8 Outstanding Hydrangeas from the Better Homes & Gardens Test Garden (2024)

FAQs

What is the most reliable blooming hydrangea? ›

Panicle hydrangeas from Proven Winners are the most reliably blooming, low maintenance, hardy hydrangeas you can grow.

Hydrangea blooms are touted as a litmus test for soil pH: blue means the soil is quite acidic, pink means the pH is 5.5 or higher. But it's not that simple. Most hydrangeas have white blooms that go green or pink as the plants age, regardless of the pH.

Little Lime^® Hydrangea paniculata

Little Lime looks much like 'Limelight' but stays shorter at 3-5' tall. That makes it a better candidate for planting near windows where it won't block the view. Panicle hydrangeas do not require special soil to grow except that it needs to be well-drained.

Panicle hydrangeas are low-maintenance and fast-growing large deciduous shrubs that are hardy from Zones 3 to 8. They feature elongated, cone-shaped blooms in white or ivory that last from mid-Summer into Fall and often change colors with age, usually finishing with shades of pink.

Best Fertilizer For Hydrangeas

One of the following types of fertilizers will work well for any hydrangea type: Organic, slow-release fertilizers for roses (such as a 15-10-10, or 10-5-5 formula) work well on hydrangeas, giving the plants the nutrients they need to increase the size and quantity of their blooms.

Hydrangeas and pH

In acidic soil (below a pH of 6), their flowers will be blue. In alkaline soil (with a pH above 7), their flowers will be pink, or even red. In neutral to slightly acid soil, these hydrangeas can have purple blooms, or even a mixture of pink and blue blooms on the same plant.

Soil can be made more acidic by adding Soil Acidifier, ammonium sulfate or aluminum sulfate. Follow application rates on the packaging. You can also lower pH levels by incorporating naturally acidic organic materials such as conifer needles, sawdust, peat moss and oak leaves. Coffee grounds are also slightly acidic.

Most Georgia hydrangeas bloom blue

The majority of Georgia soils are acidic; therefore, most hydrangeas blooms are blue. When the soil is alkaline (pH 7.0 or higher), the availability of aluminum decreases. The flowers in this soil are typically pink.

So, when is the best time to plant hydrangeas? Aim for late spring, well after any danger of frost has passed, or early fall, when night temperatures usher in cooler air. If you garden in a region where the ground freezes, get plants into the ground at least six weeks prior to fall's first killing frost.

If you don't prune hydrangeas then they can eventually resemble a tangled mass of woody stems, and the flowers will become smaller and less showy. Regular pruning of hydrangeas helps to maintain their shape and also encourages new growth and a better display of blooms.

What is the hardiest hydrangea? ›

Panicle hydrangea are considered the most cold hardy of the species. They are reliable shrubs or small trees that require minimal fuss for success. Their stout, reddish brown branches are upright to arching, sometimes becoming bowed under the weight of the large flowers.

Panicle hydrangeas are a fantastic choice for adding late-season interest to your garden. As other plants start to fade, panicle hydrangeas burst into bloom, stealing the spotlight with their showy panicles of flowers. Their long-lasting flowers persist well into the fall, extending the beauty of your garden.

Oakleaf varieties are the easiest type of hydrangeas for beginners to grow. Why are oakleaf hydrangeas so easy? They aren't picky! Oakleaf hydrangeas can tolerate colder weather, handle more sun, withstand drought, are more disease/pest resistant and grow in sandy soil better than other hydrangeas.

Endless Summer hydrangeas take the traditional hydrangea to the next level. They can grow their enormous, bold flowers on both old and new wood—making for an exceedingly long blooming season and the potential for reblooms.

Endless Summer^® The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea is a reblooming mophead hydrangea with classic Nantucket blue or soft pink flowers, depending on soil pH. Hardy from Zones 4-9, The Original provides season long, incredible color with its ability to bloom on last year's stems and this year's new growth.

Now, you can choose a variety of hydrangeas that bloom all summer long. You can even prune these at any time. Reblooming hydrangeas flower on both new and old growth, meaning you can enjoy flowers from June until the first frost. They'll continue to bloom long after other flowering shrubs and perennials have stopped.

Panicle hydrangea are considered the most cold hardy of the species. They are reliable shrubs or small trees that require minimal fuss for success. Their stout, reddish brown branches are upright to arching, sometimes becoming bowed under the weight of the large flowers.