In North America, hydrangeas come in 5 different primary varieties. This comprehensive guide was created to make it simple for you to recognize different types of hydrangeas by looking at pictures for reference and key traits that they typically feature. For more thorough information on each type, click through. To read through the content quickly, there is a simple guide at the end of this post.
How many hydrangea species are there?
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.
How can I identify the type of hydrangea I have?
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.
What variety of hydrangea is 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.
To assist users in providing their email addresses, this content was produced and maintained by a third party and imported onto this website. You might be able to discover more details on this and related material at piano.io.
What hydrangea should I buy?
Best Hydrangea Varieties: Top 10 from Reliable Winners
- H. paniculata ‘Limelight’.
- H. paniculata, or little lime.
- Amazing H. arborescens
- Hydrangea with Fire Light Panicle.
- Bobo H.
- H. Pinky Winky
- Spirit of Invincibelle II H.
- Quick Fire Little H.
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.
Which hydrangea has the most blooms?
Historically, hydrangeas only had one blooming season. No longer! You may now pick from a wide selection of hydrangeas that bloom all summer long. Even now, you can prune these.
With reblooming hydrangeas, you can enjoy blossoms from June until the first frost since they bloom on both new and old growth. They’ll keep blooming long after other perennials and bushes with flowers have finished. Long-lasting flowers in shades of blue, violet, pink, white, or chartreuse give any garden vibrant splashes of color.
These hydrangeas also pull off a spectacular act. The color of the hydrangea varies according to how acidic your soil is. Beautiful blue hydrangeas are quite simple to make. All you have to do is add Espoma’s Organic Soil Acidifier to your soil.
The Authentic Hydrangea of Endless Summer
A gorgeous game-changer! The first continuously flowering hydrangea was called the Original Endless Summer. It’s also simple to maintain. Its season-long color-changing blossoms will amaze you.
late spring to early fall for blooms. Depending on the soil’s pH, blooms might be blue, purple, or pink.
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.
Which hydrangeas ought to be left unpruned?
If and when you prune is the key to happy, healthy hydrangea flowers. Of course, fertilizing and offering the ideal environment have a lot to recommend them. However, if you don’t prune properly, your efforts will be in vain. Deadheading is not the same as trimming. Pruning refers to more drastic cutting to preserve shape or remove dead growth. However, feel free to discard spent blossoms or cut fresh ones to use in arrangements.
Hydrangeas can bloom on either fresh wood or old wood, depending on the species. The wood from which they blossom determines whether and when to prune.
Old wood-blooming hydrangeas do not require pruning and benefit from it. They’ll blossom more abundantly the next season if you leave them alone. But feel free to deadhead or gently thin. Just keep in mind that while new growth may appear, it won’t bloom until the following season. In our region, four different species blossom on aged wood. Additionally, they are not limited to the hues displayed here.
Climb using suckers. On your wall or trellis, resist the desire to remove the dormant growth.
The flower heads are more conical in appearance, and the leaves are large and resemble oak leaves. It’s a pleasant surprise for a hydrangea when its leaves turn reddish-orange in the fall.
They are very comparable to lacecap types, but smaller and with more compact leaves.
Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring on hydrangeas that bloom on new wood. Trim back to two feet to prune to shape. The next season’s blossoms are produced by strong, fresh growth that is encouraged by trimming. In our region, there are two types that bloom on fresh wood. They are also not restricted to the colors displayed.
Oakleaf variants are not included in cone-shaped blooms. Keep the blooms on throughout the winter to provide interest; even dried out, they are quite lovely.
regarded as a wild kind. They often have smaller blooms and leaves than Bigleaf variants and are completely white. They enjoy full sun and can grow very tall.
Knowing whether or when to prune now will help you avoid the disappointment of a hydrangea that doesn’t blossom. Don’t forget that a robust shrub will produce more gorgeous blossoms if it has well-draining soil and good organic fertilizer. Come on in, and we’ll show you where to go to develop your green thumb.
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.
Which hydrangea grows best in the sun?
While many hydrangea species do well in the shadow, panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) do best when grown in full sunlight. Large clusters of white blooms are produced by these summer-blooming bushes for several weeks. The colorful blossoms dry to a beige color after fading to pink or crimson hues. The blossoms on the plant typically dry in the fall and retain their aesthetic quality for the whole of the winter. One of the toughest species, Hydrangea paniculata, thrives in Zones 4 to 8.
Outstanding Panicle Hydrangea Varieties
- The name “Grandiflora” is also used for peegee hydrangeas. It can grow to be a 20-foot-tall miniature hydrangea tree or a huge shrub.
- From summertime to late fall, ‘Limelight’ blooms with pale lime green flowers. It grows to be eight feet tall.
- Large clusters of white flowers on Vanilla Strawberry (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Rehny’) fade to strawberry pink as the season progresses. About seven feet is how tall it gets.