Hydrangea (sometimes called hortensia) comprise a genus of around 75 species of perennial flowering plants that are native to the Americas and eastern Asia – including China, Korea, and Japan. These popular ornamental shrubs with over 600 cultivars produce large flower heads of various shapes and sizes.
Most varieties grow as shrubs and reach a mature height of 2-5 feet tall. A handful are small trees and others are vine-like and will climb trees, fences, houses, or other structures. Most cultivated species are deciduous. Some flower on new wood and some on old wood. So it’s important to know what variety you have as you will need to prune the correct bits in the correct season.
The most common cultivated species in the genus are: big leaf (H. macrophylla) which is comprised of lace cap, mophead, and mountain cultivar groups, oak leaf (H. quercifolia), panicle (H. paniculate), smooth (H. arborescens), and climbing (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris).
Are you looking to add a hydrangea to your landscaping? Read all of our guides below for growing, cultivar selection, propagation, disease and pest mitigation tips and hacks down below. Happy gardening!
With snow-white pom-pom inflorescence and exfoliating, textured bark, wild hydrangeas are sure to wow any garden aficionado. Hydrangea arborescens attracts pollinators, stabilizes slopes, and is a natural border plant with showy blooms that make for an elegant cut flower. Learn how to grow wild hydrangeas now.
Sure, you can buy a tree form hydrangea plant at a nursery, but this is often a pricey option. Why not create your own? All you need is a little patience, since it can take a few years to get results, plus some know-how, which we’ll provide in this guide, and a pair of pruning shears to clip your plant into shape.
Hydrangeas are perennial flowering shrubs that make a bold statement in the summer garden. If you can’t get enough of these beauties why not try propagating them yourself, instead of buying expensive potted shrubs? Learn how easy it is to propagate hydrangea cuttings in this step-by-step guide. Read more now.
If you love the big, colorful blossoms of hydrangeas but don’t have room in your garden, why not try growing them in containers instead? You can even bring the luxurious bursts of color to your porch, patio, or deck. Learn how to grow hydrangeas in pots in this guide, plus we’ll share our top container-friendly cultivars.
For a tough and uniquely gorgeous plant, look no further than the oakleaf hydrangea. With beautiful oak-shaped leaves and conical blooms, Hydrangea quercifolia is a low-maintenance shrub that can tolerate full sun, full shade, and anything in between. In our guide, you’ll learn how to grow oakleaf hydrangeas at home.
Numerous fungi and viruses can infect hydrangea shrubs. In addition, two types of bacteria can also cause important diseases. You can treat most of these diseases and save your plants. Read on to learn how to diagnose and treat diseases on hydrangea.
Hydrangeas are available in an exciting palette of colors. Some vary by soil acidity, and others change color as they mature. Whether you have patio pots or estate acreage, you can enjoy their cottage charm in your outdoor living space. From dwarf to tree-sized, here are our 25 favorite varieties. Read more now.
Hydrangeas can fall prey to anthracnose, a virulent fungal disease which can cause damage to the leaves, flowers, and even the stems. This fungus spreads quickly in hot, wet weather, but there are steps you can take to limit an infection. Read on to learn how to prevent, diagnose, and manage anthracnose in hydrangeas.
Panicle hydrangeas are native to cool regions of Japan and China. These heat- and cold-tolerant shrubs produce huge, showy clusters of blooms that are white at first, blushing into pink or red as the season progresses. Learn how to grow and care for Hydrangea paniculata in your landscape with this guide. Read more now.
Hydrangeas are low maintenance flowering shrubs popular for their dramatic colorful blooms and bold green foliage. But can you grow them from seed? Depending on the variety, it may be possible. In this guide, we cover how to collect and save the seeds of your favorite hydrangeas for planting. Read more now.
Hydrangeas are woody shrubs or vines with showy clusters of blossoms. They grow best in full sun to part shade, where the soil is consistently moist. There are nearly 80 different species and several bloom styles. Learn more about the lacecap hydrangea, and what makes it unique in this guide. Read more now.
Is there anything more disappointing than when it’s well into summer and your hydrangeas still aren’t blooming? In this guide, we’ll help you figure out what on earth went wrong, whether it’s a pruning issue or you have a light problem, and what you can do to fix it so you can enjoy those magnificent blossoms again.
Certain species of hydrangea have the unique ability to change color from blue to pink and vice versa. With a bit of patience and diligent application of certain soil amendments, you can encourage your hydrangea flowers to change color. Learn why hydrangeas change color and how you can do it at home in this guide.
Many of us know the familiar mophead hydrangea, and its pretty flowers. But did you know this beauty comes in dwarf, container-plant sizes to sprawling 50-foot vines? All have lovely, large flowers and most have good autumn color too. Interested? Then, here’s the details on how to grow hydrangea for your garden.