Hydrangea Varieties & Uses

Characteristics:
Rounded habit with large leaves and round (mophead) or flat (lacecap) clusters of blooms. Color can vary from white to a range of blues and pinks depending on soil pH!

Light requirement:
Part Sun (Can tolerate and thrive in partial shade)

Pruning:
DO NOT prune at any time aside from deadheading and removing dead or diseased sections. Most newer varieties are bred to rebloom, so little to no pruning is required.

Blooms:
Early summer to fall

Uses:
Cut/dried flower arrangements, containers, mixed shrub borders, hedges

Characteristics:
Mounding habit, generally smaller than macrophylla hydrangea, with a cluster of fertile florets surrounded by open flowers. This makes them attractive to pollinators! Colors range from blue to pink depending on soil pH. Mountain hydrangeas are very cold hardy, making them the most reliable bloomers out there!

Light requirement:
Part Sun, Part Shade

Pruning:
DO NOT prune at any time aside from deadheading and removing dead or diseased sections. Most newer varieties are bred to rebloom, so little to no pruning is required.

Blooms:
Early to late summer

Uses:
Patio, containers, beds & borders, small gardens

Characteristics:
Native to the United States! Rounded habit with egg-shaped leaves and huge, domed clusters of blooms. Color starts off a pale green, slowly turning bright white and then tan in the fall. Flowers attract pollinators!

Light requirement:
Part Sun (Can tolerate and thrive in partial to heavy shade)

Pruning:
Control size and shape with early spring pruning before they flush out

Blooms:
Early summer to fall

Uses:
Cut/dried flower arrangements, borders, specimen planting, woodland gardens

Characteristics:
Upright, spreading habit with cone-shaped clusters of blooms that attract pollinators. Color starts off light green to white, changing to various shades of pink or red (depending on the variety) for a stunning fall show. Also comes in a tree form!

Light requirement:
Full Sun, Partial Sun (Can tolerate more sun than any other type of Hydrangea!) It’s important to note that panicles are not shade-tolerant.

Pruning:
Benefit from aggressive pruning in early spring before they flush out. This will help prevent stems from flopping over, control size and shape, and allow for more blooms!

Blooms:
Midsummer to late fall

Uses:
Cut/dried flower arrangements, edges, screens, borders, specimen planting, large containers

Characteristics:
Known for its large, lobed leaves, which resemble oak leaves. Elongated fertile blooms start off cream and gradually turn pink or red (depending on the variety), attracting pollinators! The foliage turns from green to deep burgundy and purple shades in the fall, and the bark peels to reveal a cinnamon color in winter.

Light requirement:
Part Sun (Can tolerate and thrive in partial shade)

Pruning:
DO NOT prune at any time aside from deadheading and removing dead or diseased sections

Blooms:
Early summer to late summer

Uses:
Cut/dried flower arrangements, edges, screens, borders, cottage gardens