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Hydrangeas are truly showstopping flowers, especially in colorful cottage-style gardens of the South. There are about 80 species worldwide and more than 600 named cultivars of hydrangea, but they’re generally split into six main types—bigleaf, smooth, panicle, oakleaf, climbing, and mountain—according to the size and shape of their leaves and blooms, the color of their flowers, their growth habits, and other factors.
Known for their huge and showy blooms, hydrangeas stand out in the garden and in cut flower arrangements. Their lush foliage and long-lasting blooms provide interest throughout spring, summer, and fall, often with minimal maintenance. They’re also popular for the range of choices in shrub type, size, and flower color. Nurseries offer and ship hydrangeas only when conditions are favorable, so be patient if your selection is not yet available.
Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
Native to Asia and perfect for a sunny garden, the panicle hydrangea features conical clusters of flowers. There are many variations in color among H. paniculata varieties, which are known as the easiest hydrangeas to grow. If you’re new to growing hydrangeas, it’s a good idea to start with panicles.
Panicle hydrangeas adapt to colder climates better than some other types. Most grow to between 6 and 10 feet high and bloom in early summer or by midsummer.
Limelight Panicle Hydrangea
Limelight produces long-lasting blooms that emerge in a unique shade of green beginning in midsummer, and then fade to white. The shrub grows to nearly 8 feet tall and wide in partial or full sun. The 6- to 12-inch-long flowers are favorites for butterflies and for indoor arrangements.
Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Buy Now: 1-quart pot at Nature Hills Nursery for $26.99
Little Quick Fire Hydrangea
Little Quick Fire was named the 2022 Hydrangea of the Year by Spring Meadow Nursery in their annual program that honors Proven Winners plants. This little powerhouse is packed with great features, including a compact size (3 to 5 feet high and wide), and is among the earliest of the panicles to bloom and change color. It’s hardy in cold or some heat, and it produces flowers that progress from white to pink to nearly red as summer heats up.
Little Quick Fire thrives in full to part sun, and its blooms appear on new wood. The plant can take a pruning in late winter or early spring; just avoid cutting off more than one-third of a branch while trimming. This petite panicle hydrangea works well in containers, but it’s also a fantastic “frontman” far forward in the garden bed, either alone or in a group.
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Buy Now: 1-quart pot at Plant Addicts for $32.49
Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
A Southern garden staple for its love of moisture and acidic soil, the typical hydrangea shrub (H. macrophylla) features big leaves and large puffball blooms. In average soil, the large blooms are pink, but they turn bluer in more acidic soil. These shrubs fare best with morning sun and afternoon shade, and they usually flower in June and July. Prune the shrub after flowering ends.
Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas are the two main flower types of bigleaf hydrangeas. Check with your local garden center or master gardeners to find out which varieties grow best in your area’s climate and soil, and consider our picks below.
Everlasting Amethyst Mophead Hydrangea
Everlasting Amethyst is one of several bigleaf hydrangeas with bold blooms that change color during the season (flowering May through September). The mophead flowers start out pink or blue, age to fuchsia pink or violet blue, and ultimately turn lime green. Like most mopheads, it has big blooms and broad leaves; this bigleaf variety grows to about 3 feet tall and wide. Give it sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
Hardiness Zones: 5–9
Buy Now: 2-year-old potted plant at Hydrangeas Plus for $30
Blue Wave Lacecap Hydrangea
Lacecap refers to flattened clusters of tiny blooms surrounded by larger and showier petals on this type of bigleaf hydrangea. Blue Wave lacecap hydrangea is a vigorous performer that thrives in morning sun and afternoon shade. The lacecap requires similar growing conditions to other bigleaf hydrangeas, such as part sun and part shade, well-draining soil, and plenty of consistent watering.
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Buy Now: 3-gallon potted plant at Wilson Bros Gardens for $89.97
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
With its pointed petals and lobed leaves, the oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) is sure to inject interest into your garden. This species of hydrangea, which includes dozens of cultivars, typically grows in the southeastern United States. It tolerates shady environments well and adds height and bloom to any landscape scheme. In the fall, the foliage takes on colorful hues, just like the species’ namesake tree.
Oakleaf hydrangeas grow to about 6 feet tall and wide and do not need regular pruning. To reshape or control their size, prune the shrub after the flowers fade in summer since it blooms on old wood.
Snowcicle Oakleaf Hydrangea
For exceptional drama, consider Snowcicle, which features cascading white blooms that age to pink and then light green. At times the blooms show all three shades at once, framed by green foliage that changes to red and orange in fall. The colorful bloom cycle begins in late spring to midsummer.
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Buy Now: Potted plant at Spring Hill Nurseries for $29.99
Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea
A compact variety, Pee Wee oakleaf hydrangea reaches only 3 to 4 feet high and 2.5 to 3 feet wide. Its white flowers appear from June to July and gradually fade to pink. Pee Wee prefers rich, well-draining soil and is a low-maintenance hydrangea. Prune if needed after it’s done flowering.
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Buy Now: 1-gallon potted Pee Wee at Walmart for $69.99
Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Perfect for partial- or full-shade areas of the yard, these hydrangeas with cloud-like clusters of white or pink buds bloom readily in early summer and grow in lushness and volume each year they return. Most often seen in the Northeast United States, smooth hydrangeas grow well in many climates and regions, and they’re a bold presence in any yard.
Incrediball Smooth Hydrangea
The blooms of Incrediball smooth hydrangea resemble giant snowballs (nearly the size of basketballs) in summer, with flowers that fade to jade green. This reliable hydrangea makes a one-of-a-kind cut or dried flower—just be sure to use a large vase. The shrub can reach up to 5 feet tall and wide and grows in a mounded shape. Its giant blooms appear from early to late summer.
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Buy Now: 1-quart pot at Nature Hills Nursery for $26.14
Annabelle Smooth Hydrangea
This smooth hydrangea cultivar radiates old-world country charm and has the staying power to grace your garden for years to come. Annabelle hydrangeas are 8 to 12 inches in diameter and appear on new wood, so prune the shrub down to about 6 inches to a foot above the ground in late winter or early spring every other year. The blooms can handle some late-season frost.
Hardiness Zones: 3–8
Buy Now: 1-gallon container at White Flower Farm for $25
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala petiolaris)
If you have limited garden space, you can still enjoy the beauty and profusion of a flowering hydrangea by planting a climbing variety. Perfect for relatively shady areas and able to grow on a trellis, arbor, or wall, the climbing hydrangea offers all those beloved floral clusters with the added appeal of trailing foliage. Climbing hydrangeas have fragrant lacecap blooms that appear in June in most regions. Their woody branches can spread high and wide.
White Climbing Hydrangea
This climbing hydrangea sports dark green leaves and creamy white blooms. It can handle some cold and heat, but give it partial shade in hotter growing zones. The vine needs plenty of support, since it can grow up to 50 feet long.
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Buy Now: 1-quart potted vine at Fast Growing Trees for $38.95
Miranda Climbing Hydrangea
Miranda is a vigorous grower that can train itself by clinging to bricks or similarly rough surfaces, though it will need a trellis or other support as it grows. It has dark green variegated foliage with soft white edges. The plant blooms from late spring through early summer, and its flowers are both showy and fragrant. It prefers fertile, well-draining soil and consistent moisture.
Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Buy Now: Staked 0.75-gallon plant at Monrovia for $70
Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata or H. macrophylla var. serrata)
Mountain hydrangea is related to, but less common than, bigleaf hydrangea. It has a more compact size but is a hardy little shrub, especially in cooler climates. Like the lacecap, the mountain hydrangea features clusters of tiny flowers surrounded by larger florets that appear on old wood.
These hydrangeas can also change color depending on the soil’s acidity, so try a hydrangea fertilizer to boost color performance. The plant’s smaller leaves are susceptible to powdery mildew and other diseases, but it is an excellent choice for cool conditions and light shade or stippled shade from trees. Prune after flowering as needed to keep the plant open and healthy.
Bluebird Lacecap Mountain Hydrangea
Bluebird grows to nearly 6 feet high and wide and fills with 6- to 8-inch lacecap flowers in blue shades (or pink where soil is alkaline). The shrub is dense and mounded in shape and prefers well-draining but moist soil. It’s an easy-care, medium-sized hydrangea that suits a range of soils and climates.
Hardiness Zones: 5–8
Buy Now: 3-gallon pot at Wilson Bros Gardens for $89.97
Tiny Tuff Stuff Mountain Hydrangea
Even smaller than some mountain hydrangea cultivars, Tiny Tuff Stuff grows to only about 2 feet high and wide. Blooms are typically blue, but lavender, pink, or white blooms are possible, depending on soil acidity. Its foliage turns a bronze-red color in fall. Keep soil moist for best performance.
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Buy Now: 4-inch potted plant at American Meadows for $23.98
