We’ve picked the finest for foliage, flowers, and habit
If you grew up on theEast Coastas I did , you have sex thathydrangeasare an iconic flora . I presume anyone to chew the fat Cape Cod in the summertime and not faint when they see those billowy naughty blossoms spilling over blanched lookout man fences . It was only when I start move around North America that I realise tons of gardener from places outside the East adore hydrangeas as well . In thePacific Northwest , they ca n’t get enough of panicle hydrangea . In northern Michigan , it ’s the inhuman - hardiness ofsmooth hydrangeasthat makes gardeners dizzy . And even folks in the Deep South do everything they can to provide enough shade for theirbigleaf hydrangeasto truly shine .
Where are they from?
Hydrangeas , which choose partial shade and moist , well - debilitate soils , are native to southerly and easterly Asia and the Americas , reckon on the mintage . The travel along is a dislocation of common species and where they originate .
•H. anomala : Japan , Korea , Taiwan•H. arborescens : Eastern United States•H. aspera : The Himalayas , across southern China to Taiwan•H. macrophylla : China , Japan , Central and South America , Mexico•H. paniculata : easterly and southerly China , Japan•H. quercifolia : Southeastern United States•H. serrata : Japan , Korea
See hydrangeas for
Foliage|Habit|Flowers
Strong contrasts set this one apart
Name : Midnight Dutchess ® bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla‘HYMMADII ’ )
Zones:6–9
Size:3 to 5 feet marvellous and wide
It was hard to categorize this hydrangea as remarkable for itsfoliageor for its blossom because it is really the combination of its black base and pastel pinkish bloom that make it so prominent . The root word are superstrong too , holding the oversize blooms upright even in heavy rain . The sorry purple stems demarcation brilliantly with the promising green leafage as well , giving this shrub pursuit even when not in bloom .
Learn more : Designing With Hydrangeas
Superb selections for foliage
The award for most unique goes to this red-leaved wonder
Name:‘Burgundy Bliss ’ fierce leaf hydrangea ( H. asperavar.villosa‘Burgundy Bliss ’ )
Size:6 foot tall and panoptic
If you walked past this plant , you likely would n’t think it ’s a hydrangea at all . Its farsighted leaves have more of aviburnumfeel to them than anything come to to a hydrangea . Regardless , the dark red velvety leafage is described as “ rich and sexy ” by Broken Arrow Nursery , and we could n’t check more . ‘ Burgundy Bliss ’ sizes up slowly , transitioning from a gangly multistem specimen to a bulky and impressive shrub in a few years . The fuzzy , lilac lacecap blooms are a welcome mickle in midsummer .
It’s got undeniable texture
Name : Cabbage Patch ™ bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla‘sPg-3 - 009 ’ )
Size:4 to 6 foot tall and wide of the mark
This hydrangea looks like it might be a better set for the vegetable garden ; the frilly foliage , however , add unbelievable texture to ornamental beds . A knock against many bigleaf hydrangea is their trend to look like characterless green blob when not in bloom . This is n’t the font with Cabbage Patch ™ . The blousy , lacecap bloom that appear in midsummer are a nice fillip .
This vine will light up the darkest of spots
Name:‘Sutter ’s pulverisation ’ climbing hydrangea ( H. anomalassp.petiolaris‘Sutter ’s Mill ’ )
Zones:4–8
size of it : Climbing 15 to 25 foot tall
climb hydrangeas have long been worthful assets in the specter . Largely disease free , they tolerate dry conditions once institute and do n’t mind ancestor competition . This variety will for certain radiate in abject Inner Light establish its soft yellow foliage . Unlike other chartreuse plants , ‘ Sutter ’s Mill ’ is reported to be singe insubordinate , so some mottled sun wo n’t make it to wait unsightly . Lacy white flower are the cherry on top in other summer .
A smooth hydrangea with a surprise underneath
Name:‘Samantha ’ smooth hydrangea ( H. arborescenssubsp.radiata‘Samantha ’ )
Zones:4–9
Size:3 to 4 feet tall and 5 to 6 foot wide
The hugely popular ‘ Anabelle ’ still hydrangea has long been a favorite of gardener from coast to seacoast — and with good reason . It ’s a insensate - hardy , reliable bloomer , with no plague or disease problems worth cite . ‘ Samantha ’ takes all of these unspoilt attributes and up the ante with leaves that gambol a bright silvery - white underside . With a slight breeze , it will look like a swarm of white butterflies has bring on your shrub . In mid to late summer a superfluity of white snowball - alike blooms show up to join the party .
Speckled foliage on a cold-hardy section
Name : Variegated stack hydrangea ( H. serrata‘Kokonoe - yama ’ )
Zones:5–9
Size:2 feet marvelous and 3 feet across-the-board
Photo: DoreenWynja.com for Monrovia
If you know in Zones 5 or 6,mountain hydrangeasare a better bet than bigleaf types for insure blooms . They have good frigid tolerance , and their bud generally break later than other smorgasbord . Take these peachy traits , add unequalled speckled foliage , and you have ‘ Kokonoe - yama ’ . The dappled snowy , yellow , and ocean immature leaves make this option a smasher even when it ’s not adorned with its ticklish lacecap flowers . Some say that from a distance , this nanus shrub appears to shine silver thanks to its diversification .
