There are as many as 80 different species of hydrangea, according to some sources, while others only list 23. Regardless of the number, only six varieties are frequently planted in American gardens. Compare their qualities by looking at the details below.
What kind of hydrangea is the most popular?
Summer, ah! A time for sun tea, hammocks, and what’s this? The hydrangea is the summertime flower to have! This popular bushy garden plant doesn’t only come in one size fits all. In North America, hydrangeas come in five primary varieties. While there are many different varieties, most hydrangea only prefer early sun (you can find lots of plants for shady spots in your garden and the best shade perennials to pair with them).
Bigleaf, or French, hydrangeas are the most prevalent variety (Hydrangea macrophylla). Mophead (large puffy balls), lacecap (identical to mophead but with tiny buds in the middle), and mountain are the three categories (similar to lacecap, but extremely cold hardy with smaller blooms). Large, cone-shaped flowers on panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are typically white but can occasionally become pink depending on the cultivar. These are the only varieties of hydrangea that grow into trees as opposed to bushes.
The United States is home to two of the major hydrangea species. Smooth hydrangeas, commonly referred to as “wild hydrangeas,” can endure hotter conditions and are frequently grown as hedges. These flowers typically have white and green blossoms. In regions with warmer summers, oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) bloom at their finest. Flowers have leaves that change from green to orange to burgundy, and they bloom in white, green, or purple.
Our list is completed by climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris). The 80-foot-long vines that resemble these hydrangeas are in fact hydrangeas. Most have substantial, scented blooms.
Find some of our favorites of each species to include in your garden by reading on. They’ll only make your other budget-friendly backyard design ideas better!
This mophead bigleaf thrives in direct to indirect sunlight. In more acidic soils or when aluminum sulfate is added, the variegated petals, which are not all solid colors but have edges in one hue and transition into another, will blossom blue instead of their usual pink color. Since it is a dwarf type, it doesn’t require much pruning to maintain its compactness.
The bigleaf mophead has a catchy name and plenty of blooms to back it up! One of the first hydrangeas to bloom, the blossoms start off pure white before turning bright pink as they ripen. Flowers with sturdy stems stay standing in the garden and make excellent additions to bouquets and decorations.
The mophead flowers of another bigleaf hydrangea have been cultivated to bloom continuously throughout the season. The enormous blooms start out green, change to pink, and frequently return to green. Unless you have more acidic soil, the default color of bigleaves is typically in the pink and red range.
This beautiful lacecap hydrangea is one of the best at reblooming. Depending on your soil, this plant has compact, double blooms that are either blue or pink. The durable choice for gardeners in northern zones, the blossoms resemble water lilies.
This natural oakleaf hydrangea has double florets, which results in a wonderfully large, conical bloom that matures to green color. These can withstand full sun and up to four hours of shade.
The blooms on this oakleaf cultivar begin as a bright white before changing to a brilliant pink. Once fall weather arrives, the rich green leaves become a deep burgundy color.
The blooms on this extremely hardy smooth hydrangea can reach a foot in width. This particular type has lime green blossoms that become dazzling white before returning to green. They make wonderful bouquets and centerpieces due to their robust stems that are resistant to flopping.
This hydrangea’s silky, ruby-red buds open to reveal a lighter pink blossom with sharp edges. Its dark green foliage dramatically contrast with the vivid bloom. This plant is simple to care for and blooms best in a location that receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
A popular plant in gardens is this panicle hydrangea. When planted as a hedge or scattered around your garden bed, the pistachio-colored blossoms look really stunning. The blossoms shift from white to blush to deep pink as fall approaches. In your garden, they can be groomed into beautiful tree shapes.
Anomala petiolaris, a climbing hydrangea, has heart-shaped leaves and big white flower clusters. Although it grows well in both sun and shade, afternoon shade is essential in the Deep South and western zones 9 and 10.
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What hydrangea has the most gorgeous flowers?
