Many people equate hydrangeas with bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophyllia), those stunning shrubs with rounded inflorescences big as a grapefruit. There are actually a wide variety of hydrangea plant types that might interest you though.
Different hydrangea plants add different accents to your garden, so it makes sense to investigate the types of hydrangea that would grow well in your area. Read on for information about hydrangea varieties and their cultural needs.
Hydrangea Plant Types
Hydrangea varieties offer an expansive range of foliage and
flowers, as well as different growth characteristics. If you have a particular
hydrangea “look” in mind, don’t think it’s your only choice. These versatile
shrubs are found in every size and shape imaginable.
All hydrangeas share some of their most popular
characteristics, like ornamental flowers and ample foliage. All are easy maintenance
and virtually pest free. Since you can find hydrangeas across the country,
there is very likely a hydrangea that would do well in your backyard.
Different Hydrangea Plants
Bigleaf hydrangea – Let’s start with popular bigleaf hydrangea and introduce the two, very different hydrangea plants within this species. Remember that these are the shrubs with flowers that change colors depending on the soil acidity. Everyone knows the mophead hydrangea variety (Hydrangea macrophylla), with its full orbs of blossoms. There’s also a second, very lovely type of bigleaf known as lacecap (Hydrangea macrophylla normalis). The blossom is a flat disk, with a round “cap” of smaller flowers in the center surrounded by a fringe of larger, showier flowers.
That is only the beginning. Other popular types of hydrangeas include two types that are native to this country: the easy-to-grow smooth hydrangea and stunning oakleaf hydrangea.
Smooth hydrangea – Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is an understory plant and prefers some shade and lots of moisture. It grows as a rounded shrub and gets to 5 feet (1.5 m.) high and wide, with huge white flower clusters. The top cultivar is ‘Annabelle,’ with flower heads up to 12 inches (31 cm.) across.
Oakleaf hydrangea – Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) is one of the few hydrangea varieties to offer brilliant fall color as the leaves turn to scarlet and burgundy. Its lobed leaves look like extremely large and attractive oak leaves, and the plant grows to 8 feet (2 m.) tall. The white flowers are large and abundant, white when they first open into conical flower heads but maturing to a pinky mauve.
We can’t write about hydrangea varieties without mentioning
panicle hydrangea, sometimes called the Pee Gee hydrangea or tree hydrangea.
Panicle hydrangea – This shrub or small tree is tall,
growing to 20 feet (6 m.) high and wide. It wows with showy pyramidal panicles
of white flowers. Of all the different hydrangea plants, panicle
(Hydrangea paniculata) is the easiest to grow since it is infinitely
adaptable. Full sun? No problem. Dry spells? It sails through.
The most famous cultivar is ‘Grandiflora’ that, true to its
name, produces huge white flower clusters up to 18 inches (46 cm.) long.
‘Limelight’ is also popular, with its lime green flower buds opening to pale
green flowers.
Climbing hydrangea – Yet another hydrangea that
deserves a look is the spectacular climbing
vine (Hydrangea anomela petiolaris). Once established, it can get to
60 feet (18 m.) high, clinging to support with root-like tendrils. Its flowers
are romantic lace-cap varieties.
Many people equate hydrangeas with bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophyllia), those stunning shrubs with rounded inflorescences big as a grapefruit. There are actually a wide variety of hydrangea plant types that might interest you though.
Different hydrangea plants add different accents to your garden, so it makes sense to investigate the types of hydrangea that would grow well in your area. Read on for information about hydrangea varieties and their cultural needs.
Hydrangea Plant Types
Hydrangea varieties offer an expansive range of foliage and
flowers, as well as different growth characteristics. If you have a particular
hydrangea “look” in mind, don’t think it’s your only choice. These versatile
shrubs are found in every size and shape imaginable.
All hydrangeas share some of their most popular
characteristics, like ornamental flowers and ample foliage. All are easy maintenance
and virtually pest free. Since you can find hydrangeas across the country,
there is very likely a hydrangea that would do well in your backyard.
Different Hydrangea Plants
Bigleaf hydrangea – Let’s start with popular bigleaf hydrangea and introduce the two, very different hydrangea plants within this species. Remember that these are the shrubs with flowers that change colors depending on the soil acidity. Everyone knows the mophead hydrangea variety (Hydrangea macrophylla), with its full orbs of blossoms. There’s also a second, very lovely type of bigleaf known as lacecap (Hydrangea macrophylla normalis). The blossom is a flat disk, with a round “cap” of smaller flowers in the center surrounded by a fringe of larger, showier flowers.
That is only the beginning. Other popular types of hydrangeas include two types that are native to this country: the easy-to-grow smooth hydrangea and stunning oakleaf hydrangea.
Smooth hydrangea – Smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is an understory plant and prefers some shade and lots of moisture. It grows as a rounded shrub and gets to 5 feet (1.5 m.) high and wide, with huge white flower clusters. The top cultivar is ‘Annabelle,’ with flower heads up to 12 inches (31 cm.) across.
Oakleaf hydrangea – Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) is one of the few hydrangea varieties to offer brilliant fall color as the leaves turn to scarlet and burgundy. Its lobed leaves look like extremely large and attractive oak leaves, and the plant grows to 8 feet (2 m.) tall. The white flowers are large and abundant, white when they first open into conical flower heads but maturing to a pinky mauve.
We can’t write about hydrangea varieties without mentioning
panicle hydrangea, sometimes called the Pee Gee hydrangea or tree hydrangea.
Panicle hydrangea – This shrub or small tree is tall,
growing to 20 feet (6 m.) high and wide. It wows with showy pyramidal panicles
of white flowers. Of all the different hydrangea plants, panicle
(Hydrangea paniculata) is the easiest to grow since it is infinitely
adaptable. Full sun? No problem. Dry spells? It sails through.
The most famous cultivar is ‘Grandiflora’ that, true to its
name, produces huge white flower clusters up to 18 inches (46 cm.) long.
‘Limelight’ is also popular, with its lime green flower buds opening to pale
green flowers.
Climbing hydrangea – Yet another hydrangea that
deserves a look is the spectacular climbing
vine (Hydrangea anomela petiolaris). Once established, it can get to
60 feet (18 m.) high, clinging to support with root-like tendrils. Its flowers
are romantic lace-cap varieties.