Most Hydrangeas are tough plants however prefer partial sun though tolerate full sun, on moist, fertile soil that isn't too heavy. Hydrangeas enjoy cool soil that doesn't dry out and therefore mulching is recommended. Hydrangeas are not salt tolerant.
Pruning is generally carried out in late winter and differs upon species.
Hydrangeas tend to leaf out early in spring and plants in areas prone to late spring frost risk damage to the foliage unless in a sheltered location or near water.
The species can be reproduced from seed sown in spring however cultivars are propagated from cuttings only whether hardwood cuttings in winter or tip cuttings in late spring. Hydrangea serrata and H. macrophylla cultivars root very easily.
* photos taken on June 15 2012 in Columbia, MD
Hydrangea aspera
Also called Hydrangea villosa. A variable deciduous shrub native to eastern Asia and reaching up to 11 x 10 feet though the largest on record is double that.
The leaves are large, up to 7 x 4 or rarely 13 x 6 inches and deep green above and velvety beneath.
The lacecap flowers are borne in flat flower heads up to 12 inches across during summer. The sterile flowers can range from white to pink to purple and the fertile flowers are blue.
The young stems are hairy. The exfoliating bark is warm brown.
Hardy zones 6 to 9, thriving best from British Columbia south to the central California coast however also grows reasonably well from South Carolina north through. More drought tolerant than most Hydrangeas and also very alkaline soil tolerant. Shade is essential in the south. Deer resistant and seaside tolerant.
Cuttings do not root easily due to the downy leaves trapping too much moisture under mist propagation.
'Kawakamii'
A freak plant found in the wild in Taiwan with huge velvety leaves up to 24 inches across and massive flower heads up to 20 inches wide.
'Macrophylla'
* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
'Plum Passion'
Foliage is purplish-green at first, turning to deep purple above, rosy-purple beneath. The bright lavender-purple flowers contrast nicely with the foliage.
* photo taken on May 10 2014 in Harford Co., MD
* photo taken on May 30 2016 in Annapolis, MD
'Robusta'
Huge leaves, up to 12 x 13 inches, are deep green.
'Rocklon'
Reaches up to 10 x 10 feet, with fuzzy, deep purple stems bearing large foliage that is bronze, turning to deep green.
The leaves are up to 10 inches in length.
The fertile flowers are blue-mauve, the sterile flowers are white. They are borne on huge lacecap flowerheads up to 12 inches across.
Hardy zones 6 +.
Hydrangea 'Fairytrail Bride' ( Cascade Hydrangea )
Moderate growing and spreading in habit, with horizontal branching, reaching up to 4 x 4 feet. It looks great trailing over walls.
The elliptical leaves are up to 5 x 2.5 inches in size.
The abundant, white flowers appear in clusters, up to 3.5 x 5.5 inches in size. The flowers appear during early summer, lasting up to 2 months.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun ( Less flowers in partial shade )
* photo taken on Oct 29 2023 in Howard Co., MD
Hydrangea heteromalla ( Shaggy Hydrangea )
A variable large bushy shrub reaching up to 20 x 10 feet that is native from the Himalayas to central China. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 9 feet; largest on record is 33 x 30 feet with a trunk diameter of 15 inches.
The toothed, ovate leaves are large, up to 10 x 6 inches size. The foliage is deep green above and very downy, white beneath.
The lacecap flowers borne in clusters up to 12 inches across in summer are greenish-white and sterile on the inside and white turning to pink on the outside.
The bark is dark brown and peeling.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( possibly 4 for Qinghai seed source if on a protected site...thrives in Ottawa, Canada reaching 21 feet tall ) preferring partial shade on light, moist, well drained soil. Thrives best in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast.
* photo taken on July 17 2010 @ Morris Arboretum, Philly, PA
'Bretschneideri' ( Mongolian Hydrangea )
Native to central China and hardier, north to zone 4, with attractive, exfoliating orange-brown bark.
* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ Smithsonian Inst., Washington, DC
* historical archive photos
'BWJ7657'
Reaches up to 10 feet. Similar to species except with black bark on 2nd year wood.
'Fan Si Pan'
Originated from Vietnam's highest mountain and reaches around 10 feet. The stems and leafstalks are scarlet red and the ovate leaves are also red in spring before turning to green. White flowers contrasts well on this very attractive shrub that thrives in sun or shade.
'Jermyn Lace
Bears greenish-white flowers that are pink tinted.
'Snowcap'
Sturdy growing to 15 feet in height, with huge oval leaves up to 11 inches in length
Hydrangea hirta
A small shrub reaching up to 5 x 5 ( rarely over 3.5 ) feet that is native to forests of Honshu Island in Japan.
The ovate leaves, up to 4 x 3 inches, are very glossy deep green.
The fragrant, bright blue-purple flowers are borne in clusters, up to 4 inches across, during early summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( should be tested in the U.S. since there are reports of zone 5 ) Thrives in sun or shade.
