Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea quercifolia, Hydrangea serrata, Hydrangea arborescens, Climbing Hydrangea, Bigleaf Hydrangeas, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Panicle Hydrangea, Smooth Hydrangea
With over 70 species, hydrangeas offer a range of sizes, flower forms, colors, and care requirements, making them a popular choice for gardens worldwide. However, selecting the right one depends on several factors, including climate, available sunlight, and intended use. This guide will walk you through the main types of hydrangeas, their unique characteristics, and how to choose the perfect one for your landscape.
Bigleaf hydrangeas are among the most popular ornamental varieties, admired for their large, showy blooms and lush foliage. Known for their ability to change flower color based on soil pH, they offer dynamic beauty throughout the growing season. There are two types:
Native Region: These flowering shrubs are native to Japan, China, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia. They have been cultivated for centuries in these regions and remain a garden favorite worldwide for their versatility and vibrant blooms.
Bloom Time: They bloom from late spring to early fall, providing color throughout the growing season. Regular deadheading can extend the bloom period.
Size: Mature plants typically grow between 2 to 6 feet (60–180 cm) in both height and width, making them suitable for hedges, borders, or container gardens.
Hardiness Zones: They thrive in USDA Zones 5-9, performing best in partial shade with moist, well-drained soil. They can struggle in extreme cold or intense heat, making them ideal for temperate climates.
Panicle hydrangeas are known for their cone-shaped flower clusters and tolerance to full sun. They bloom on new wood, making them a reliable choice even after harsh winters. They produce flowers that start as white and gradually turn pink or red as they mature.
Native Region: Native to Asia, including Japan and China, where they have long been appreciated for their adaptability and beauty in diverse climates.
Bloom Time: They bloom from mid-summer through fall and extend color into the later part of the growing season, offering dynamic changes as temperatures cool.
Size: These flowering shrubs can grow 8 to 20 feet (2.4 to 6 meters) tall, with a spread of 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 meters), making them suitable for hedges, borders, or large landscapes
Hardiness Zones: They are one of the most cold-tolerant varieties, thriving in USDA Zones 3-8. Their ability to bloom on new wood ensures consistent flowering, even in colder regions where winter damage might affect other types
Smooth hydrangeas are admired for their rounded white flower clusters and reliable blooms. These shrubs bloom on new wood, meaning they produce flowers on fresh growth each year, ensuring consistent flowering even after harsh winters. They are more cold-tolerant than many other types, making them a great choice for colder climates. The popular cultivar ‘Annabelle’ is especially well-known for its large, showy white blossoms, brightening gardens throughout the growing season.
Native Region: Native to the eastern United States, they thrive in a variety of environments, from woodlands to open meadows, and are well-suited for North American landscapes
Bloom Time: They bloom from early summer to fall, providing long-lasting seasonal interest. The flowers open lime-green, mature to bright white, and gradually fade to soft brown in the fall, offering year-round charm.
Size: These shrubs typically grow between 3 to 6 feet (90–180 cm) in both height and width, making them suitable for borders, hedges, or mass plantings in garden beds.
Hardiness Zones: They are hardy in USDA Zones 3-8, tolerating colder winters better than Bigleaf hydrangeas. Because they bloom on new wood, they are not affected by winter dieback, making them a dependable choice in regions with harsh climates.
Oakleaf hydrangeas are admired for their distinctive, lobed foliage that resembles oak leaves, giving the plant its name. These shrubs offer more than just summer blooms—they provide spectacular fall foliage with leaves that turn shades of red, orange, and purple as temperatures cool, adding seasonal beauty to any landscape. Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood, meaning flower buds develop the previous year, so careful pruning is necessary to avoid disrupting the next season’s blooms.
Native Region: Native to the southeastern United States, particularly in woodland settings, they are well-suited for naturalized gardens and thrive in shaded, moist environments
Bloom Time: Blooming from late spring to mid-summer, they produce cone-shaped flower clusters that start as white and slowly turn pink or bronze as they mature, adding extended seasonal interest
Size: These versatile shrubs grow between 2 to 8 feet (60–240 cm) tall and wide, making them ideal for foundation plantings, woodland gardens, or mixed borders. Some dwarf varieties stay more compact, fitting well into smaller landscapes
Hardiness Zones: They thrive in USDA Zones 5-9, preferring partial shade but tolerating full sun if the soil is kept consistently moist. They perform well in humid climates and are more tolerant of dry conditions once established than other types.
