How to Choose the Best Hydrangea

Mophead hydrangea is perhaps the most well-known of the genus and is split into two categories: Lacecap – with wide flat clusters of fertile flowers surrounded by showy sterile ones, and Hortensias (also known as florists' or French hydrangea) – with tight, round clusters of sterile flowers that are so beloved by florists and brides. With the exception of some new cultivars which bloom on both old and new wood, they generally bloom on 'lateral buds' from old wood and are the least cold hardy of the genus. (Hydrangea macrophylla)

Lateral Buds are the buds along the sides of a branch that will eventually form shoots, flowers or leaves in the new season.

Mountain Hydrangea (Zones 6-9)

The lacecap bloom clusters of Mountain hydrangea are made up of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by showier sterile ones – just like the lacecap mopheads above. However, mountain hydrangeas are somewhat hardier as a group and their bloom season can last a little longer. For some time, these lovely shrubs were considered a subspecies of the mophead group, but now have their own species designation. (Hydrangea serrata)

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Zones 5-9)

Dripping with long clusters of reddening-white blooms, oakleaf hydrangea is a showstopper in early summer. It is native to the Eastern and Southeastern United States and a terrific choice for those who wish to add shrubs to a native garden.

Additionally, the oak-shaped foliage can hardly be rivaled in the fall garden for its intense red-orange color and staying power. In winter, cinnamon-colored bark peals to reveal tawny stems. This is also an old wood bloomer, but is hardier than mophead or mountain species. (Hydrangea quercifolia)

Climbing Hydrangea (Zones 4-9)

Climbing hydrangea, also called Climbing Hydrangea Vine is a wonderful choice for east or north walls and is often used to clothe the trunks of large trees – as it does not smother them the way English Ivy does. It can take up to four years to get settled in its new home, but after that – watch out!

The vigorous vertical and horizontal branches climb using aerial roots which attach to your structure without any help from you (but can be difficult to remove if you change your mind).

A mature plant can top out at 50ft tall and wide, and in mid-summer, it will cover itself with flat-topped clusters of fertile and sterile blooms borne on old wood. In the fall, the foliage turns a bright yellow and drops to reveal peeling red bark for the winter season. (Hydrangea anomala subsp petiolaris)

Aerial roots are tiny roots that develop from growing stems. When a stem touches another structure, they slowly attach themselves to that structure with tiny, sucker-like pads.

Panicle hydrangea (Zones 4-8)

If you've got a sunny garden, panicle hydrangeas are for you! Sizes range from compact to large, and the blooms are often more triangular and made up of both sterile and fertile flowers.Panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood and therefore your summer show won’t take a hit if your winter is somewhat below average. (Hydrangea paniculata)

Hydrangea bloom clusters are made up of various arrangements of sterile and fertile flowers. Fertile flowers are quite small and are most often surrounded by the showier, petal-like sepals of the sterile flowers.

Smooth Hydrangea (aka Snowball Hydrangea) (Zones 3-9)

This is an important consideration as some cultivars in this group can get top-heavy and the weight of their blooms will pull stems to the ground. Newer cultivars have addressed this issue and offer lighter heads of bloom. A pruning to within 6-12" of the ground is still extremely helpful in early spring, and sometimes, removing spent flower heads immediately will promote a second bloom in late summer. (Hydrangea arborescens)

Climbing hydrangea or Rose Sensation false climbing hydrangea (with a hydrangea-like display) will take a north or east wall and clothe it with deep green foliage, white lacy bloom and yellow fall color, and will still turn heads in winter with peeling cinnamon colored bark.

Limbing up is the process of removing lower branches from large trees or shrubs to create space and light, or to showcase the main growing stems of the tree or shrub.

Best Hydrangea for Privacy

Hydrangea can create a beautiful screen in your garden, and if you use a hardier cultivar that blooms on new wood (smooth and panicle types) you’ll be ensured of a serene, blossom-laden retreat no matter what the winter held the season before. Look to the larger cultivars such as 'Limelight' or 'Pinky Winky', and consider planting another smaller cultivar in front of the hedge to conceal its legs as the shrubs get bigger.

