Stunning Hydrangeas for the Southern Garden

These favorites serve up reliable blooms that look cool even on the hottest days

Hydrangeas(Hydrangeaspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) seem to be a necessary part of every southerly garden . Those big , billowyblue flowersunder magniloquent Tree in shady garden look cool even when the temperature is in the nineties . Since dwell in the Southeast practically necessitate you to implant a hydrangea , we are lean a few of the best that have proved to shine in our region . There is no empirical data to go with these choices , just opinion and experience .

‘Dooley’ bigleaf hydrangea offers reliable blooms and mildew resistance

One of the best big bluebigleaf hydrangeasis ‘ Dooley ’ ( Hydrangea macrophylla‘Dooley ’ , Zones 6–9 ) . A good - sizing shrub up to 6 feet in height , it makes big blousy heads of flush . It blooms reliably because it set flower bud on both honest-to-god and unexampled wood . This is of import in our part of theSouthbecause of warm snaps of 80 - degree days followed by hard freezes in the low 20s . We ’ve found ‘ Dooley ’ to also be more resistant to mold than other bigleaf hydrangeas in our garden . It produce best in a mixture of morning sun and afternoon spook .

‘Madame Emile Mouillere’ bigleaf hydrangea produces stunning white blooms

Another great bigleaf hydrangea is ‘ Madame Emile Mouillere ’ ( Hydrangea macrophylla‘Madame Emile Mouillere ’ , Zones 5–9 ) , an old Gallic choice with big white flower . The single bracts are often serrate along the sharpness , making the blooms even lacier . As the flowers age they often become a very wan shade of blue . This cultivar also grows up to 6 human foot tall and sets flower buds on sure-enough and fresh Mrs. Henry Wood . This mean if a late hard freeze does aside with the first round of flowers , there is a later bloom to come . It grow best in a mixture of sunup sun and good afternoon tad .

BloomStruck®bigleaf hydrangea has a smaller form with uniquely colored flowers

BloomStruck ® bigleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla‘PIIHM - II ’ , Zones 4–9 ) is part of the Endless Summer ® strain of hydrangea . The shrub is a bit smaller than most bigleaf hydrangea , staying in the 3- to 4 - foot range . Flowerheads cover the plant for most of the summer . The skilful thing about BloomStruck ® is its color . The flowers are mostly lavender purple , but there are some dark-green edges , pink bract , blue bracts , and lime - greenish bracts also mix in as the flowers long time . It spring up good in a mix of morning sunshine and good afternoon shade .

‘Snowflake’ oakleaf hydrangea is a showy native

Oakleaf hydrangeas(Hydrangea quercifoliaand cvs . , Zones 5–9 ) are aboriginal here . They care filtered sun and well - drained , dampish soil . One of the showiest of all is a variety called ‘ Snowflake ’ ( Hydrangea quercifolia‘Snowflake ’ ) , which was originally introduced by Aldridge Nursery . The lily-white cone-shaped heads are made up of heap bracts , so the “ flowers ” look double . Generally reaching 6 to 8 feet in height , they give their head teacher up richly .

‘Blue Wave’ bigleaf hydrangea is a knockout with lacecap flowers

‘ blasphemous waving ’ hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla‘Blue Wave ’ , syn . Hydrangea macrophylla‘Mariesii Perfecta ’ , Zones 5–9 ) likes daybreak Dominicus and afternoon shade to attain its good colour . This old bigleaf hydrangea has fertile flowers mixed into the uninventive bract flowers , so instead of a big orchis of blossom it is a lacecap . The flattened lacey flowers are an unbelievable brilliant blue in our low pH soils . The bush is 5 to 6 feet marvelous and wide . Unfortunately , the flowers only form on old wood , so a sheltered smudge in the garden facilitate ensure yearly flowers .

‘Annabelle’ smooth hydrangea is a great performer in low light or hot afternoon sun

‘ Annabelle’smooth hydrangea(Hydrangea arborescens‘Annabelle ’ , Zones 4–9 ) may be the most various of them all . Both the ‘ Annabelle ’ hydrangea on the compass north side of our house ( which get no direct sun ) and the one on the west side of the house ( which receives red-hot good afternoon sunshine ) bloom well and profusely . This selection grow to about 5 feet marvellous and reliably produces big , round balls of complete ashen flowers that are held at the top of the foliage , making them peculiarly showy . This is also anative industrial plant .

Bobo®panicle hydrangea shines with white fluffy flowers on short sturdy stems

Our net favorite is Bobo ® panicle hydrangea(Hydrangea paniculata‘ILVOBO ’ , Zones 3–8 ) . This hydrangea prefer full sun to fond wraith and blooms well if it gets at least five or six 60 minutes of lineal sun . It ’s a great hydrangea for its huge cone of extra fluffy white flower that are produce on unexampled growth ( so no worry about misplace blooms to halt or pruning ) . The flush are held at the top of the foliage at the closing of the shorter inflexible halt — normally 4 to 5 feet in pinnacle .

Every garden demand a hydrangea , and there is likely one that will suit your garden . Probably there are several that will become your garden . Be careful , or you ’ll end up with a solicitation .

— Jason and Shelley Powell own and manage flower petal from the Past , a garden center in Jemison , Alabama .

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