Hydrangea involucrata
A rare, medium-size, deciduous shrub to around 6.5 x 6.5 feet, that is native to central Honshu Island of Japan and also Taiwan. Some records include: largest on record - 15 x 6.5 feet.
The bristly-margined, oblong leaves are up to 15 x 5 ( rarely over 8 ) inches in size. The rough foliage is glossy deep green.
The lacecap flower heads, up to 5 inches across, are borne during late summer ( sporadically during mid-summer and early autumn ). They consist of some sterile white florets surrounded by pinkish fertile flowers.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 in partial shade on moist, acidic, light, well drained soil. In zone 6 if may freeze back to the ground during severe winters then resprout during spring. Deer resistant.
'Blue Bunny'
A fast growing, dense, upright, rounded shrub, reaching up to 4 x 5 feet in size.
The foliage is fuzzy gray-green.
The lavender-blue, lacecap flowers appear on new wood from late summer into mid-autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9.
* photo taken on Oct 6 2016 in Howard Co., MD
'Hortensis'
Showy, pinkish-white to blue-white double, sterile florets.
* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
Hydrangea longipes
A rare, loose, spreading shrub native to southwest to central China that reaches a maximum height of 10 ( rarely over 7 ) feet.
The deciduous, oval to rounded, bristly-margined leaves, up to 9 x 5 inches in size are borne on very long, red stalks.
The white flowers are borne in lacecap flowerheads in late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 9.
Hydrangea sargentiana ( Sargent's Hydrangea )
A rare, suckering, upright shrub native to China that reaches a maximum size of 12 x 12 ( rarely over 8 ) feet.
The large tropical-looking leaves, up to 12 x 8 inches in size, are velvety dull deep green above and bristly below.
The flat-topped huge flowerheads up to 10 inches across are borne during late summer and consist of sterile lilac pink flowers surrounded by pink fertile flowers.
The young shoots are bristly and hairy.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 ( to 4b as perennial ) and prefers to be shaded from hot midday sun. In the far northern reaches of its adaptation in areas such as the Ottawa Valley of Canada, it is cut back to a foot or less in height, then pushed up attractive new growth to 3 feet in height however with no flowers.
Hydrangea serrata
A fast growing, dense, bushy, medium-sized, deciduous shrub closely related to Hydrangea macrophylla that reaches a maximum of 7 x 7 feet. It is native to Korea as well as central and southern Japan.
The toothed, pointed, oval leaves are up to 6 x 2.5 inches. The foliage is bright green and turns to red during autumn.
The lacecap flowers up to 6 inches across are borne in summer and are variable in color from pink to blue.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( hardiness varies depending upon seed source ) in partial to full shade. It is tolerant of heat and salt spray but drought. Stem dieback begins on most cultivars at -10 F though regeneration occurs during spring ( often without summer flowering ). This Hydrangea like H. macrophylla can be influenced in bloom color by soil acidity. The more acidic the soil, the more blue the flowers on some cultivars. Foliage is more mildew resistant than Hydrangea macrophylla.
* photo taken on Oct 17 2014 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 8 2016 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 20 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on Oct 28 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 16 2019 in Columbia, MD
'Beni-Gaku'
A shrub, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet.
The deep green foliage turns to deep red during autumn.
The flowers are white, later deepening to reddish-pink. They are borne on abundant, lacecap clusters, up to 5.5 inches wide, on previous years wood from mid-summer to early autumn.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial to full shade.
* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
* photo taken on Sep 20 2022 in Howard County, MD
'Blue Billow'
Of Korean seed source and compact in habit, it reaches up to 5 x 10 feet, is more cold heady with larger, deep green foliage and rich blue lacecap flowers. The very abundant blooms are long lasting, it will even bloom on some years in zone 5, yearly in zone 6. The aged flowers turn to deep red and so do the leaves in autumn.
* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 16 2015 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 25 2017 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 26 2018 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 18 2019 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 17 2020 in Columbia, MD
'Bluebird'
Vigorous growing and reaching up to 7 x 8 ( rarely over 5 ) feet with thick stems and attractive foliage that turns to red in autumn. The lacecap flowers are light rich blue in color are borne over a long season.
It is among the hardiest cultivars and thrives in zone 4b Ottawa, Ontario.
* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour
* photos taken on June 17 2011 in Columbia, MD
'Golden Sunlight'
Compact in habit, reaching up to 4 x 5 feet.
Foliage is golden-yellow at first in spring, later turning to green.
* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
'Grayswood'
Vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 7 feet.
It bears lacecap flower heads that have blue-purple fertile flowers that are surrounded by sterile florets that change from white to crimson red.
The flowering begins early summer and persists until autumn frost.
The foliage is deep green and progressively turn red-brown beginning at the tips during late summer.
It is among the hardiest of cultivars, thriving in zone 4b Ottawa, Ontario.
* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
* photos taken on July 1 2022 in Columbia, MD
'Preziosa'
Upright in habit, reaching up to 6 x 6 feet with red stems and reddish young foliage. The foliage turns attractive red and purple during autumn unless attacked by mildew which it is prone to.