Top 15 Hydrangea Flowers in Beauty
- Rocklin’s Aspera Hydrangea
- Konigstein’s Hydrangea Macrophylla:
- Lemmonhoff’s Hydrangea Macrophylla:
- Nikko Blue Macrophylla Hydrangea:
- Macrophylla Taube’s Hydrangea:
- Munchkin’s Hydrangea Quercifolia:
- Glowing Embers Hydrangea Macrophylla Alpengluhen:
- Ever Pink Hydrangea Macrophylla:
What kind of hydrangea do I have, and how can I know?
The aforementioned plant traits make it simple to distinguish between climbing and oakleaf hydrangeas, hence they will not be covered in this section.
Shape of the Flower Head
- A paniculata type is most likely present if the flower head is formed like a cone.
- It is either a macrophylla or an arborescens kind if the flower head resembles a ball or a flat disk. Visit the section on Flower Color.
Robert Pavlis’ photograph of a hydrangea arborescens from the side, highlighting the flower’s dome-shaped crown
Flower Color
- A macrophylla type is present if newly opened blooms feature blue, purple, or pink blossoms.
- An arborescens type is present if the flower buds initially seem green, then turn white, and finally turn green or greenish brown as they ripen.
- You likely have a macrophylla kind if the flowers are white when they first open and remain white as they age. Although they are less common, white flowered macrophylla varieties do occur.
Note: Recent breeding is beginning to develop arborescens with flowers that have a pink tint, such as “Eco Pink Puff.” Future cultivars should have a stronger version of this pink.
They are hardy
The species of hydrangea most tolerant of freezing temperatures is the panicle. They are dependable shrubs or tiny trees that thrive with little effort. Their sturdy, reddish-brown branches range from being straight to arching and occasionally bow from the weight of the enormous blossoms. Although something closer to 6 or 8 feet tall and wide is more typical, something up to 15 feet tall and wide is possible. Panicle hydrangeas are typically too large for small gardens, but anybody may enjoy them with careful pruning or by picking a tiny variety like ‘Dharuma’ or Quick FireTM.
Pruning doesn’t affect bloom
Panicle hydrangeas don’t mind being clipped, unlike bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla cvs., Zones 69). Typically in early spring, I advise trimming the plants back by about half of their height before the leaves appear, though this is optional if you have space for a larger plant. Due to space limitations in the trial beds, we had to start trimming, but the better habits and results we saw afterward encouraged us to keep doing it. The size of the hydrangeas with annual pruning is depicted in the chart below. Contrary to many bigleaf varieties, panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, thus trimming won’t stop them from producing blooms and might even make them bigger. Annual trimming, in contrast to some accounts, did not promote long, feeble stems that were unable to sustain the weighty blossoms. All the cultivars, with the exception of “Dolly,” were robust enough to support their blossoms.
Flower type and size vary
Panicle hydrangeas produce a mixture of beautiful, sterile florets and frothy, fertile florets in their flowers. The showy florets, which vary in size and number depending on the cultivar, create the protracted bloom show, which is accentuated by a transformation from white to various pink tones. Unsurprisingly, the breeding trend has been to enhance the pink hue of the wilting blooms. I employ the words “To distinguish between the two floral varieties of panicle hydrangea, use the terms lacy and “mop.” In contrast, Lacy describes an open panicle with showy florets scattered throughout the fertile flowers “Mop is a sign of an excess of colorful florets with fertile florets buried beneath.
Watch the pHbut don’t worry about deer
I discovered that the alkaline nature of our soils at the Chicago Botanic Garden, particularly in hot, dry weather, may contribute to panicle hydrangea foliar chlorosis. Consistent watering will guarantee healthier foliage and more robust bloom output in hot conditions. Panicle hydrangeas are resilient to urban environments and rarely encounter pests or illnesses. While some cultivars are frequently praised for their mildew tolerance, none of our plants ever developed powdery mildew. Deer also favor bigleaf hydrangeas, but they usually show less interest in panicle varieties.
