Growing Hydrangeas: Which Type to Plant in Your Zone?

Bigleaf Hydrangea 

Hydrangea macrophylla

It's the quintessential hydrangea flower form, boasting large, mop-head blooms in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white. Bigleaf hydrangea thrives in growing zones 5-9, preferring morning sun and afternoon shade.

What hydrangea colors are you looking for? Mophead flowers come in solid deep red, vareigated red, pink, purple, blue, white, and ruby

NOTE: Lacecap is a style of flower not a type of hydrangea. The lacecap flower  style occurs in several different species. Lacecap hydrangeas have flat flower heads while mophead blooms are rounded. 

Panicle Hydrangea

Hydrangea paniculata

These are hardy hydrangeas that grow throughout most of the country from Hardiness Zones 3-9, depending on the variety. They have the best heat and cold tolerance of all hydrangeas and grow successfully in full sun and partial shade. Long, conical flower clusters bloom from summer to fall. Typically white, some varieties like 'Limelight' Hydrangea boast lime-green blooms that mature to creamy white. In zones with cooler temperatures, most panicle hydrangeas will turn pink or blush colored--sometimes even red--as they mature.

Try growing panicle hydrangeas in containers. While the rule of thumb for perennials in containers to survive winter is to choose plants that are two zones hardier than yours, in the case of panicle hydrangeas, you can grow them in containers in Zone 4. You can prune them in spring or fall since they bloom on new wood.

Smooth Hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens

This North American native bears large, snowball-like clusters of pure white blooms. Smooth hydrangea flowers bloom earlier than bigleaf and most have mophead-style blooms.

Smooth hydrangeas thrive in hardiness zones 3/4-9 superstar that tolerates full sun to part shade. Like panicle hydrangeas, smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood, so prune when shrubs are dormant.

Because smooth hydrangeas grow buds in spring, they are ideal for colder climates since the tender new buds won’t be harmed by winter’s cold.

Popular hydrangea plants in this type include 'Annabelle' hydrangea, and the Invincibelle® and Incrediball® series. 

Oakleaf Hydrangea 

Hydrangea quercifolia

Unique within the hydrangea shrub family and easy to identify because of their unique oak-like leaves and showy blooms, these white cone-shaped flowers take on pink or red tones in fall. The Gatsby series of oakleaf hydrangeas have lacecap blooms.

Oakleaf hydrangea flowers are often the first to bloom in early summer. While they don’t typically rebloom, their blooms last for months and dry to nearly perfect replicas of their summer selves. This type and panicle hydrangeas have exceptional winter interest (the best in the genera) and provide protection for wildlife. Oakleaf types develop more slowly and can live for decades. 

Oakleaf hydrangeas are heat-tolerant and thrive in growing zones 5-9, tolerating full sun to part shade.

Mountain Hydrangea 

Hydrangea serrata

Mountain hydrangeas are typically smaller than other hydrangea types, which makes them ideal for growing in small space gardens and in containers and decorative pots on the patio. The deciduous shrubs are native to Japan. Because hydrangeas prefer moist soil, a layer of mulch can be added in dry climates to help retain moisture. They may require additional water in the hot and dry days of late summer.

Blooming from midsummer to early fall, mountain hydrageas have serrate leaves that turn deep red in fall. They are cold-hardy and ideal for gardeners who have cold winters. The hydrangea hardiness zone recommendation for mountain hydranegeas goes as far as Zone 4 for select varieties.