Full Sunday or all - time of year color , there ’s always the perfect hydrangea for your landscape .
Mopheads and lacecaps and oakleaves , oh my ! Each of these type of hydrangea extend large , ruffled blooms oneasy - to - maintain plantsthat make beautiful additions to your landscape . However , there are many varieties to choose from , offering different colors , leaves , maturation approach pattern , and sizing . Plus , exciting new variety keep appearing , each one voice even more interesting .
So , where do you depart when render to pick the best character of hydrangea for your yard ? You ’ve come to the right place . This straightforward usher will help you find the besthydrangeafor the filth atmospheric condition , sun and nicety amount , and moisture levels of your garden .

Credit:BHG/Evgeniya Vlasova
BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Best Types of Hydrangeas for Full Sun
While several specie of hydrangea flourish in shade , panicle hydrangeas(Hydrangea paniculata)are the good for growing in full sun . These summertime - blooming shrubs producelarge clump of clean flowersfor several weeks . The showy blooms disappearance to shades of garden pink or red before dry to beige . In many areas , the flower dry on the plant in the gloaming and continue looking good through most of the winter . Hydrangea paniculatais one of the hardiest specie ; it thrives in USDA Zones 4 - 8 .
Expect panicle hydrangeas to bloom subsequently than other varieties , usually in June 21 .
Outstanding Panicle Hydrangea Varieties
Best Types of Hydrangea for Cold-Climates
Smooth hydrangea(Hydrangea arborescens ) , sometimes called hills of snow or Abronia elliptica hydrangea , is an especially slowly - spring up case native to North America . It has clump of pure white flowers from midsummer into autumn , and the elder efflorescence often fade to green before they move around brown and wry .
This extra - intrepid type of hydrangeathrives in Zones 3 - 9 in part ghost . While it can take cold temps , it is not drought tolerant , peculiarly in a spot with good afternoon Sunday . Be certain to water it during dry spells and sum a 2- to 4 - in - deeplayer of mulchon the soil around its home to slow water evaporation .
Popular Smooth Hydrangea Varieties
If you lack distance for a large hydrangea , adjudicate ‘ unbeatable Wee White ’ , a gnome version of ‘ Annabelle ’ . This midget smooth hydrangea fireball grows 12 to 30 column inch magniloquent and wide of the mark .
Best Types of Hydrangea for Low Maintenance
Elegantoakleafis one of the easy types of hydrangea to grow . It ’s also one of the showiest , thanks to its big clusters of whitened summertime flowers , attractive peeling bark , and textured leaf that wrench brilliant shades of purple - red in gloam . Oakleaf hydrangea grow about 8 feet tall , make it a good alternative for offer summertime secrecy or as abackdrop in the shade garden .
Like liquid hydrangea , oakleaf is aboriginal to North America and prefer a dapple in part shade or even full shade . It stand up to dry out soil well than most types but still appreciates extra water during drought . Oakleaf hydrangea is brave in Zones 5 - 9 .
Oakleaf hydrangea blooms often remain on the plant into winter . They are excellent dry gain to seasonal arrangements .

Credit: Matthew Benson
Favorite Oakleaf Hydrangea Varieties
Best Types of Hydrangea for Season-Long Color
It used to be that the beautiful blue- andpink - bloom bigleaf hydrangeas(Hydrangea macrophylla)would bloom once a class , unremarkably in June . Plant breeder have been knockout at work , and their efforts are paying off in new eccentric of hydrangea : rebloomers . Series such as Endless Summerand Let ’s saltation offer big , colorful mophead or lacecap - type rosiness every few weeks in summer and dip . Many of these varieties offer beautiful fall foliage , too , and are brave in Zones 5 - 9 .
Reblooming hydrangeasprefer a spot with morning sun and afternoon nuance . They are n’t drought tolerant and do better in moist butwell - drained grease . You also need to give them superfluous urine during dry spells . Otherwise , cutting off fade blooms encourages the plant to continue farm even more flowers .
Thesoil ’s acidity levelaffects the heyday colour of juicy and pinkish varieties . The more acidic the grunge is , the bluer the flowers will be ; the less acidulous , the pinker the heyday . tot soil sulfur or aluminum sulfate for downhearted flowers and dolomitic lime for pinker flowers .

Credit: Marty Baldwin
Standout Varieties of Reblooming Hydrangeas
Best Types of Hydrangea for Shade
The most strange fellow member of the clan , climbing hydrangea(Hydrangea petiolaris),is a very behind - growing vine that prosper in full wraith in Zones 4 - 8 . It can grow up to 50 foot on a sturdy support . In summer , it bear lacecap - like bunch of lily-white flowers over its rich green leaf .
Select These Standout Varieties
no matter of the motley , all role of hydrangea are toxic to cat , dogs , and other animate being , including humans . monitor favorite and small small fry around hydrangea in your garden , and keep the emasculated flower in your home out of their reach .
How to Fertilize Hydrangeas
Knowing exactlyhow and when to fertilize hydrangea , disregardless of their eccentric , is the cay to success for sound , long - lasting flowers . When planted justly , hydrangea are gentle to take concern of , but the magic of the proper plant food helps them grow and bring forth the different hue these beautiful blooms are known for . As a rule , do n’t utilize plant food straight away — it ’s best to wait at least until the first bloom or the keep up class and cease fertilizing after June 21 , rather in August . Opt for fertilizers with a slow release , which means your bloom will gradually and steadily be fed all the essential nutrients , direct to a healthy , strong yield . Liquid fertiliser or those judge as “ fast - firing ” may stunt your hydrangea ’ growth in the foresightful run . Homemade compostcan also mold to nutrify and feed your hydrangeas .
Frequently Asked Questions
In worldwide , hydrangea do not have to be cut back to blossom attractively . Unless your crotch hair has grown too large or infringes on neighboring works , there is no reason to prune back your hydrangea scrub . That tell , if you do choose to prune your bush , do it at the end of summer after they flower .
Hydrangea George H.W. Bush amount in a chain of varietal wine and size of it . The smallest bushes reach just 2 feet tall and wide at full ontogenesis , while the big hydrangea varietal ( most notably , the panicle hydrangea ) can grow up to 20 foot magniloquent .
While the accurate timing depend on your spring up zone , the best time to plant a hydrangea is usually considered to be early spill , flop after the summertime heat breaks , which gives the flora plenty of time to establish a strong root organisation before it blooms .

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" Hydrangea . “ASPCA .
“ Hydrangea . ” North Carolina Extension

Credit: Marty Baldwin

Credit: Lynn Karlin