For extended bloom in the summer garden, it’s hard to beat hydrangeas. They come in such a wide array of types, from popular bigleaf and panicle varieties to distinctive oakleaf and rugged mountain. See photos and information about the most popular hydrangeas!
Hydrangeas are a safe bet for almost any gardener. These easy-care shrubs blossom when summer is at its peak, and they flower for weeks, adding color and life to gardens and vases. See our free Hydrangea Growing Guide for planting tips.
The world of hydrangeas includes specimens that range in color, form, and size—for almost every garden and landscape. They are terrific for containers and small gardens as well as mass plantings and long-flowering hedges.
If you are choosing a type of hydrangea, consider how large it will ultimately get, its growth habit (vine vs. shrub), its hardiness, and of course, its flowers.
Which Hydrangea is Right For You?
| If You Want… | Choose This Hydrangea |
|---|---|
| The easiest hydrangea to grow | Panicle |
| The cold-hardiest hydrangea | Smooth |
| Flowers that change color | Bigleaf |
| Spectacular fall foliage | Oakleaf |
| A compact shrub for small spaces | Mountain |
| A flowering vine | Climbing |
| Reliable blooms after harsh winters | Panicle or Smooth |
| Large, classic hydrangea flowers | Bigleaf |
Now that you’ve seen the key differences between hydrangea types, let’s take a closer look at each variety and what makes it unique.
Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla)
The most common garden hydrangea shrub is known as bigleaf (Hydrangea macrophylla), also called French hydrangeas. This showy and popular species can be categorized based on flower shapes: either mopheads (Hortensias) or lacecaps.
- Mopheads are hardy to Zone 6 and bear large, dense, pom-pom–type flower clusters composed mainly of sterile flowers. This group has the ability to change flower color based on soil pH.
- Lacecaps form flattened, round flower heads composed of an intricate combination of tiny, tight, fertile buds surrounded by a bracelet of showy, sterile ones. The result is an airy, elegant look. Lacecaps are suitable for Zones 5 to 9.
Hydrangea Macrophylla Varieties
- Hardy:
- Mopheads: Zones 6–9
- Lacecaps: Zones 5–9
- Recommended Varieties:
- ‘All Summer Beauty’ (mophead) has profuse, dark blue flowers, turning pinker in soils with near-neutral pH. If its buds are winter-killed, the plant will form new ones in spring and still bloom.
- ‘Nikko Blue’ (mophead) is vigorous, with large, rounded, blue flowers.
- ‘Blue Wave’ (lacecap) produces rich blue to mauve or lilac-blue to pink flowers.
- ‘Color Fantasy’ (mophead) has reddish or deep purple flowers and shiny, dark green leaves. It grows to about 3 feet tall.
Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata)
The panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) has been gaining in popularity—for good reason. It’s one of the easiest hydrangeas to grow. This is a good choice for a beginner: Simply plant it in full sun, step back, and watch it prosper. It grows almost anywhere, from Zones 3 to 9. No other hydrangea can match its tolerance to heat, cold, and drought.
Named for fat, cone-shaped flower heads, this big, gracefully arching shrub has 12- to 18-inch-long clusters of flowers that open white, then age beautifully to various shades of warm Victorian rose.
Unlike French hydrangeas and oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia), the panicle hydrangea blooms on new growth. So you won’t lose a year’s flowers to cold winters or pruning at the wrong time. You simply prune in late winter as you do many shrubs and trees.
Hydrangea Paniculata Varieties
- Hardy: Zones 3–8
- Recommended Varieties:
- Traditionally, the H. paniculata ‘Grandiflora’, or P. G. (“PeeGee”), was the most common panicle hydrangea. ‘Grandiflora’ is a big, old-fashioned, floppy variety. It can be grown as a 10- to 15-foot shrub or trained into a small tree. Rounded clusters of white flowers slowly age to pink.
- ‘Limelight’ has become the most popular gardeners’ choice recently. It’s a gorgeous shrub that produces cool-green flowers and grows to a height of 8 to 10 feet. A compact version, ‘Little Lime’, grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.
- For something different, try H. paniculata ‘Vanille Fraise’ (aka Vanilla Strawberry), which starts out with vanilla and reaches a strawberry shade! This hardy, low-maintenance, sun-loving plant can easily reach 6 to 7 feet in height. A smaller strawberry-colored hydrangea is H. paniculata ‘Rensun’ (Strawberry Sundae), which reaches heights of 4 to 5 feet.
- ‘Tardiva’, ‘White Moth’, and ‘Pee Wee’ fit the scale of small gardens.
Smooth Hydrangeas (H. arborescens)
The original “snowball” (a reference to its flowers) is native to the United States and one of the best hydrangeas for cold climates, flowering reliably as far north as Zone 3. The flowers of this species look like oversize white pom-poms. Although the plant puts on a grand show, a rain shower can cause it to flop under the weight of its blossoms.
