All they need is well-drained soil, some water and a little bit of shade during hot summer days. Find out even more about hydrangea care in our Complete Hydrangea Guide! Oakleaf varieties are the easiest type of hydrangeas for beginners to grow.
Panicle hydrangeas are cold hardy and drought tolerant
Panicle hydrangeas are not only the easiest hydrangeas to grow, but some newer varieties are also drought tolerant and quick growing. They can also range from dwarf varieties suitable for containers or entrance plantings to tall, single-trunked specimens.
Panicle hydrangea are considered the most cold hardy of the species. They are reliable shrubs or small trees that require minimal fuss for success. Their stout, reddish brown branches are upright to arching, sometimes becoming bowed under the weight of the large flowers.
While some hydrangeas prefer full sun, others thrive in partial shade, making them adaptable to various garden settings. With their beautiful blooms, relatively low maintenance requirements, and ability to thrive in different climates, hydrangeas are an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners.
Oakleaf varieties are the easiest type of hydrangeas for beginners to grow. Why are oakleaf hydrangeas so easy? They aren't picky! Oakleaf hydrangeas can tolerate colder weather, handle more sun, withstand drought, are more disease/pest resistant and grow in sandy soil better than other hydrangeas.
Fall is the best season to plant hydrangeas, followed by early spring. The idea is to give the shrub plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before blooming. The best time of day to plant is early morning or late afternoon.
Endless Summer Hydrangeas live up to their name, blooming massive pink or blue mophead flowers on both old and new wood all summer long. Endless Summer Hydrangeas are unique, taking the traditional hydrangea to the next level.
Mophead Hydrangeas | Hydrangea macrophylla. These are the most popular bigleaf hydrangea. Many recognize these due to their large flower heads that are purple, blue and pink. In general, mophead and lacecap leaves are relatively thick and crisp, somewhat shiny, and often heart-shaped.
Side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and chest tightness. It's LIKELY UNSAFE to use more than 2 grams of dried hydrangea rhizome/root at a time. It is also LIKELY UNSAFE to use hydrangea for long period of time.
Best Panicle Hydrangea: Fire Light
This plant grows about 8 feet tall in sun to part shade and has strong stems that won't flop over despite the weight of its football-size flower heads.
Most hydrangeas prefer only morning sun. Yet one type of hydrangea can soak up the sun all day: the panicle hydrangea.
Endless Summer hydrangea is a collection of several Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars that bloom all summer long. Like all hydrangeas, they do best in soil with plenty of organic matter so amending the soil before planting is important for plant health and blooming.
Some of the most popular reblooming hydrangea cultivars include 'Endless Summer', 'Summer Crush', 'Bloomstruck', 'Blushing Bride', 'Tuff Stuff', and 'Penny Mac'.
The easiest thing to do is to pick up a jar of alum at the grocery store (in the spice aisle) and keep it on hand for your cut hydrangeas. As you cut the stems, dip them quickly into the alum jar and then plunge them into a vase or pitcher filled with water.
Penny Mac Hydrangea – Large flowers that just keep blooming! The Penny Mac hydrangea is super easy to care for and seems to thrive on neglect. While the blooms can change color, they're naturally a vivid blue.
This timing will vary by region. For instance, in areas with winter freezing and snow, hydrangeas should be planted in early spring or early fall (as soon as summer heat breaks). In warmer regions with mild winters, the window for planting hydrangeas is longer, from fall all the way through to early spring.
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Blooms Nutrition
This is an all-purpose blossom booster that's suitable for use on a wide variety of perennial and annual blooming plants, including hydrangeas. It provides various minerals, including copper, calcium, and iron, to supplement common nutrient deficiencies.
Space hydrangeas anywhere from 3 to 10 feet apart, depending on the type. Always space plants based on their expected size at maturity! Gently remove the hydrangea from its container and inspect the root ball, snipping off any dead or rotting parts and teasing free the roots if the plant is especially root bound.
Water your hydrangeas in the morning before the heat of the sun is strong enough to quickly evaporate soil moisture. Try to avoid watering at night, which can encourage mold and mildew as the moisture sits through the cool night. Water your hydrangeas through the growing season as well as in late fall.
The hydrangea should be watered thoroughly at least 3 times a week. Always water the plant all the way around the container, not just in one place. Water should come out the bottom of the pot. Never let it sit in water which will cause the roots to rot away.
Most common hydrangeas prefer a partial sun location - ideally receiving sun in the morning hours and shade in the afternoon.