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Interesting options for habit
It’s a short, sweet, blooming machine
Name : Lavalamp ™ Flare panicle hydrangea ( H. paniculata‘Kolmavesu ’ )
Zones:3–8
Size:2 to 3 foot tall and wide
Photo: DoreenWynja.com for Monrovia
There have been a slew of dwarfpanicle hydrangeaintroductions recently . But the one affair most of them are miss is full - size flush . That is n’t the grammatical case with Lavalamp ™ Flare . These flowers are big—8 to 9 inches long , in fact — and they sit neatly atop the brusque thickset plants . Like all panicle hydrangea , this newfangled mixture can digest full Dominicus to fond shade and lean land . It can also be pruned judiciously each bounce , since it flowers off of new Natalie Wood .
A better form for a four-season stunner
Name : Jetstream ™ oakleaf hydrangea ( H. quercifolia‘PIIHQ - I ’ )
Zones:5–8
Size:5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 5 base wide
Photo: Josh McCollough
If it were possible for me to nibble a pet hydrangea of this crowd , Jetstream ™ might be it . Oakleaf hydrangea truly are four - season stars . They have yummy , large , textured leaves in give , gorgeous panicles of white flower in summer that eventually transition to pink , stunning foliage colour in declension , and undress silver - and - cinnamon bark in winter . The only issue is that they tend to have a sprawling , unkempt habit . Jetstream ™ , however , sizes up and sate in quickly , feature a tight compact riding habit . Unlike recent introductions that are true gnome flora , Jetstream ™ is full size of it . In short , it is prominent but is in charge of its silhouette .
This tiny treasure takes toughness to the next level
Name : Tiny Tuff Stuff ™ mountain hydrangea ( H. serrata‘MAKD ’ )
Size:2 foot grandiloquent and wide-eyed
This hydrangea is so petite you might just think it ’s a perennial . Because it ’s a mountain hydrangea , its flower buds give way later in saltation , which means they are more likely to blossom even with cooler than expected weather in April . The short , ultracompact habit of this multifariousness pretend it the gross plant for tuck into almost any fond shadowiness nook . The lacecap flowers are abundant , albeit small , and seem to keep designate up throughout the summer and even into fall . It ’s hard to suppose a bit where this little cutie would n’t seem sound .
A familiar variety gets a pint-size makeover
Name : Invincibelle Mini Mauvette ® smooth hydrangea ( H. arborescens‘NCHA7 ’ )
Size:3 feet tall and wide of the mark
It has been several years since Invincibelle ® Spirit smooth hydrangea dispatch glasshouse shelves . Given its terrific popularity , it comesas no surprise that the society responsible has introduced a number of iterations of that original plant . One of the late is Invincibelle Mini Mauvette ® , a purple - bloomed , miniature interpretation of Invincibelle ® Spirit . This change is just as cold hardy as other smooth hydrangea and enjoys more shade than sunshine . Its farsighted heyday stem also make it a unspoiled candidate for cut arrangement .
Photo: Adam R. Wheeler–Broken Arrow Nursery
Learn more : Hydrangea Myths Dispelled
Noteworthy choices for flowers
These blossoms look like clusters of pink shooting stars
Name : Rosy Splendor ® bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla‘Tinkerbell ’ )
Size:4 to 5 feet tall and broad
If a Disney fairy was responsible for breeding hydrangeas , we could easily see this cultivar being the end result . Rosy Splendor ® sports expectant lacecaps of pink stars , giving them a fuller than normal appearance . The bound of each floret sometimes look like they ’ve been adumbrate in white . Reblooming is n’t unheard of on this cultivar , a fairytale dimension if ever there was one . The plant life can flop a bit under the weight of the flower , so you may either hold up with that or attempt to post the plant for support .
Photo: Joshua McCullough
An appropriate name for an elegant and timeless variety
Name : Double delight ™ Wedding Gown bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla‘Dancing Snow ’ )
Size:2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet extensive
We can all agree that hydrangeas are definitely reasonably when in bloom , but this variety is more than that — it is graceful . The combination of sterile and nonsterile prime that make up each bloom give Double joy ™ Wedding Gown a advanced flavour that would be worthy of any bridal fragrancy . The strong stem also aid hold those blossoms upright , despite their tumid size . This shrub be given to spread out speedily , so be sure to give it elbow room .
Photo: courtesy of JC Raulston Arboretum at North Carolina State University
Rubbery blossoms may not sound appealing, but they are
Name:‘Ayesha ’ bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla‘Ayesha ’ )
Why do n’t more multitude grow this variety ? It ’s not a “ new ” cultivar , having been available for several years . But for some reason , it is not well known in the United States . Upon first glance , the flowers look like those from an ordinary bigleaf . A closer inspection , though , show up that they are thicker and waxier and have an almost rubbery feel . Each diminished floret also bet like it has been paint with a watercolor light touch . Add to that a slight fragrance ( a tenuity for hydrangea ) , and you have a victor .
As close as you’ll get to a true red hydrangea
Name : Magical ® Ruby Red bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla‘KOLMARU ’ )
Size:3 foundation tall and 2 to 4 feet broad
Perhaps it ’s because I love ruby gemstones , but this novel cultivar caught my eye at once at a hydrangea trial garden . The leafage is a deep forest K , the perfect backdrop for the dark garden pink ( about reddened ) blooms . The combination of bloom with foliage is eye - catching , and although the peak eventually decolorize out a bit in the sun , they are still alluring .
Photo: courtesy of Plants Nouveau
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