5 Best Types Of Hydrangeas For Your Garden

by John Griffith
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Hydrangeas are a real eye pleaser. With their beautiful flower heads and lush greenery, they make a splendid addition to any garden. And they are super easy to grow! To be honest the hardest part of growing hydrangeas is choosing what variety you want. This bushy garden favorite has around seventy recognized varieties worldwide. So, there is a hydrangea variety for every gardener’s taste. However, having that much choice can be very overwhelming. That’s why today we will show you we some of the best types of hydrangeas for inspiration. These common varieties are absolutely stunning and fairly easy to grow, which makes them the perfect choice for your garden.

Hydrangeas are a real eye pleaser

types of hydrangeas woman lost in a sea of blue and white hydrangeas

Best Types Of Hydrangeas

You can easily create a picturesque landscape with these beautiful hydrangea varieties. This shrub is a summer staple and will look good in any garden. You just have to find the variety that is best for you. Picking the right type of hydrangea is essential, different varieties can have slightly different needs. And you need to know how to properly care for your hydrangea in order for it to thrive. Proper care will help ensure your shrub has beautiful blooms each blooming season and that it stays healthy.

You can easily create a picturesque landscape with these beautiful hydrangea varieties

pink hydrangeas over stone fence

#Bigleaf hydrangea

The bigleaf hydrangea is beloved by many. This beautiful variety usually comes in white, pink, or varieties. However, the color can be changes up with the right pH value and some aluminum-based fertilizer. Then you may also get colors like blue and purple. This group of hydrangeas prefer partial shade and need well-draining, fertile soil to thrive. They like their soil to stay moist but not drenched and benefit from some mulch. It is important to remember that bigleaf hydrangeas can be sensitive to extreme weather conditions (both warm and cold), so if you live in such a climate they can need protection. When it comes to pruning there are a few things to keep in mind. Since these varieties flowers form for the new season in the fall, it is essential to leave them intact. So, prune them right after the flowering period has finished in late summer or early fall.

The bigleaf hydrangea is beloved by many

bigleaf hydrangea in blue

There are two common types of flower head arrangements found under the bigleaf species: mophead (which has large, round flower clusters) and lacecap (which has a flattened cluster of small flowers surrounded by larger sterile flowers).

The lacecap hydrangea has a flattened cluster of small flowers surrounded by larger sterile flowers

lacecap hydrangea in pink

#Smooth hydrangea

If you are looking for a robust shrub with big, heavy flower heads, then the smooth hydrangeas are what you need. Sometimes the flowers of this variety get so heavy, that they droop! But you can easily support them if that happens. This variety also likes partial shade best and soil high in nutrients that is well-draining. It likes a consistent moisture level. However, unlike the bigleaf hydrnagea, this variety is hardier when it comes to colder weather. But it will need protection from extreme heat. Smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood which means that next season’s flowers form on the current season’s growth. So, prune it late winter or early spring.

Sometimes the flowers of this variety get so heavy, that they droop

types of hydrangeas white smooth hydrangea

#Panicle hydrangea

These types of hydrangeas form panicles which are long branched inflorescence. The panicle hydrangea is much smaller than other varieties but it is heavily branched. It has stunning white or creamed colored blooms, but they can turn pink or even a deep red color. This variety prefers to get full sun or partial shade and is more tolerant to sunlight than other types. However, it still has the same soil needs as the smooth and bigleaf hydrangeas. Panicle hydrangeas like to be watered regularly, especially during dry periods. When it comes to pruning, this variety grows new flowers on new wood, so prune in fall or spring before they sprout.

These types of hydrangeas form panicles which are long branched inflorescence

pink red and white panicle hydrangea

#Oakleaf hydrangea

This variety gets its name from the leaves, as they are shaped similarly to those of an oak tree. The oakleaf hydrangea forms cone-shaped clusters of beautiful flowers. And in fall, both its foliage and flowers have a beautiful red hue. This variety likes partial shade or filtered sunlight but can tolerate full-sun conditions if you live in a cooler climate. Soil needs are the same as other varieties. When it comes to watering, make sure to keep consistent levels of moisture. The oakleaf hydrangea establishes its new flowers in autumn, so prune with caution! This variety requires minimal pruning.

The oakleaf hydrangea forms cone-shaped clusters of beautiful flowers

white oakleaf hydrangea with white flowers

#Climbing hydrangea

This variety has the unique ability to – you guessed it – climb! The climbing hydrangea has white flowers that are flattened and surrounded by pseudo-florets. It prefers partial shade to full shade conditions and needs fertile, well-draining soil. As all other types of hydrangeas, this one needs consistently moist soil. When it comes to pruning, this variety doesn’t need much of it. Simply remove weak or dead shoots. This variety’s buds form in fall, so if you live in a cold climate, it’s best to give them some protection.

This variety has the unique ability to – you guessed it – climb

types of hydrangeas climbing white hydrangea

These were some of the best types of hydrangeas you can add to your garden for an extra pop of color and texture. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can choose the best variety for your property and enjoy its beauty for years to come.

These were some of the best types of hydrangeas you can add to your garden

white hydrangeas in a vase

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John Griffith

John Griffith is a young, passionate journalist. Writing has been John’s hobby ever since he was a boy. He has worked in some of the UK’s most successful news portals over the course of his professional career but found his forever home at Archzine.