The small, rounded flower heads turn from creamy white to pink then red then purple.
Hardy north to zone 5, it is very sun tolerant.
* photo taken on June 8 2012 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on July 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery
* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014
* photo taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.
'Tuff Stuff'
Moderate growing and compact in habit, reaching up to 1.5 x 2.6 feet in 2 years, eventually up to 3 x 3 feet. It is later leafing out than Hydrangea macrophylla and makes a great replacement for Pia Hydrangea where late freezes are a problem.
The elliptical leaves are up to 5.5 x 3.5 inches in size.
The reddish-pink to purplish-blue ( depending on soil acidity ) lacecap flowers appear early summer into mid-autumn on this repeat bloomer. The lacecap clusters are up to 3.6 x 7.5 inches in size.
Hardy zones 5 to 8.
* photo taken on Nov 4 2019 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Oct 10 2020 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 8 2021 in Columbia, MD
* photos taken on June 17 2021 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Sep 20 2021 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Sep 20 2023 in Howard Co., MD
* photo taken on July 5 2023 in Elkridge, MD
* photo taken on Nov 9 2023 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on June 26 2023 in Columbia, MD
Hydrangea sikokiana ( Japanese Oakleaf Hydrangea )
A very beautiful, slow growing, open, spreading Hydrangea reaching a maximum size of 10 x 10 feet, that is native to high mountains of Kyushu, Shikoku and western Honshu, Japan.
The sharply serrate edged and lobed leaves are much like that of Hydrangea quercifolia but are much more shallowly lobed. The leaves are typically up to 10 x 9 inches in size but may be massive, up to 15 inches and borne in leafstalks up to 6 inches in length, on vigorous shoots on plants growing in ideal conditions.
The foliage is coarsely felted on both sides and is light to deep green above and paler beneath.
White flowers are borne in massive panicles up to a foot across in July.
Young branches are stout and older branches have attractive exfoliating bark.
Hardy zones 7 to 8 in sun or shade and is highly recommended for the Pacific Northwest, unlikely to thrive in the hot, humid southeast.
Propagation is from cuttings taken in the second half of July.
Hydrangea xanthoneura
Very similar to Hydrangea arborescens. It is its Asian counterpart, native to southwest China.
It is a fast growing, deciduous large shrub or rarely small tree up to 23 x 17 feet in height.
The leaves, up to 7 x 4 inches in size, are deep green.
The white flowers are borne in clusters up to 9 inches across.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 in partial shade on moist, well drained soil.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
* historic archive photo
RELATED PLANTS
DEINANTHE ( False Hydrangea )
A small genus consisting of 2 species of thick-rhizomed, clumping, bushy perennials that are closely related to Hydrangeas. The main difference is that all true Hydrangeas are woody plants. They are native to mountain forests in China and Japan.
They make very attractive addictions to the shaded rock garden as well as more natural woodland gardens.
The toothed, deeply-veined, oval leaves are up to 4 inches in length.
The rough-textured foliage is deep green.
The cup-shaped, nodding flowers are borne on loose terminal clusters during late summer to early autumn. They are usually either pale purple, pink or white.
The False Hydrangea is slow to establish and usually doesn't bloom until the second year after planting...however well worth the wait.
The roots are edible and so are the leaves which can be cooked and eaten.
It could even be used as a potential food crop in woodland areas if the leaves are harvested late in the season as to not rob the plant of too much nutrients.
They prefer partial to full shade ( full sun will scorch the leaves ).
Clumps can be divided during spring. Seed can be surface sown upon ripening in a greenhouse, keep the soil medium consistently moist and at 65 F and germination should occur between 1 and 2 months.
Deinanthe bifida ( Japanese False Hydrangea )
A vigorous, woody-based perennial, reaching up to 2.3 x 2 feet, it appears like a herbaceos Hydrangea macrophylla. It is native to mountain forests in Japan.
The toothed, oval leaves, up to 6 x 6 inches in size, are luxuriant bright green. The leaves are often notched at the tip.
The very abundant, white flowers, up to 0.4 inches in length, appear mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 4 to 7 on moist, fertile soil.
* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
'Pink'
A pink flowering form.
Deinanthe caerules 'Blue Wonder' ( Chinese False Hydrangea )
A slow spreading, low perennial, reaching up to 2 x 2 feet, that is native to moist mountain forests of western Hubei province in China. It usually takes about 4 years for a plant to reach mature size.
The huge, deeply-veined, toothed, felted leaves, up to 10 x 6.5 inches, are slightly glossy, deep green.
Each stem usually has around 4 leaves crowded towards the tip.
The large lavender-blue flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne on clusters, up to 6 inches across, from early to mid summer. It blooms over a very long season with a succession of blooms.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 ( possibly even 3 ) in partial shade in fertile, moist woodland conditions protected from wind. Sounds like alot but it is actually easy to grow in the average woodland garden...thrives in acidic, alkaline, clay or sand as long as it's well drained.
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