All About Hydrangea

Nothing says, "Welcome, summer!" like the bright blooms of hydrangea. This vibrant shrub is a must for any landscape, and is easy to grow, with just a little bit of knowledge.There are five main types of hydrangea:Mophead Hydrangea[caption id="attachment_2353" align="alignnone" width="2352"]

The 'Endless Summer' variety will give you color all the way through summer, but blooms will be a bit smaller.[/caption]

• The 'traditional' hydrangea
• Big clusters of blooms
• Will usually bloom through July (sometimes even longer, depending on the weather)

[caption id="attachment_2354" align="alignnone" width="2352"]

'Nantucket Blue' is also a repeat bloomer, though not as much as the 'Endless Summer' series. However, blooms on this hydrangea will be bigger.[/caption]Lacecap HydrangeaVery similar in size to the Mophead Hydrangea:[caption id="attachment_2376" align="alignnone" width="2352"]

'Wedding Gown' Lacecap Hydrangea. It's easy to see where these delicate blooms get their name.[/caption][caption id="attachment_2377" align="alignnone" width="2352"]

'Midnight Duchess'[/caption]Paniculata Hydrangea

• Feature "stacked" blooms
• Will bloom best in part sun (4-6 hours daily)
• Grow taller than other hydrangea (although you can prune them to stay short(er))
• Bloom longer than Mophead and Lacecap Hydrangea

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'Limelight' Paniculata Hydrangea[/caption][caption id="attachment_2431" align="alignnone" width="400"]

'Little Lime' Paniculata Hydrangea[/caption]Oakleaf Hydrangea

• Also have stacked blooms
• Can take more shade; will perform better in shady locations
• Great for dark areas of the garden that need color[caption id="attachment_2407" align="alignnone" width="2352"]

• 'Munchkin' Oakleaf Hydrangea[/caption]Arborescens Hydrangea or Smooth Hydrangea
• Giant puffs of blooms
• Great for cutting[caption id="attachment_2411" align="alignnone" width="2352"]

• 'Annabelle' Arborescens Hydrangea[/caption][caption id="attachment_2433" align="alignnone" width="550"]

• 'Incrediball' Arborescens Hydrangea[/caption]Important Takeaways:
• Although most plant tags will tell you to plant in part sun to full sun, in Northwest Arkansas, hydrangea perform best in part sun.
• Make an effort to plant them on the east side of your house, where they'll get morning sun and afternoon shade.
• Hydrangea need a considerable amount of water to get established, but once they're happy, they don't need constant watering.
• Hydrangea are deciduous, which means they drop their leaves in the winter.

Visit any of our locations in Northwest Arkansas, and let us help you pick out the perfect hydrangea for your landscape. Want more information? Watch our videoGood luck in the garden!