Hydrangea macrophylla (2024)

FAQs

Do macrophylla hydrangeas like sun or shade? ›

Bigleaf hydrangea performs best in areas with dappled sunlight, partial shade, or deep shade. Protect it from afternoon sun. It is tolerant of both clay and sandy soil and has some salt tolerance. Plant it in a site with good drainage; occasionally wet soil is okay.

Hydrangeas do best in moist, free-draining soil and dappled shade – not too sunny and not too shady. Avoid south-facing positions, especially if the soil is very dry. For a very shaded vertical surface, such as a north-facing wall, grow the climbing hydrangea Hydrangea anomala subsp.

As rapid growers—averaging about 2 feet of growth per year—larger varieties of hydrangeas can reach up to 15 feet tall. Applicable in growing zones 3 to 9, hydrangeas are a low-maintenance plant that, with proper care, will return year after year.

Winter or early spring is the ideal time to prune your hydrangea macrophylla. These plants bloom best on last year's growth, so pruning them back a bit will allow them to show off their blooms better later this year. In this video, Peg Bier reviews her method for pruning these beautiful plants. An error occurred.

Bloom period is typically June to late September.

Too much shade will reduce flowers, but too much afternoon sun will lead to plant stress. Inadequate moisture. Plants need well-drained soil with good moisture for best growth. Drought stress can impact blooming, and overall plant health, even if leaves look fine.

Not all plants pair well with hydrangeas. Here are some combinations to avoid: Sunflower prefers full sun and hotter conditions than hydrangeas, which require some shade. Lavender is a sun-loving perennial that performs best in dry conditions and leaner soil, so will not thrive near hydrangeas.

The good news is that they are easy to grow, both in pots and in the open ground. All they need is the right situation, plenty of water in dry weather and occasional feeding with the right fertiliser; one that is formulated to bring out the best in them.

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.

Hydrangeas are long-lived shrubs, sometimes living for up to 50 years if properly cared for. They enjoy morning sun but afternoon shade, and they need frequent watering during the growing season.

Why hasn't my hydrangea bloomed in 5 years? ›

The primary reasons hydrangeas don't bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer. Hydrangea varieties can be of the type that blooms on old wood, new wood or both. Old wood is the current year's growth and new wood is next year's (spring) growth.

Try to plant your hydrangea on the north or south side of your home. Don't put them directly under trees, however, because they'll compete with the bigger plants for water and nutrients. Avoid a spot that risks being windswept, as those high wind speeds can tear through leaves and destroy your flowers.

To prepare hydrangeas for winter in colder areas, add a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plants to protect the crown and roots from freezing temperatures.

In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger blooms if pruned hard like this each year, but many gardeners opt for smaller blooms on sturdier stems.