- Hardy: Zones 3–8
- Recommended Varieties:
- ‘Grandiflora’ and ‘Annabelle’ produce many large (up to 14 inches across), tight, symmetrical blooms in late summer.
Oakleaf Hydrangeas (H. quercifolia)
A tough native, this graceful plant is a great addition to any landscape. Even though it is native to the Southeast, it exhibits incredible bud hardiness and thrives up to Zone 5. As the name implies, it has large, coarse leaves, shaped like those of an oak tree, which are noted for their spectacular fall colors ranging from red to bronze and purplish burgundy. The flower heads are cone-shaped and open white, fade to subtle shades of rose pink, and finally turn a rich brown that lasts all winter.
- Hardy: Zones 5–9
- Recommended Varieties:
- Expect exceptional fall color from ‘Snow Queen’, ‘Snow Flake’, and ‘Alice’.
Mountain Hydrangeas (H. serrata)
Considered by some botanists to be a variety of H. macrophylla and by others a distinct species, this type tends to be a small, fine-stem plant, primarily a lacecap, with leaves that exhibit a sawlike margin.
- Hardy: Zones 5–9
- Recommended Varieties:
- ‘Bluebird’ and ‘Diadem’ are beautiful examples of mountain hydrangeas.
- In acidic soil, ‘Preziosa’ produces blossoms of an extraordinary blend of pale shades of blue, mauve, violet, and green.
Climbing hydrangeas (H. anomala ssp. Petiolaris)
There are few plants that create as much excitement as a climbing hydrangea in full bloom. A strong deciduous vine, it blooms from late June to early July, exhibiting flat, lacy, creamy-white flowers 6 to 10 inches across, which look like fine antique lace against its thick, glossy leaves. The blossoms turn reddish brown when fading.
- Hardy: Zones 4–7
- Recommended Varieties:
- ‘Firefly’ is a newly-patented variety exhibiting variegated foliage.
Hydrangea Types at a Glance
| Hydrangea Type | USDA Zones | Sun Needs | Mature Size | Flower Shape | Blooms on Old or New Wood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigleaf (H. macrophylla) | 5–9 | Part Sun | 3–6 ft | Mophead or Lacecap | Old Wood |
| Panicle (H. paniculata) | 3–8 | Full Sun to Part Sun | 4–15 ft | Cone-Shaped | New Wood |
| Smooth (H. arborescens) | 3–8 | Part Sun | 3–5 ft | Round Snowball | New Wood |
| Oakleaf (H. quercifolia) | 5–9 | Part Sun | 4–8 ft | Cone-Shaped | Old Wood |
| Mountain (H. serrata) | 5–9 | Part Sun | 2–4 ft | Lacecap | Old Wood |
| Climbing (H. anomala) | 4–7 | Part Shade | 30–50 ft Vine | Lacecap-Like | Old Wood |
How to Prune Different Types of Hydrangeas
We can’t write about hydrangea varieties without touching on pruning. If you prune hydrangeas at the wrong time, they won’t flower. To complicate matters, different hydrangeas are pruned at different times. Namely:
- Panicle (H. paniculata) and smooth (H. arborescens) hydrangeas are pruned BEFORE flower buds are formed (late winter). These varieties blossom on the current season’s stems (“new wood”).
- Bigleaf (H. macrophylla) as well as oakleaf (H. quercifolia) are pruned right AFTER the flowers fade in the summer. These varieties bloom on the previous season’s stems (“old wood”).
See our page on How and When to Prune Hydrangeas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the easiest hydrangeas to grow?
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are often considered the easiest hydrangeas to grow. They tolerate a wide range of conditions, including heat, cold, and full sun, and they bloom reliably on new wood each year.
Which hydrangea blooms the longest?
Bigleaf and panicle hydrangeas are known for their long bloom periods, often flowering from midsummer into fall. With proper care, their blooms can last for several weeks or even months.
Which hydrangea grows best in full sun?
Panicle hydrangeas perform best in full sun and are more tolerant of heat and drought than most other hydrangea types. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can still be beneficial.
Which hydrangeas bloom on old wood?
Bigleaf, oakleaf, mountain, and climbing hydrangeas bloom on old wood, meaning they form flower buds on the previous season’s growth. Pruning at the wrong time can remove next year’s blooms.
Which hydrangeas bloom on new wood?
Panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood. Because they produce flowers on the current season’s growth, they are less affected by harsh winters and improper pruning.
What is the best hydrangea for small gardens?
Mountain hydrangeas and compact varieties, such as ‘Little Lime’ panicle hydrangea, are excellent choices for smaller spaces. Many grow just 3 to 5 feet tall and wide while still producing abundant blooms.
Which hydrangea variety is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
Comments