Mountain hydrangeas are compact, deciduous shrubs known for their subtle beauty and elegance. Although they closely resemble Bigleaf hydrangeas, they are distinguished by their smaller leaves and more delicate flowers. These shrubs bloom on old wood, meaning their flower buds form the previous year, requiring careful pruning to avoid disrupting the next season’s blooms. Mountain hydrangeas thrive in cooler climates, making them an ideal choice for shaded or woodland gardens.
Native Region: Indigenous to the mountains of Japan and Korea, they are perfectly suited to cooler, humid environments and thrive in temperate gardens
Bloom Time: They bloom from early to late summer, offering lacecap-style flowers that feature small, fertile blooms in the center, surrounded by showy, sterile florets, adding a refined charm to any landscape
Size: These shrubs typically grow 2 to 4 feet (60–120 cm) tall and wide, making them well-suited for small gardens, borders, or containers. Their compact habit also makes them ideal for planting in limited spaces.
Hardiness Zones: They thrive in USDA Zones 6-9, preferring partial shade to protect them from intense afternoon sun. Their tolerance for cooler climates makes them a reliable choice for regions with mild summers.
Climbing hydrangea is a vigorous, deciduous vine that attaches itself to surfaces using aerial rootlets, allowing it to ascend walls, fences, arbors, and trellises gracefully. As it climbs, it transforms bare structures into lush, living features, adding charm and elegance to any landscape. During the growing season, it displays heart-shaped, dark green leaves, which turn a golden-yellow in the fall, adding seasonal interest.
In late spring to early summer, they produce fragrant white flowers in flattened clusters, featuring a ring of showy sterile florets encircling smaller, fertile ones. These delicate blossoms attract pollinators, enhancing biodiversity in the garden. This vine’s ability to provide year-round beauty makes it a versatile addition to both formal and naturalized landscapes.
Native Region: Native to the woodlands of Japan and Korea, they are adapted to shady, moist environments and thrive in forest-like settings.
Bloom Time: Blooms appear from late spring to early summer, bringing fragrance and subtle beauty to the landscape during this season.
Size: This vine can grow 30 to 50 feet (9-15 meters) tall and 5 to 6 feet (1.5-1.8 meters) wide, making it suitable for large walls or trellises. With regular maintenance, it can also be pruned to fit smaller spaces.
Hardiness Zones: They are hardy in USDA Zones 4-9, thriving in partial to full shade, though they can tolerate morning sun if provided with adequate moisture
When choosing the best onefor your garden, consider the following factors:
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Hydrangeaceae |
| Genus | Hydrangea |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders |
All parts of the plant are considered poisonous if ingested due to the presence of cyanogenic glycoside. It’s generally safe for humans to handle, but ingestion can cause discomfort. Hydrangea is considered toxic to pets, including dogs and cats.
When selecting a hydrangea, consider your climate, space, and desired features. Look for healthy foliage and strong stems, ensuring there are no signs of pests, diseases, or wilting. If you want a specific flower color (e.g., blue or pink), choose a Bigleaf hydrangea, but be aware the soil pH will influence the color. Confirm the plant’s USDA hardiness zone compatibility and mature size to ensure it fits your space. Check for reblooming varieties if you want flowers throughout the season.
The Panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is considered the easiest to maintain. It tolerates full sun, thrives in various soil types, and blooms on new wood, meaning it will flower reliably even after harsh winters or pruning errors. It also requires minimal watering once established and is resistant to pests.
Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), such as the popular ‘Annabelle,’ is among the most reliable bloomers. It flowers on new wood, ensuring dependable blooms year after year, regardless of winter conditions. It is also more tolerant of shade and cold than other varieties.
Avoid planting hydrangeas in low-lying areas where water can pool, as they dislike waterlogged soil, which can lead to root rot. They also don’t perform well in deep shade, which may result in poor flowering. Planting near walls with reflected heat or under trees with heavy root competition can stress these shrubs.
Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), especially reblooming varieties, offer the longest blooming period. These varieties flower on both old and new wood, ensuring continuous blooms from late spring through fall. Some Panicle hydrangeas also provide long-lasting flowers that change color as they mature, adding extended interest.
tkaiworks / 123RF Stock Photo
| Hardiness |
3 - 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 9 |
| Plant Type | Shrubs |
| Plant Family | Hydrangeaceae |
| Genus | Hydrangea |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Dried Arrangements, Cut Flowers, Showy |
| Attracts | Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Patio And Containers, Hedges And Screens, Beds And Borders |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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