Hydrangeas, like clothes, go in and out of style, says Michael Mauro, curator of the plant family collections at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Old-fashioned pom-pom hydrangeas come to mind.
Photography by Julie Taylor Fitzgerald, courtesy of American Hydrangea Society except where noted.
Ward says she has packed some 250 different hydrangea plants into her own 1/3 acre garden in Atlanta, Georgia–some in sun, some in part sun (in bright light necessary to bloom, but not the direct hot afternoon sun that burns the blooms), and several climbing the walls of her brick house.
Annabelle Hydrangea
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ in bloom in Ward’s garden in Atlanta; the cultivar likes a bit of shade.
“The neat thing about Annabelle,” says Ward, “is that they bloom on new wood, so it’s perfect for us in the South. If you plant different species, it’s like an insurance policy. Even if there’s a late freeze, you still have some blooms on different plants.”
Endless Summer Hydrangea
Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer’. To change the color of the flowers, see Magic Trick: How to Make Your Hydrangea Change Color.
A Hydrangea ‘BloomStruck’. Get it now: A Hydrangea BloomStruck is $31.95 from White Flower Farm.
BloomStruck Hydrangea
Hydrangea ‘Twist and Shoult; is another adorably named plant. It produces “lacecap” flowers and is also a remontant, or re-blooming variety, that Ward says is her current favorite.
Twist and Shout Hydrangea
Limelight Hydrangea
Hydrangea ‘Limelight’, from the paniculata species, has almost cone-shaped flower heads and also blooms on new wood.
Photograph via Amazon.
Midoriboshi Temari Hydrangea
Hydrangea ‘Midoriboshi Temari’ is another of Mauro’s favorites is this Japanese cultivar serrata hydrangea (also called ‘Sawtooth’). Get it now: A four-year-old Hydrangea Serrata ‘Midoriboshi Temari’ plant, cut back to a height of from 4 to 6 inches, is $24 from Amazon.
Ayesha Hydrangea
Hydrangea ‘Ayesha’ is a macrophylla that can grow as tall as 5 feet.
Ruby Slippers Hydrangea
Hydrangea ‘Ruby Slippers’ is a cultivar of oakleaf hydrangea. Get it now: In a 1-gallon pot, a Hydrangea Quercifolia Ruby Slippers ships for fall planting; $24.95 from White Flower Farm.
Snowflake Hydrangea
Photograph by Sara Barrett for Gardenista.
Hydrangea ‘Snowflake’ is a quercifolia hydrangea that will bloom white and age nicely, turning many different shades, even red and burgundy, says Ward.
A hydrangea climber covers the brick walls of Ward’s house, putting forth a lacy white bloom. Additionally, get more ideas on how to successfully plant, grow, and care for hydrangea with our Hydrangea: A Field Guide.
Climbing Hydrangea