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Hydrangea Plant

A Hydrangea Plant in bloom.

The Hydrangea plant is one of the most popular shrubs for a garden because of the large snowball flowers.

Hydrangeas are easy to grow and to care for, because they are typically cold hardy and pretty much pest and disease free but they do like some afternoon shade during the hot summer months.

The Hydrangea plant likes moist, well drained soil so adding a thick layer of mulch will help retain moister.

 

Growing Hydrangeas in Containers

Growing Hydrangeas in containers

Hydrangeas make a nice focal point on a deck, patio or on a stand in your yard. Growing Hydrangeas in containers is easy but the soil needs to stay moist.  The containers can get heavy with the dirt, plant and water so it might be best to find a pot with wheels so you can easily move it around. 

You will want to protect it during the winter by either moving it into your basement or unheated garage or if leaving it outside, you may want to cover it to protect it from the cold harsh winds.


Hydrangea Plant Varieties

There are about 70 – 75 different varieties of Hydrangea plants to choose from and the varieties keep climbing as there are new varieties every year. Below I have a few varieties that I sell in my nursery. They are spectacular when they are in bloom.


Annabelle Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle')

Annabelle Hydrangea with big snowball flowers

Growing quickly to 5 feet tall and wide, Annabelle Hydrangea will get very large white flowers from late spring to fall and it only needs 4 to 6 hours of sun per day. Flowers bloom on new wood so pruning can be done during the winter months or very early spring.


PeeGee Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora')

PeeGee Hydrangea has white cone-shaped flowers

Similar to Annabelle Hydrangea, PeeGee Hydrangea is a fast growing (sometimes more than 24 inches per year) deciduous shrub that gets large cone shaped white flowers. Flowers bloom on new wood so pruning can be done during the winter months.


Preziosa Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata ‘Preziosa’)

Preziosa Mountain Hydrangea with snowball pinkish blooms

With pale pink to mature reddish purple flowers the Preziosa Mountain Hydrangea will grow to about 4 feet tall and wide. Like most Hydrangeas, it prefers part shade but can be grown in full sun if kept moist. Pruning should be done right after the flowers are done blooming as this plant blooms on old wood.


Velvet Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera)

Velvet Leaf Hydrangea with lacecap blooms

With a growth of 10-12 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide you will need lots of room for this Lacecap Hydrangea but it is well worth it. The flower heads on this beauty can get up to 10-12" wide and they cover the shrub.

They prefer light shade and don't like dry soil.


Variegated Lacecap Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla Variegata)

Lacecap Variegated Hydrangea in bloom

Another lacecap Hydrangea that grows to about 6 feet tall and wide. It prefers part shade and evenly moist soil for best performance.


Brussels Lace Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Brussels Lace')

Brussels Lace Panicle Hydrangea in bloom

Perfect for a smaller garden, this 6' tall and 5' wide hydrangea gets large flowers about 8" long. It blooms on new wood so pruning can be done in late winter to early spring before new growth starts to emerge.


Nikko Blue Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue')

Nikko Blue Hydrangea with blue flowers

This fast growing shrub quickly reaches 4-6' tall and wide. It displays beautiful blue flowers in early summer. It blooms on old wood so pruning should be done right after blooms are done.

Adding a Hydrangea plant to your yard will add a lot of beauty and elegance. And the blooms last until late summer and sometimes into fall when not too much else is blooming.

Once the blooms turn brown you can dry them and add them to your winter planters for a nice arrangement. 


Companion Plants

Barberry

Barberry in fall with berries

Hostas

Variegated Hostas for shaded areas

Dogwoods

Red Twig Dogwood with red stems in winter

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