14 Beautiful Types of Hydrangea Worth Growing (2023)

01 of 14

Incrediball® Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens 'Abetwo')

If plant breeders are sometimes guilty of hyperbole in their plant name selections, this is not the case with Incrediball—the commercial name for the 'Abetwo' cultivar of H. arborescens. In spite of the huge, densely packed 12-inch flowers the shrub produces in abundance, the sturdy stems on this plant will not allow the flowers on this white hydrangea to flop into the mud. One potted plant will make a gorgeous anchor in your summer border, or you can plant several for a showy hedge.

• Native Area: H. arborescens is native to the eastern United States
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Height: 4 to 5 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

02 of 14

'Nikko Blue' Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue')

Keep your soil on the acidic side if you want to achieve the most intense blue blooms possible from your 'Nikko Blue' hydrangea bush. This mophead variety blooms earlier than most, usually beginning in June and endures for two months. Provide winter protection in USDA hardiness zone 5 because as flowers are produced from the buds that formed on last year's stems.This is a cultivar of H. macrophylla, which is also known as bigleaf hydrangea.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 11
• Height: 4 to 6 feet
• Sun Exposure: Part shade

03 of 14

Limelight Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight')

Green flowers are the little black dresses of the gardening world: they flatter all situations. The chartreuse flowers of 'Limelight' hydrangeas age to a mellow pink as the season progresses. Plants bloom on new wood, making this a very hardy selection in cold areas. Although 'Limelight' is a slightly more compact cultivar of H. paniculata, it is still a fast grower that has been known to reach a height of ten feet; in smaller spaces, look for its smaller cousin 'Little Lime.'

• Native Area: H. paniculata is native to China and Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
• Height: 6 to 10 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

04 of 14

Cityline® 'Mars' Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla Cityline 'Mars')

A picotee petal adds a little bling to your hydrangea collection. This compact shrub is the perfect addition to your patio garden. Like other Hydrangea macrophylla varieties, soil pH affects bloom color. Cityline 'Mars' shrubs might have multiple colors on the same bush the season following installation as the plants adjust to your unique soil chemistry. The specimen shown here is situated in a garden with a neutral pH, which results in a purple shade hovering just between blue and pink. Maintaining such a narrow pH range is easier to do with container culture than in the ground.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: 1 to 3 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

05 of 14

'Zinfin Doll' Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Zinfin Doll')

The strawberries and cream coloration of the 'Zinfin Doll®' hydrangea will not fade in full sun and attracts butterflies all summer long. Although classified as a panicle hydrangea, the full blooms of 'Zinfin Doll' are lush, like those of a mophead hydrangea. No special pH alterations are necessary to achieve the color change from white to pink; it occurs naturally as a consequence of maturing.

• Native Area: H.paniculata is native to China and Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• Height: 6 to 8 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

06 of 14

Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris)

Anyone who inherits a climbing hydrangea specimen is lucky. Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris is notoriously slow to get growing. However, once this self-clinging vine becomes established, it can climb and sprawl 40 feet or more onto fences, structures, and trees. For added interest, look for the variegated climbing hydrangea 'Miranda' (H. petiolaris subsp. petiolaris 'Miranda'), which features creamy yellow leaf margins in addition to ten-inch flower heads.

• Native Area: Himalayas and China
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 8
• Height: 30 to 50 feet
• Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade

07 of 14

'Gatsby Pink' Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia 'Gatsby Pink')

Gardeners who cherish North American native plants should not miss the showy oakleaf hydrangea cultivar 'Gatsby Pink.' A season-long spectacle of color, flowers start white and gradually change to pink, then the foliage joins the display in autumn with a brilliant red showing. Because the plants bloom on old wood, oakleaf hydrangeas like 'Gatsby Pink' require a garden in USDA hardiness zone 5 or warmer to prevent winter damage that affects future growth.

• Native Area: H. quercifolia is native to the southeastern United States
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: 6 to 8 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

08 of 14

'BloomStruck®' Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'BloomStruck')

Hydrangeas in the Endless Summer series defy harsh winters by blooming on both new and old wood. 'Bloomstruck' is the fourth introduction in the series, with deep purple or rose blossoms on four-foot plants. If you're confused about the effect soil pH has on bloom color, look for the Color Me Pink™ or Color Me Blue™ garden lime and sulfur kits to take the guesswork out of your hydrangea flower color.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
• Height: 3 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Part shade

09 of 14

'Blue Deckle' Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Deckle')

Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Deckle' is a small lacecap type of hydrangea that will thrive in the dappled sunlight of tall deciduous trees in USDA hardiness zone 6 and warmer climates. This late-blooming shrub that peaks in July and August has more in store for you when autumn arrives because its brilliant red and purple leaves rival any fall foliage display sought by leaf peepers.

• Native Area: H. serrata is native to Japan and Korea
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
• Height: 3 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Part shade

10 of 14

'Eldorado' Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Eldorado')

If your garden is saturated with blue and pink, maybe it is time to spice up the landscape with a little shrub with red blooms such as the 'Eldorado' bigleaf hydrangea cultivar. This medium-sized mophead hydrangea blooms in the fall in acidic or neutral soil.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
• Height: 3 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

11 of 14

YOU&ME® 'Together' Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla YOU&ME 'Together')

YOU&ME® 'Together' is a double-flowered form that produces a much more denseflower head than your typical bigleaf macrophylla varieties.Pair with others in the YOU&ME series fora rich floral display.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 9
• Height: 36 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

12 of 14

'Madame Emile Mouillere' Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillere')

'Madame Emile Mouillere' is more than just a very hardy and reliable little mophead hydrangea. Although its blooms appear white, they fades to a pale, ethereal blue or dusky pink as the summer progresses. Look for a tinge of blue or pink in the bloom's eye to get a preview of the color progression.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
• Height: Up to 6 feet
• Sun Exposure: Part sun

13 of 14

'Miss Saori' Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Miss Saori')

'Miss Saori' made its debut at London's 2014 Chelsea Flower Show, where it was declared the Chelsea Plant of the Year. The sterile flowers appear in June, followed by burgundy fall foliage. Creamy double flowers have picotee rose margins, contributing texture and color to the garden not found in any other hydrangea. The plants are compact and controlled in their growth, making them an ideal specimen plant for the middle of the flower border.

• Native Area: H. macrophylla is native to Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9
• Height: 3 to 4 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade

14 of 14

'Unique' Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Unique’)

'Unique' is a particularly hardy panicle hydrangea that adapts well to training as a tree form. Remove all lower branches to form a central leader, which becomes the trunk of the tree. This hydrangea flowers on new wood (the current year's new stems).

• Native Area: H. paniculata is native to China and Japan
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
• Height: up to 10 feet
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade