Hydrangeas in full bloom can stop you in your tracks, and there's one for almost every yard. Given a few hydrangea facts, Miranda Niemiec, a horticulture content specialist at hydrangea.com, says they thrive in practically any garden.
Miranda claims panicle hydrangeas thrive in Zone 3 cold conditions. She says panicles like Limelight Prime bloom on fresh wood following cold winters. The flowers bloom sooner in June and have beautiful fall colors.
Some hydrangeas struggle in hot summers, but panicle, oakleaf, and bigleaf cultivars like Let's Dance Can Do! do well. “It is a reblooming hydrangea bush that sets more flower buds than any other,” Miranda explains. Gardeners in the South can enjoy endless blooms.
Incrediball's large flower heads and robust branches make a statement in an arrangement. Miranda says, “While the flowers start white, they age to jade green as the season progresses.”
Oakleaf hydrangeas like shade as understory plants. Some plants bloom less without sun, but Gatsby Pink cannot. Miranda adds, “It produces white, fragrant flowers that age to pink, which will surely brighten your shady spots.”
Each bigleaf hydrangea is chameleon-like depending on soil acidity. Let's Dance Big Band hydrangeas are easy to color. Miranda says they turn a vivid pink in basic soils, a deep blue in acidic soils, or a rich violet in balance soils.