The hydrangea is a deciduous bush with matured dimension ramble from dwarf to Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree - sized that boasts showy flower head in an array of forms and hues .
We link to marketer to help you notice relevant products . If you buy from one of our links , we may pull in a commission .
In this article , you will find 25 of our favoritehydrangeas for containersand garden in your outdoor living blank .
Here they are :
The 25 Best Hydrangeas
Big Leaf Hydrangeas
bountiful leaf hydrangea , H. macrophylla , is a large coinage that encompass three primary groups : lace cap , mophead , and mountain .
Lace Cap
Lace caps differ from the Hellenic round ball of flowers that has become synonymous with the Holy Writ hydrangea .
It has a flattened “ corymb ” of showy blossom surrounding a center of pocket-size buds . This species is well - suit for USDA Hardiness Zone 6 and above . Here are two you ’re indisputable to love :
1. Cherry Explosion
WithH. macrophylla‘Cherry Explosion ’ you get cherry pink / blood-red blossoms surround a centre of wan pinkish buds that erupt into tiny stars .
They may lean toward lavender in more acidic territory . An excellent choice for container and borders , this stocky peach reaches two to three feet tall in Zones 4 to 9 , where it prefer full sunshine to part shadowiness .
‘ Cherry Explosion ’
This bush is appreciate for being able to tolerate cold . It blossom on both quondam and Modern woodwind instrument , and with deadheading , puts on a flashy display from spring into capitulation , when its leaves darken to Burgundy wine .
It has an mediocre maturation charge per unit , and is useful as a tidy , blue - profile hedge industrial plant .
plant are available from Nature Hills Nursery .
2. Double Delights ‘Wedding Gown’
Part of theH. macrophyllaDouble Delights ™ series , ‘ wedding party Gown ’ has a flattened “ corymb ” flower lead with a double ring of impressive blossoms surrounding a doubled - bud centre .
desirable for Zones 5 to 9 , it ’s a compact two to three feet tall at maturity , making it a worthy candidate for large container horticulture .
threefold pleasure ™ ‘ Wedding Gown ’
This type prefers light shade . It blooms on both onetime and raw growth , so with deadheading , it should bloom from outflow through to fall .
Its emergence charge per unit is modal , and the livid color is notaffected by soil acidulousness .
‘ marriage Gown ‘ isavailable from Plants by Mail .
3. Endless Summer ‘Twist-n-Shout’
Endless Summer ® ‘ Twist - n - Shout , ’ akaH. macrophylla‘PIIHM - I ’ is a blue lacing cap that tends toward pink in less acidic soil and gain a average height of three to five foundation tall .
It ’s bid “ endless ” or “ reblooming ” because it produces flowers on both former and new wood from summer through to frost , facilitated by deadheading .
Endless Summer ® ‘Twist - n - Shout ’
This case exhibits outstanding heat and cold tolerance in Zones 4 to 9 . It wish a turn of sun and uprise at an average pace .
employ it as a specimen planting , to create a hedging of moderate height , or in great container .
Mophead
The mophead is what most people picture when talking about hydrangeas . They have fluffy balls of blossoms in shades of blue , pink , or purpleness .
They are pH sensitive and tend to be pinker in alkaline soil and bluer in acidulent soil . Flowers flower on old woodwind .
This type develop proficient in Zones 5 to 11 . You may require to offer winter protection like gunny , a covering of mulch , or a sheltered location in Zone 5 .
Popular varieties let in :
4. Big Daddy
With enormous blossom flock that measurement from 12 to 14 inches across , H. macrophylla‘Big Daddy ’ is a fast - growing change that is either pink or aristocratic depending upon soil acidity .
Its mature superlative is between five and six metrical unit . From former summertime to light , it puts on a show , blooming on both erstwhile and Modern wood , facilitated by deadheading .
‘ large dad ’
Suited to zone 6 to 9 , this heat - kind variety tolerates full sun in cooler regions , and welfare from partial shade in warmer climes .
Consider pruning it like a dwarf tree diagram for a unmarried specimen planting , or mass several for an island of fluffy , pastel color .
5. Cityline Paris
H. macrophyllaCityline ® Paris is one of the Cityline ® serial of dwarf plants with lowly - height flowers for Zones 5 to 9 . Its colour is deeply pink / loss in alkaline ground and run toward purple in acidulous .
ripe height is just one to two feet , with no pruning necessary .
Cityline ® Paris
If you ’ve got a urban center terrace , this is your dream container plant . In garden , it makes a well-disposed , low-spirited - visibility hedging or border plant .
This plant acquire at an medium rate and blooms on old wood from betimes through late summer . It choose full to part Dominicus , resists mildew , and tolerates salt .
Plants are available from Burpee .
6. Edgy Hearts
A sweetheart of a compact shrub , H. macrophylla‘Horheart ’ aka Edgy ® Hearts boast unequalled pink petals border with white that resemble hearts and combine to mold 10 - inch efflorescence heads .
In more acidic soils , they incline toward blue . Both slice to putting green .
Edgy ® Hearts
With a mature height of two to four foot , this is a perfect candidate for container , hedge , or specimen planting in Zones 5 to 9 .
This type opt a placement with full to part sun , where it can grow at an average rate . Blossoms spring on old woods from early to late summertime .
7. Endless Summer ‘The Original’
The first in the Endless Summer ® serial , this re - blooming character sets buds on both old and new wood for summer to fall flower .
It likes full sunshine and display well cold-blooded hardiness than many cultivars . This type tops out at a modest three to five foot , for the perfect specimen planting .
Endless Summer ® ‘The Original ’
This is a pH tender variety that may have heyday that are blue or pink , depending on the soil , in zone 4 to 9 .
It grows at an middling pace and benefits from deadheading to prolong blooming .
8. Everlasting Revolution
Everlasting ® Revolution ( H. macrophylla‘Hokomarevo ’ ) features a practical palette of colors with an antique show as prime heads mature to shade of fuchsia garden pink or violet blue , stress by calcined lime green .
Everlasting ® Revolution
Everlasting ® serial plants bloom on both old and new Sir Henry Joseph Wood for color from spring to descend .
Deadheading encourages reblooming .
This thickset style hit a petite two to three human foot , and is an excellent choice for patio container , hedging , or small garden specimen planting .
Grow it in Zones 5 to 9 in a location with full Sunday to part shadowiness , where it can grow slowly .
9. Everlasting Jade
Another in the Everlasting ® serial , H. macrophylla‘Hortmaja ’ also has an antique appearancelike the cottage garden blossomsof a bygone epoch .
The flower start out undimmed light-green in spring , fade a bite in summer , and become fleeceable with red edges in crepuscle . It ’s a bantam elan that top out at a mere two to three foundation , for a pretty kitty specimen or garden edging .
‘ Everlasting ® Jade ’
In Zones 5 to 9 , provide a location with full to part sun , and expect growth at an average rate .
10. Harlequin
The ‘ Harlequin ’ mophead is an out-and-out peach that can be the centrepiece of any recurrent efflorescence garden .
Six - in blooms with pink to lavender florets edged with white band will ensure that this variety gets center stage . And it does well in part shade , ideal for backyards with large , mature Tree .
‘ Harlequin ’
Harlequins reach three to five feet and grow up to four feet in width . This cultivar does well in geographical zone 5 to 9 in areas protected from acute full sunshine .
Find them at Burpee .
11. Nikko
H. macrophylla‘Nikko ’ is a classic “ Dutch ” blue variety that reaches a height of four to six feet . Blossoms tend toward pink in more alkaline soil .
This tight - growing choice is well suited to hedging , mass planting , or specimen display .
‘ Nikko ’
well in Zones 6 to 9 , this type prefers full sun to part shade .
It blooms on previous wood from too soon to recent summertime , and its juiceless flower are note for holding their color well into the autumn .
plant are usable from Fast Growing Trees .
12. Tilt-A-Swirl
contention - A - whirl ® , akaH. macrophylla‘QUFU ’ is a arresting choice for those horticulture in Zones 5 to 9 . It ’s an particularly cold - hardy bush with vivid color and a long growing season .
Two - tonus blossoms in oculus - catching lime and magenta bloom on both previous and new wood for a colour - change show from summertime to mid - fall .
Tilt - A - convolution ®
give three to four feet tall at maturity , this is a prize candidate for beds , borders , and container .
It grows at a slow to average rate and does best with partial ghost , because too much sun tends to cut its vividness vibrancy .
Mountain
The mountain type , H. serrata , is in reality a different botanical species with smaller lace cap - dash flower head and little leaves that mime the larger big leaf variety show .
It does well in Zones 6 to 9 , and even in Zone 5 with wintertime protection .
One cultivar to consider is :
13. Tiny Tuff Stuff
If you ’ve got a lowly terrace , Tiny Tuff Stuff ™ , akaH. serrata‘MAKD ’ is the one for you . At a maximum elevation of 18 to 24 inches , this reblooming juicy lace cap will have pink blooms instead in more alkaline filth .
It offers notable stale boldness and bloom on both old and new Grant Wood from betimes to former summer .
Tiny Tuff Stuff ™
Suited to Zones 5 to 9 , this type requires full to part sun . It produce at an average rate and does not need pruning .
14. Pink Dynamo
Pink Dynamo ™ ( H. serrata‘JPD01 ’ ) is a mountain hydrangea suitable for Zones 5 to 9 . It ’s a lacing detonating equipment vogue with three- to six - inch flower heads that thrives in full sunshine to part shade .
Each peak head consists of a ringing of sterile vivid pinkish floweret with white centers , surrounding a flatten center of prolific pink - purple bud that open to miniature pinkish - white blossoms .
pinkish Dynamo
Not pH sensitive , the flower color of this change is consistent across all soil types .
Pink Dynamo ™ is specially insensate hardy and blooms on old wood . The foliage is late gullible with a burgundy chromaticity .
Topping out at two to three feet , it has an erect , somewhat rounded , and thick increase use .
This is an splendid choice for the back of a molding , a friendly hedging , a specimen planting , or a orotund container attraction .
You may find it to be a bit leggy , so low plantings in front may show it to near reward . Bloom time is from late natural spring through summertime .
Find this variety now at Nature Hills Nursery .
Oak Leaf Hydrangeas
The oak leaf coinage , H. quercifolia , has farewell that resemble those of oak trees and redden in the fall . Flowers are produced on old woodwind .
It ’s native to the US and has ashen , conical , single or double blossomed blossom that turn pink with age .
It is cold hardy to Zone 5 with winter tribute , and perform sound in Zones 5 to 9 . A few especially nice cultivars are :
15. Gatsby Pink
Known for its power to prosper in sun or shade , and in soils of various quality , Gatsby Pink ® , akaH. quercifolia‘JoAnn ’ is a winner .
Blooming on old growth , it boasts conelike clusters of vibrant pinkish blossoms in summertime that deepen in color in drop , when its leaves grow from green to purpleness and red .
With mature elevation from six to eight metrical foot , this stunner looks great in Zones 5 to 9 .
Gatsby Pink ®
choose a fix with full to part sunlight and expect an average rate of growth .
Considerpruning to a tree - like appearanceand using this cultivar to flank a driveway for in high spirits visual shock , as well as mass or specimen plantings .
16. Ruby Slippers
A dwarf oak tree leafage type , H. quercifolia‘Ruby Slippers ’ has conical blossoms that ornament bush of three to four foot marvellous at maturity . They afford white and turn ruby Red River during early to midsummer .
The foliage deepens to reddish - brown and the bark exfoliate attractively in the fall .
‘ Ruby Slippers ’
This is a fast - spring up diverseness that require partial shadowiness and does best in Zones 5 to 9 . Too much Sunday may be sabotage with extra piss during teetotal spells .
In gain , bush in Zone 5 may gain from cold - weather auspices , like burlap wraps and mulch , because buds form on old Mrs. Henry Wood .
Panicle Hydrangeas
The panicle kind , H. paniculata , has conelike blossom bunch called panicles that start out white and disappearance to pink . Blossoms form on new wood .
This specie grows attractively in Zones 4 to 8 , and peradventure Zone 3 with winter protection .
A full variety of beautiful cultivar are available , include :
17. Berry White
Berry White ® ( H. paniculata‘Renba ’ ) sportsconical clusters of blossoms that go out white and bit by bit deepen to dark pink , with a striking two - whole tone effect during the transition . It ’s well become to Zones 3 to 8 .
colour diverge with grease pH and clime , making for interesting hue .
Berry White ®
This especially cold-blooded , drouth , and pollution - liberal form flower on new wood from other summertime to mid - downslope .
It achieve a elevation of six to seven feet , for use as a spectacular focal point , one by one , or en masse shot . ply a location with full sunshine and anticipate an mean rate of growing .
18. Bobo
Bobo ® ( H. paniculata‘ILVOBO ’ ) is a dwarf potpourri with blank , conical prime heads . There are so many , and they are so large , that they make the George W. Bush look one giant , flossy flower .
It reaches a heavyset height of two to three feet , get it a firm pick forcontainer gardeningandlow - visibility hedging .
Bobo ®
This fast grower requires full sunshine to part nicety . It flower on novel wood from midsummer to fall .
19. First Editions Vanilla Strawberry
From creamy white to tap and flushed , the cone cell - shaped blooms ofH. paniculata‘Renhy ’ are sure to delight .
They are not pH sensitive and put on an impressive show from summertime into fall . And as they fade , they add interest to the early winter garden .
First Editions ® ‘ VanillaStrawberry ’
At a matured height of six to seven feet tall , this make an attractive specimen or hedging plant that provides erect interest .
Provide full Sunday to part shade for this color - changing attraction .
20. Little Quick Fire
Little Quick Fire ® ( H. paniculata‘SMHPLQF ’ ) is a dwarf variety for Zones 3 to 8 noted for its frigid margin . Its upright , cone - determine flush start out white and deepen to rap and red .
It ’s not pH tender , and bloom of youth on novel wood from early summer into surrender .
Little Quick Fire ®
At a modest three to five foundation at matureness , this kind offer up versatility , execute as well in big container , beds , borders , hedging , and mickle plantings .
select a placement with full Sunday where this fast grower can take off .