They have some winter interest
I’m not crazy about going into detail about a plant’s winter characteristics, but I disagree with detractors who claim that panicle hydrangea lacks any winter appeal. When rimmed with frost or covered in snow, the faded brown blossoms add some color and structural interest. I prefer to leave them on till spring because I’m a lazy gardener at heart and I’ll be pruning the branches anyway. When the crispy panicles break off and roll across the garden like tiny tumbleweeds, it’s entertaining.
How many hues are there in hydrangeas?
Along with white, bigleaf hydrangeas come in hues of pink, red, blue, and purple. White types never change color; they always bloom white. Similar to this, red varieties—which are actually very deep pink rather than pure scarlet red—will typically maintain that color in all soils. The color, tint, and intensity of pink, blue, and purple options, however, can all change based on the soil conditions.
What hydrangea is the largest?
The panicle hydrangea bush (Hydrangea paniculata) has lengthy panicles of white, closely packed blooms, as its name suggests. The maximum average height and width of this kind of shrub, which is the largest, are 15 and 12 feet, respectively. It is capable of rising to a height of 25 feet. The panciles are also very big, with a maximum length of 18 inches. The panicle hydrangea is hardy and can withstand urban environments, cold climates, and USDA zones 3 through 8. It blooms in the late summer, and occasionally the weight of the flowers causes the branches to sag to the ground.
Should hydrangeas undergo a fall pruning?
Only prune these hydrangeas in the summer after bloom, not in the fall. In August and September, old wood hydrangeas begin to form their bloom buds for the following year. It is advisable to delay pruning your hydrangeas until the following year if you don’t do it right away. If not, there won’t be any blossoms the next spring.
Do hydrangeas come in two varieties?
Also known as hortensia, florist’s hydrangeas, and French hydrangeas. The most typical variety of hydrangea to be found in the US is this one. Mophead, lacecap, and mountain hydrangeas are the three different varieties of hydrangea macrophylla. As long as the winter is not too harsh and dry, some mophead hydrangeas can survive in colder climates. After a prolonged warm weather, hydrangeas are most vulnerable when exposed to a freeze. Additional protection could be needed there.
Which hydrangea is the rarest?
According to Yost, the “Twist and Shout” cultivar has two distinct flower heads, giving the blooming a lacy appearance. She calls this bloom “a variant of the ‘Endless Summer’ collection that blooms twice per season.” The combination of larger and smaller blooms is what genuinely distinguishes this cultivar. This uncommon jewel prefers USDA Hardiness Zones four through nine and should be planted in a location where it will receive some afternoon shade.
What type of hydrangea is the simplest to grow?
Why are oakleaf hydrangeas so straightforward? They are not particular! In comparison to other hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangeas can withstand cooler temperatures, greater sunlight, drought, and pests and diseases, and they do better in sandy soil.
a. hydrangea a.
Big, powerful, and gorgeous! The University of Georgia declared Alice the most resilient and trouble-free hydrangea. Beware, Alice is a large gal who can reach a height of 15 feet and a width of 15 feet.
Features:
- Native
- beautiful fall foliage with burgundy and copper hues
- a little deer resistant
Enjoy the beauty of snowflakes in the middle of summer with the snowflake hydrangea. The snowflake variety of oakleaf hydrangeas blooms for the longest period of time. Additionally, it truly stands out because to its double flowers! It’s understandable why this hydrangea is one of the most well-liked varieties.
June till the end of summer. Snowflake-like, stark white, double flower blossoms that first turn pink then brown.
- rapid growth
- doubling up
- Stunning maroon foliage in the fall.
Red-leafed hydrangea little but mighty This small hydrangea, which only reaches a height of 4′, produces nine flower blooms at once. And the duration of those flowers is up to two months. Think again if you believe you lack space for a hydrangea. Even a tiny garden will suit Ruby Slippers!
In the early to mid-summer. massive white flowers that quickly become pink in color
- Compact
- enduring pink flowers
- thrives in hot, dry conditions with inadequate soil.
- striking red fall foliage that persists till the beginning of winter
After it has grown, fertilize your oakleaf hydrangea every spring with Espoma’s Plant-tone.