacecap versionavailable ; it ’s call ' Twist - n - call . '

Blue Bunny

This pretty kind ofHydrangea involucratashows offblue clusters of lacecap flowersfrom midsummer to ice . ' Blue Bunny ' is a strong grower with slimly haired foliage and unique acorn - work flower buds . It grow four fundament tall and extensive in Zones 6–9 .

Let’s Dance Starlight

This lacecap hydrangea kind produces showy heyday for calendar month . It also has rich , glowering green foliage and a compact wont . ' get ’s Dance Starlight ' produce three feet tall and wide in Zones 5–9 .

About Flower Color

Some potpourri of both mopheads and lacecaps aresensitive to soil pH , and the flower reflect this . In acidic soils , flowers tend to be blue . In more alkaline soils , blooms tend be more pinkish . So as you memorise how tocare for your hydrangeas , love that if you ’d like tochange the color of your efflorescence , you ’ll have to add soil sulphur for more blue , or add lime tree for more pink .

About Fall Foliage

Mophead and lacecap varietiesofHydrangea macrophyllatypically have attractive gloaming leafage in shades of red and Burgundy wine . The colors vary from eccentric to type , so if a fall show is important to you , shop class in fall or enquiry which pick produce the best color at the remainder of the growing season .

‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea

' Annabelle ' hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens’Annabelle ' ) produces Brobdingnagian snowy - white mophead flowers . For that , it ’s sometimes called snowball hydrangea . The flower head do n’t exchange color , but they ’re among the biggest you ’ll find on a hydrangea . ' Annabelle ' rosiness on new woodwind , so the in effect time to prune it is in recent wintertime or early spring . It grow five foot tall and wide in Zones 4–9 .

Endless Summer ‘Bloomstruck’ Hydrangea flowers

Credit: Kritsada Panichgul

Blue mophead hydrangea

Credit: Emily Followill Photography

‘Big Daddy’ hydrangea

Credit: Lynn Karlin Photography

Pink Shira hydrangea

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Cityline Paris hydrangea

Credit: Studio Au King

close up of bicolored hydrangea flowers

Credit: Courtesy of Proven Winners

Black-stem hydrangea

Credit: David Speer

Lacecap hydrangea

Credit: Bryan E. McCay

Lanarth White’ hydrangea

Credit: Bill Stites/EYESWEET INC

Rough-Leaf hydrangea

Credit: Mike Jensen

Hydrangea ‘Light-O-Day’

Credit: Studio Au King

Several clusters of pink hydrangea blooms surrounded by green leaves

Credit: Courtesy of White Flower Farm

Endless Summer Blue Hydrangea macrophylla

Credit: Erica George Dines

Blue Bunny hydrangea

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Let’s Dance Starlight hydrangea

Credit: Studio Au King

Pink Hydrangea

Credit: Alise O’Brien Photography

Fall Foliage

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’

Credit: Emily Followill Photography