Any Type of Hydrangea Beautifies Your Landscape
There are reasons to add any hydrangea variety to your yard:
- Hydrangeas offer large, bold blooms.
- They grow quickly to create an eye-catching landscape feature.
- Different hydrangea varieties offer different bloom colors, particularly with modern cultivars developed to have specific traits.
- Some types of hydrangeas bloom over several months.
- Many hydrangea varieties attract pollinators.
- In general, hydrangeas are relatively simple to grow and maintain.
- Two of the hydrangea varieties we’ll discuss are native to the United States.
6 Favorite Types of Hydrangeas
We’ve got information on six popular types of hydrangea bushes. If you’re wondering whether your yard gets the right sunlight or how big hydrangeas get, note that some specific plants within each type have different features and care requirements. There are also custom-developed cultivars with characteristics different from the original plant. Always check the plant tag for details on a hydrangea you’re considering.
All parts of the hydrangea plant are toxic, so use caution if you have children or pets and are considering adding hydrangeas to your landscape.
1. Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Bigleaf hydrangeas are the most common in landscapes. Mophead varieties, with large, rounded blooms are favorites, but you’ll also see lacecap bigleaf hydrangeas with blooms that have a flat shape. Soil pH is a factor in bloom color for bigleaf hydrangeas with pink and blue flowers. Soil with low pH produces blue flowers, soil with higher pH produces pink flowers. Our guide, Hydrangea Care Need to Know: How to Take Care of Hydrangeas, will give you tips for growing bigleaf hydrangeas.
Common Names: Bigleaf hydrangea, hortensia, French hydrangea
Planting Zones: USDA zones 4 to 9; requires protection from winter in zones 4 and 5
Light Requirements: Partial shade in zones 7 to 9, full sun in zones 4 to 6
Mature Size: From 4 to 10 feet tall and wide
Bloom Timing: Mid to late summer, with mophead cultivars blooming longer than lacecaps
Bloom Colors: White, red (deep pink) and, depending on the plant and soil pH, blue, purple or pink
Pollinators: Attracts pollinators with lacecap blooms only
2. Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata)
Panicle hydrangeas feature blooms in cone shapes and narrow, rough leaves. These hydrangeas are more cold-hardy than other types. With proper care, you can develop these panicle hydrangeas into the shape of a tree.
Common Names: Panicle hydrangea, peegee hydrangea,
Planting Zones: USDA zones 3 to 9
Light Requirements: Full sun in zones 3 to 6, dappled or partial sun in zones 7 to 9
Mature Size: 8 to 15 feet tall with a spread of up to 10 feet
Bloom Timing: Mid-summer to fall
Bloom Colors: White, turning pink and red in fall
Pollinators: Attracts pollinators
3. Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens)
Featuring rounded blooms, smooth hydrangeas are native to the eastern United States. As with other native species, they’re adapted to local conditions and are easier to care for in their native area. They’re also great for supporting local wildlife. Smooth hydrangeas do well in warm climates and can also tolerate some cold areas but aren’t as drought-tolerant as other types.
Common Names: Smooth hydrangea, wild hydrangea, native hydrangea
Planting Zones: USDA zones 3 to 8
Light Requirements: Partial sun or dappled sun; full sun if soil is kept moist
Mature Size: 3 to 6 feet tall with a similar spread
Bloom Timing: Late spring through late summer
Bloom Colors: Green, turning white
Pollinators: Attracts pollinators
4. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
Another US native, this type of hydrangea is adapted to conditions in the southeastern part of the country and is beneficial to local wildlife. The leaves are scalloped like oak or maple leaves and change color in fall. Oakleaf hydrangeas need lots of sun and heat to produce their pyramid-shaped blooms.
Common Names: Oakleaf hydrangea, oak-leaved hydrangea
Planting Zones: USDA zones 5 to 9
Light Requirements: Partial to full sun
Mature Size: 8-foot or greater height and spread
Bloom Timing: Late spring into early summer
Bloom Colors: White, changing to pink
Pollinators: Attracts pollinators
5. Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata)
The mountain hydrangea looks similar to a compact lacecap bigleaf hydrangea but has more tolerance for cool temperatures. It also offers a better chance for blooms in northern areas. Like bigleaf types, soil with lower pH results in bluer shades while neutral or alkaline soils produce purple or pink blooms.
Common Names: Mountain hydrangea, sawtooth hydrangea
Planting Zones: USDA zones 5 to 9
Light Requirements: Dappled sun through the day or partial sun
Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet in height and spread
Bloom Timing: Mid spring to late summer
Bloom Colors: Blue, purple or pink
Pollinators: Attracts pollinators
6. Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. Petiolaris)
As the name suggests, this type of hydrangea grows as a climbing vine if you place it near a wall, tree or arbor. It takes a few years to really spread upward, but the fragrant, white, flat blooms and heart-shaped leaves reward you with a striking vertical element for your landscape.
Common Names: Climbing hydrangea, creeping hydrangea
Planting Zones: USDA zones 4 to 8
Light Requirements: Full sun in northern areas, partial sun in southern parts of the US
Mature Size: Up to 40 feet, given the right structure, with a spread of up to 6 feet
Bloom Timing: Late spring to early fall
Bloom Color: White
Pollinators: Attracts pollinators
Find the Best Type of Hydrangea for Your Yard
Still not sure which type of hydrangea is right for your landscape? Your local Lowe’s stocks plants that will thrive in your area, plus our Red-Vest associates are available to help you design the perfect landscape and offer tips for plant care.