The allure of hydrangeas lies in both their sentimental romantic charm and their modern design appeal. Known for their nostalgia, they are a perfect fit in the landscape, a container garden, or in a vase as a beautiful cut flower.
The word origin of hydrangea comes from the Greek words for water, hydros and jar, angos because some species are quite water thirsty. Hydrangeas were first cultivated in Japan but are native to both Asia and the Americas. In fact, the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) and smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) are both native to North America!
Below you will find a selection of our 2024 varieties.
The Basics
Planting
Autumn and spring are the best time to plant hydrangeas. Plan to plant your new hydrangea after the last frost or in fall before the first one.
Hydrangeas should be spaced anywhere from 3 to 10 feet apart. Make sure to give them enough space to reach their mature size!
When planting dig a hole that is as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. The base of the plant where the stem meets the soil should be level with the top of the planting hole.
Set the plant in the hole and half-fill with soil. Water generously. After the water has been absorbed, fill the rest of the hole with soil and water again.
General Care
For the first two years after planting and during any drought, be sure your hydrangeas recieve plenty of water. Deeply soaking during the growing season will encourage more root growth than more frequent sprinkles.
Add an organic mulch underneath hydrangeas to keep soil moist and cool, add nutrients over time, and improve soil texture.
Fertilizing
Hydrangeas in rich soil seldom need fertilizer.
You will need to apply fertilizer based on the specific type of hydrangea. Bigleaf hydrangeas can benefit from several light fertilizer applications in March, May, and June. Oakleaf and panicle hydrangeas do best with two applications in April and June. Smooth hydrangea plants only need fertilization once, in late winter.
Pruning
Like fertilization, pruning depends on the type of hydrangea.
Bigleaf (H. macrophylla), Oakleaf (H. quercifolia), Mountain (H. serrata), and Climbing hydrangeas (H. anomala spp. petiolaris) are pruned AFTER the flowers fade in the summer. These varieties bloom on the previous season’s stems (“old wood”).
- Flower buds actually form in the late summer and flower afterward in the following season, so avoid pruning after August 1.
- Only cut away dead wood in the fall or very early spring.
- To prune, cut one or two of the oldest stems down to the base to encourage branching and fullness.
- If the plant is old, neglected, or damaged, prune all the stems down to the base. You’ll lose the flowers for the upcoming season but also rejuvenate the plant for future years.
- It’s best not to deadhead (remove faded blooms) on the big Mopheads; leave them over the winter and cut them back in early spring (to the first healthy pair of buds). It’s fine to deadhead the Lacecaps; cut down to the second pair of leaves below the flower head.
Panicle (H. paniculata) and Smooth (H. arborescens) hydrangeas are pruned BEFORE flower buds are formed. These varieties bloom on the current season’s stems (“new wood”).
- Prune in the late winter when the plant is dormant. This means that if the buds are killed during the winter, the plant will produce new buds in the spring, which will produce blooms.
- In general, prune only dead branches and do not prune to “shape” the bush.
How to Change the Color
The colors of hydrangea flowers can be changed, but not instantly. Color correction takes weeks or more, and not every cultivar is changeable: White flowers are not affected by soil pH, the condition that imparts the blue and pink hues. Some bigleaf hydrangeas— especially mophead and lacecap types— and mountain hydrangea cultivars change color based on the soil pH.
Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers; soils with a pH greater than 6.0 produce pink flowers. Do a soil test to determine the existing pH and amend as indicated to change it.
A plant should be at least two years old before undergoing a pH change; this will give it time to recover from the shock of its original planting. Also, note that it’s easier to change blue flowers to pink than pink to blue.
2024 Hydrangea List
Paeonia lactiflora 'Allan Rogers'
Peony Type: Herbaceous Peony
Bloom Time: Mid-Season Peony
Flower Form: Double
Large fragrant flowers are packed with pure white petals. The compact plants remain upright even after days of rain, and are good for the front border. Named for Allan Rogers, peony nurseryman and author.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Barbara'
Peony Type: Herbaceous Peony
Bloom Time: Mid-Season Peony
Flower Form: Double
Double, deep pink flowers are a ball with fringed petals in the center surrounded by large guard petals. It has contrasting gray leaves and very strong stems making it an excellent choice for cutting gardens.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Circus Circus'
Peony Type: Herbaceous Peony
Bloom Time: Early Season Peony
Flower Form: Semi-Double
The semi-double blooms have twisting petals that are striped in raspberry red and white. The petals contrast nicely with the bright yellow centers. As the bloom continues to unfurl the very center of the eye is a bright red.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Coral Sunset'
Peony Type: Herbaceous Peony
Bloom Time: Early Season Peony
Flower Form: Semi-Double
Among the first peonies to bloom, Coral Sunset is exceptionally beautiful! The large, semi-double bowl-shaped blossoms, with elegantly ruffled petals, emerge intense coral with rose overtones before gradually fading to pale ivory. Modestly fragrant, they are borne in profusion on strong stems, which do not require staking. A real standout in the garden!
Paeonia lactiflora 'Dr. Alexander Fleming'
Peony Type: Herbaceous Peony
Bloom Time: Mid-Season Peony
Flower Form: Double
Christened for the man who discovered penicillin, ‘Doctor Alexander Fleming’ is a Peony worthy of its namesake. The fully double flowers are beloved for their intense fragrance and beautiful dark rose-pink petals that lighten toward the edges. The curling of the inner petals gives blooms a somewhat rounded silhouette. The vigorous plants blossom over a long season thanks to their multiple side buds.
Paeonia x 'Raspberry Sunday'
Peony Type: Intersectional Peony
Bloom Time: Mid-Season Peony
Flower Form: Double
This peony looks like a scoop of vanilla ice cream with raspberry topping dripping through the petals. It has a mild, sweet fragrance and makes an excellent cut flower.
Paeonia lactiflora 'Karl Rosenfield'
Peony Type: Herbaceous Peony
Bloom Time: Mid-Season Peony
Flower Form: Double
Large, red, double blooms are spectacularly displayed on sturdy, erect stems emerging from beautiful, lush, green foliage on a rounded form. A truly exquisite cut flower. An excellent background plant for spring bulbs, or for use as a spring specimen in sunny mixed borders.