21. Pee Gee
If you ’re looking for one of the large varieties , you ’ll screw ‘ Pee Gee,’H. paniculata‘Grandiflora . ’ With a mature height of between 10 and 20 fundament , you may leave it full , or cut it to shape a single - stemmed tree .
It thrives in Zones 3 to 8 .
‘ Pee Gee ’
Select a location with full sun to part spook for this tight - get giant . You ’re sure to love its conical clusters of blossoms that spring up on sure-enough wood and reach between 12 and 18 inch across .
They go out white and intensify to pink from midsummer into fall , for a gorgeous addition to the landscape .
plant are available via Nature Hills Nursery .
Smooth Hydrangeas
The smooth character , H. arborescens , produces bloodless “ snowballs ” that may attain a human foot in diameter , and is often called a snowball bush . Flowers grow on young wood .
This coinage opt a somewhat sunny position and thrives best in Zones 4 to 9.you may read about growing it here .
Some variety show to consider are :
22. Annabelle
If you remember a hydrangea Dubyuh from your childhood , this may be the one .
This is bonk as the Graeco-Roman “ snowball ” in my venue , with its white , fluffy flower head ranging from eight to 12 inch across .
This US aboriginal shrub produce well in Zones 3 to 9 . It is very cold patient of .
‘ Annabelle ’
The best location for this shrub is one with full to part wraith . It flowers on young wood from early summer to flow , and can withstand a good bit of pruning .
The maximum tiptop at matureness is three to five feet , making it a various addition to beds , borders , and container .
Note that it does tend to get a bit floppy and may require hazard .
23. Incrediball
H. arborescensIncrediball ® is a series of summer bloomers that boast heavy bloom up to 12 inch across . It starts out lime green , transitions to white , and then back to super acid again .
Flowers overt on raw wood . It has stout branch that are not prone to wilt .
Incrediball ®
Suited to Zones 4 to 9 , this one take full sunshine to part shade . It is a US native bush with an average ontogenesis rate .
24. Invincibelle Limetta
Invincibelle Limetta ® is a midget stunner in the Invincibelle ® serial is a summertime bloomer that pop out out immature , turns white , then back to putting surface .
It reaches a petite height of only 30 to 36 column inch . Display it in container or apply it to create a friendly hedge .
Invincibelle Limetta ®
civilise this slight lovely in zone 3 to 9 . Choose a location with full sun to part shade . It grows at an middling rate .
Climbing Hydrangeas
The climbing mintage , H. anomalasubsp.petiolaris , is a slow - growing , long - inhabit vine that may outperform 50 feet over the years .
groom it along a fence or up a trellis , or let it meander asa unparalleled unfolding ground cover .
Fragrant flattish “ corymb ” flower direct that peak in June resemble small blanched lace caps . This species is idealistic for Zones 4 to 8 .
25. Petiolaris
H. anomalasubsp.petiolarisis a vine salmagundi with fragrant white blossom that resemble small lace jacket crown . It is a slowly - growing plant that takes several long time to bloom .
foresee at least 30 feet of outgrowth , and be after to ply documentation . Keep in mind that the vines may leave marks where they cling .
H. petiolaris
This type grows in Zones 4 to 8 and blooms on sure-enough woods from late spring to former summertime . It do good from wintertime aegis like burlap and mulch in inhuman region .
It grow in full shade , but flowers better with some sunshine . Some pruning may be required to keep it realizable , and it is somewhat drought tolerant .
Many mounting type are sold without reference of a especial cultivar . They in general have substantial gullible leafage .
Monrovia used to offer a ‘ Miranda ’ variety that featured variegated green , whitened , and chickenhearted leaves , but it has n’t been available for several year .
A Profusion of Memorable Blooms
And there you have them – 23 spectacular hydrangea to love in your landscape painting .
For smorgasbord that are pH sensitive , apply garden limeto your soil for pinker shades , or a ground acidifier for downcast tones .
My favorite hydrangea story is about some relatives that grow two “ snowball bushes , ” as they ’re often call here in the Philly suburb .
When the kids were humble , they noticed that the one in the backyard bloomed when it was clock time for school to get out for the summertime , and the one in the front yard , when it was clip to go back to schooltime again .
Now it ’s your tour to feature these cottage garden smoothy in your outdoor living spaces and create happy store of your own !
Be trusted to consultour companion article on how to turn hydrangeasfor all you need to know to guarantee successful culture .
If you enjoyed this clause , you ’re sure to likeour other hydrangea growing and charge guides , such as :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . in the first place published December 25th , 2019 . Last updated May 4th , 2023 . Product photos via AKTRD , Burpee , Fast Growing Trees , Nature Hills Nursery , works by Mail , and Proven Winners . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Nan Schiller
