Hydrangea Varieties

The Hydrangea Family
There are so many new hydrangeas that nowadays even the experts are unsure how to classify them. However most of those which are readily available fall into the following groups.

Hydrangea macrophylla
The most popular type of hydrangea and the one most people have in their minds when thinking of hydrangea flowers.

This group is further divided into the Hortensias which have rounded flowers (mop head) and the Lacecaps which have flatter flowers.

H. macrophylla
'Domotoi'

Hortensias (mop heads) are around 1m to 2m (3ft to 6ft) in height and spread. Be careful though, there are now miniature version available such as 'Pia' which has a height and spread of around 50 cm (18 inch).

Full sun or part shade, flowers in early July for eight weeks. Deep blue to pink dependant on soil acidity. Like most hydrangeas these prefer a moist soil.

See the sections below for detailed pruning and care advice.

Not quite as popular as a hortensias, the Lacecaps have flatter more delicate looking flowers. They generally range in height and spread from around 1.2m (4ft) to 2.7m (8ft). The variety 'Variegata' has superb variegated foliage.

They enjoy full sun or part shade and come in the normal colours of blue to pink with several varieties being white. Flowers appear in early July for six to eight weeks.

See the sections below for detailed pruning and care advice.

H. serrata Blue Deckle

Hydrangea aborescens

H. arborescens Grandiflora

Hydrangea arborescens is native to the mid to south of North America. Smaller than many hydrangeas, they are around 1m to 1.2m (3ft to 4ft) height and spread.

The best variety is 'Annabelle' which has a height and spread of around 1m (3ft). It's a mound forming shrub which is compact and requires little pruning. The flowers are a very showy and large white.

See the sections below for detailed pruning and care advice.

Hydrangea paniculata

Hydrangea paniculata are generally larger than the the other hydrangeas with the variety 'Grandiflora' being a small tree growing to about 4m (13ft) high.

The flowers of almost all varieties are white fading to a light pink. The flowers appear later in the season, from mid August lasting four to six weeks. They prefer full sun and a rich soil.

See the sections below for detailed pruning and care advice.

Hydrangea quercifolia

Also known as the Oakleaf Hydrangea because of it's large leaves which are lobed like those of an oak tree. Hydrangea quercifolia produces large white flowers in late June which turn pink as they age.

Varieties differ considerably in height and spread from 1m (3ft) to 3m (10ft). They are not fussy about sun or partial shade and their flowers are excellent when cut or dried.

See the sections below for detailed pruning and care advice.

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