If you're only planting to designate areas of your garden with hedging, choose a new mophead cultivar that blooms on both new and old wood, such as cultivars from the Everlasting series. Make sure to prune gently, removing old flower heads and dead branches only.

Best Hydrangea for Pollinator Gardens

When it comes to hydrangeas, big bodacious bloom doesn't always mean a huge pollinator turnout. That's because hydrangea bloom clusters are made up of various mixes of sterile and fertile flowers – and the sterile flowers are the showiest. Therefore, if you're planting for pollinators, choose cultivars with lacecap blossom heads (like 'Tuff Stuff Red') before you choose the round, showy heads of classic Hortensia mopheads. Or choose oakleaf, panicle and climbing varieties which contain a great mix of nectar and pollen producing flowers.

Lacecap is a type of blossom and is a subset of the macrophyllas species which contains both mophead and lacecap hydrangea. Typically, the Mountain and climbing hydrangea tend to have lacecap blooms.

Best Hydrangea for Small Gardens

When you have a smaller garden, it's important to consider four-season interest as well as size. Dwarf oakleaf cultivars such as 'Pee Wee' can blend both needs beautifully. Usually topping out at 3-4' they are smaller than most oakleafs, and deliver the same outstanding color, foliage and stem interest of the larger species. Panicle hydrangea dwarfs such as 'Little Quick Fire' will hold their drying blossoms well into the winter. However, if it's all about summer time for you (hey, we get it!), consider smaller mopheads like 'Let's Dance Rave' or super-compact smooth cultivars such as 'Invincibelle Wee White'.

Best Hydrangea for Cutting Gardens & Dried Arrangements

Learn how to make a dried Hydrangea wreath. 

Best Hydrangea for Containers

Containers are a wonderful way to grow dwarf cultivars of many types of hydrangea, and there are compact cultivars available in all of the main groups, with the exception of climbers. Not only can you control sun exposure, soil moisture levels and soil fertility, but also pH, which can affect the bloom color of many mophead and mountain hydrangeas.

Container hydrangeas should be considered a zone less hardy in the pot than in the ground, so if you’re willing to try something a bit bigger for your containers, how about choosing newer cultivars that bloom on both new and old wood, such as those in the Everlasting series? Whichever hydrangea you choose, make sure to also choose large glazed ceramic or plastic containers to facilitate constant moisture levels.

Everything you need to know about how to grow plants in containers. 

Best Hydrangea for Four-Season Interest

It's a great feeling to plant a hydrangea for the growing season and find yourself admiring it well into winter. Oakleaf and climbing hydrangeas certainly top this list, as the rich red foliage of oakleafs (such as 'Ruby Slippers') complements the bright yellow of climber foliage, and both have thick cinnamon colored bark that peels to reveal tawny stems. For even more pop, the climber 'Miranda' will clothe a wall with variegated foliage during the summer season.

Best Cold Hardy Hydrangea

Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood (smooth & panicle) are the best bet for gardeners that want to see reliable bloom as far north as Zone 3. In this situation, even a worse-than-average winter will still result in summer blooms. Smooth hydrangeas, such as the new cultivar , combine the best of cold and heat hardiness and in cooler zones can be grown in full sun without any issues.

Best Hydrangea for Hot, Humid Environments

Hydrangeas are very sensitive to heat and intense sunlight, but what could be more 'Southern' than an old fashioned hedge of 'Annabelle' hydrangea or a vase full of brightly-colored mopheads next to a big pitcher of lemonade? Successful hydrangea growers south of Zone 7 must consider two things above all - moisture and morning sun.

Give your hydrangeas (even the panicles) a little rest from that scorching heat in the summertime by siting them with shelter from some of the afternoon sun; and make sure that the soil is consistently moist, allowing them to continuously recharge leaves that naturally release moisture into the air. However, if your hydrangea is wilting during the day but perking up during the evening, moisture isn't the problem – sun exposure is.