What Is The Number Of Varieties Of Hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas are multi-stemmed perennial deciduous shrubs with colorful flowers and dense leafy foliage. They thrive in USDA zones 3 through 9, and there are five main types: mophead hydrangeas, lacecap hydrangeas, and mountain hydrangeas. Mophead hydrangeas are native to Asia and the US, with about 70-75 species. However, only six species are commonly grown in gardens.

There are about 80 hydrangea species worldwide, but only a small number are grown as garden plants. Most commercially-available hydrangea cultivars are derived from these six popular hydrangeas. In North America, there are five main types of hydrangeas, including mophead hydrangeas, panicle hydrangeas, and lacecap hydrangeas. Panicle hydrangeas, also known as PeeGee, are robust plants with excellent hardiness and drought tolerance.

There are three types of hydrangea macrophylla: mophead, lacecap, and mountain hydrangeas. Some mophead hydrangeas can thrive in colder areas as long as they are not too large. There are various sources claiming to have 23 to 80 hydrangea species, but only six are commonly grown in gardens.

What kind of hydrangeas bloom the longest?

Panicle hydrangeas, known for their long-blooming, color-changing performance, are a popular choice for gardens in late summer and fall. They showcase magnificent blooms that continue into fall, making them ideal for foundation, massed, and container planting. The Strawberry Shake™ Hydrangea, a new, exclusive panicle hydrangea, is a gorgeous new variety with sturdy stems and large white flowers that mature to pink. It is suitable for partial to full sun and can grow up to 5′ tall and 4′ wide.

What is the easiest hydrangea to maintain?

Oakleaf hydrangeas are considered to be relatively easy to cultivate, due to a number of factors, including their tolerance to a variety of conditions, such as sun exposure, drought, and disease and pest resistance. Additionally, they are capable of growing in soil with a high sand content. These plants are not particularly demanding and are therefore the most suitable for novice gardeners. They are distinguished by their uniform white coloration.

What is the most popular color of hydrangea?

Hydrangeas are a popular plant family with various types, including the bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata), climbing hydrangeas (Hydrangea petiolaris), and false hydrangea vines (Schizophragma hydrangeoides). The bigleaf hydrangea produces large, round clusters of blooms in shades of pink, blue, and purple, which are determined by the soil’s pH and aluminum availability. The panicle hydrangea has cone-shaped clusters of white, pink, or greenish-white flowers that naturally change colors as they age.

Climbing hydrangeas, which can grow up to 80 feet long, are versatile flowering vines that add visual interest to gardens and are lighter than other woody vines. They are suitable for covering walls, trellises, and arbors, and can be planted alongside fences or trellis in full sun or partial shade. False hydrangea vines, which resemble climbing hydrangeas but are technically not hydrangeas, can be planted alongside fences or in containers in full sun or partial shade.

Which hydrangeas bloom the longest?

Panicle hydrangeas are a great addition to late-season gardens, stealing the spotlight with their showy panicles of flowers. They are resilient, blooming each summer and avoiding winter cold damage. To add more color, plant them with late-blooming perennials and shrubs like La Barbe Bleue™ Bluebeard. This fragrant, glossy yellow plant infuses the summer landscape with radiant warmth, with deep-blue flower spikes creating a striking contrast. It can grow up to 3 feet tall and wide and is suitable for zones 5-9.

What is the easiest hydrangea to grow?

Oakleaf hydrangea is a low-maintenance, easy-to-grow type of hydrangea known for its large white summertime flowers, attractive bark, and purple-red foliage. Native to North America, it prefers part shade or full shade and can withstand dry soil better than most other types. It is hardy in Zones 5-9. Favorite Oakleaf Hydrangea Varieties include ‘Alice’, ‘Little Honey’, and ‘Snowflake’. These varieties offer extra-large blooms, spectacular fall color, and are hardy in Zones 5-9.

What is the most common hydrangea?

Bigleaf hydrangeas, also known as mophead or lacecap hydrangeas, are fast-growing, rounded shrubs that bloom in early summer with large flower clusters lasting until fall. They are best pruned in the fall when the plant is done blooming, and some of the oldest twiggy branches can be removed each year or two to retain overall shape. For very old and overly leggy classic Mophead Hydrangeas, up to one-third of the old stems can be cut back to the ground.

Heavy, aggressive pruning can ruin flowering for the following year in many varieties, except for ‘Annabelle’, which can be cut to the ground in late Winter or early Spring. Consult an experienced pruner or seek local expert advice before attempting substantial pruning.

What kind of hydrangea blooms all season?

The Endless Summer® The Original Bigleaf Hydrangea is a reblooming mophead hydrangea with flowers that exhibit a classic Nantucket blue or soft pink hue. It is a hardy plant that can withstand Zones 4-9 and produces a season-long display of vibrant color, with its ability to bloom on the previous year’s stems and new growth.

Where should you not plant hydrangeas?

It is inadvisable to cultivate hydrangeas in USDA hardiness zones 1 and 2, given their inability to withstand the rigors of colder climates and their incompatibility with tree roots and insufficient sunlight.

What happens if you don’t cut back hydrangeas?

Regular pruning of hydrangeas is crucial for maintaining their shape and promoting new growth, resulting in larger, healthier flowers. Deadheading hydrangeas, which involves removing spent flowers from the stem, can also help encourage better blooming later on. However, not all hydrangeas can benefit from this method, as it may result in a tangled mass of woody stems and smaller, less showy flowers.

What month do you cut hydrangeas back?

Hydrangea paniculata, also known as panicle hydrangea, is a plant with conical-shaped flower heads that provide winter interest. It is best to prune back stems to just above a fat bud, called a heading cut, in fall, late winter, or spring. Quick Fire®, Limelight, and First Editions® Berry White® are plants that produce buds in late summer to early fall, so they should be pruned after they finish blooming and before August.