There's something magical about hydrangeas. These showstopping shrubs transform gardens with their magnificent blooms, offering months of beauty from early summer through fall. Here in our Zone 5b/6a garden in upstate New York, we've fallen head over heels for these versatile plants—so much so that we now grow over 180 hydrangeas representing more than 35 varieties!

Today, we're sharing everything we've learned about selecting, growing, and caring for different hydrangea types to help you achieve similar success in your own garden.

Panicle Hydrangeas: The Perfect Starting Point

If you're new to growing hydrangeas, panicle hydrangeas (sometimes called PG or Hardy hydrangeas) are the perfect place to begin. These were the first hydrangeas we planted when we started our garden six years ago, and they quickly made us fall in love with the entire genus.

Why We Love Them:

• They bloom on new wood (current season's growth)
• They're extremely cold-hardy (USDA zones 3-9)
• They're virtually foolproof and very forgiving
• They thrive in full sun conditions
• Their conical white blooms often transition to pink or red in fall

Our Favorite Varieties:

Limelight

This classic variety grows to about 8 feet tall and wide, producing stunning white blooms that emerge from lime-green buds and gradually fade to a dusty pink in fall. The dark green leaves provide the perfect backdrop for those spectacular flowers. We were so impressed with Limelight that we planted an entire hedge of 15 plants, spacing them 5 feet apart.

Quick Fire

If early blooms are what you're after, Quick Fire is your answer. While most panicle hydrangeas bloom in mid to late summer, Quick Fire rewards us with gorgeous flowers starting in June. It reaches about 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, featuring lacecap-style blooms that quickly transition to pink. This early-blooming variety is an absolute pollinator magnet!

Quick Fire Fab

For those who love Quick Fire but want even more drama, Quick Fire Fab delivers with enormous mophead blooms featuring distinctive star-shaped florets. It maintains the same early blooming schedule and size as the original Quick Fire.

Compact Options

Looking for something smaller? Consider these gems:

• Bobo: A compact 3' x 3' variety with white blooms that stay white rather than turning pink
• Fire Light Tidbit: One of our favorite miniature panicle hydrangeas, with blooms that turn a beautiful pink

Smooth Hydrangeas: Stunning Simplicity

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Smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens), also known as Annabelle hydrangeas, have become our latest obsession. These North American natives produce globe-shaped blooms in white, pink, or green.

Why We Love Them:

• They bloom on new wood, making them easy to prune
• They can be cut all the way back to 18" from the ground each spring
• They produce enormous, showstopping blooms
• They thrive in morning sun with afternoon protection

Our Favorite Varieties:

Last fall, we were so inspired by smooth hydrangeas that we created a dedicated "hydrangea room" featuring four alternating varieties:

Invincibelle Sublime

This variety grows 4-5 feet tall and wide, producing stunning blooms on new wood. Hardy in zones 3-8, it's a reliable performer even in colder climates.

Invincibelle Lace

Closest to the native North American Hydrangea arborescens, this 4-5 foot beauty features purple-pink flowers with white florets, creating a two-tone effect that's truly special.

Incrediball

The name says it all! This variety grows to 5 feet tall and wide, producing enormous bright white mophead blooms on strong stems that resist flopping.

Incrediball Blush

Similar to Incrediball but with beautiful blush pink flowers that create a softer look in the landscape.

For full-sun locations, we've had great success with Invincibelle Mini Mauvette and Invincibelle Wee White. These more compact varieties feature sturdy stems and beautiful blooms even with overhead watering.

Oak Leaf Hydrangeas: Four-Season Interest

Oak leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) offer year-round appeal with their distinctive oak-shaped leaves, peeling bark, conical blooms, and spectacular fall color.

Why We Love Them:

• Beautiful peeling bark provides winter interest
• Thick, leathery, oak-shaped leaves turn mahogany-burgundy in fall
• Early-season blooms attract pollinators
• Extremely reliable performers

Important Note: Unlike panicle and smooth hydrangeas, oak leaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so avoid pruning them unless absolutely necessary to shape or control size.

Our Favorite Varieties:

Gatsby Pink

One of our earliest blooming hydrangeas, Gatsby Pink features lovely lacecap flowers that pollinators adore. It grows to about 6 feet tall and wide, forming a substantial, architectural presence in the landscape.

Gatsby Moon

If you prefer mophead blooms, Gatsby Moon delivers with enormous, gorgeous white flowers on a shrub that reaches 6-8 feet tall and wide.

Oak leaf hydrangeas aren't quite as cold-hardy as some other types, thriving in USDA zones 5-9. We site ours on the east or north side of our house to protect them from intense afternoon sun.

Pro tip: Don't be discouraged if these look unimpressive in nursery containers. Once planted, they quickly develop into magnificent specimens!

Big Leaf Hydrangeas: The Color Chameleons

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Big leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are those iconic shrubs with huge blue, pink, or purple flowers that change color based on soil pH. While they've traditionally been challenging in colder climates, newer reblooming varieties have made them more reliable for northern gardeners like us.

Why We Love Them:

• Unmatched color intensity and variety
• New reblooming varieties offer second chances at blooms
• Compact varieties work beautifully in containers
• They create that classic "hydrangea garden" look

Color Science: The more acidic your soil (or the more aluminum available), the bluer your hydrangeas will bloom. More alkaline soil produces pinker flowers.

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