Hydrangea arborescens (smooth hydrangea)

Bloom Time: June ~ September
Blooms on new wood; Prune late winter/early spring
 

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 3 - 5 feet
Spread: 4 - 6 feet
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub
 
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 4 feet 
Hydrangea arborescens 'Grandiflora'
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 5 feet 
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub
 
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 1 - 2.5 feet
Spread: 2 - 3 feet 
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub
 
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 2 - 4 feet
Hydrangea arborescens 'NCHA4' INCREDIBALL BLUSH
smooth hydrangea 
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 4 - 5 feet 
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub
 
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 4 feet 
smooth hydrangea
Deciduous shrub
 
Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 2 - 3 feet
       
       

Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea)

Blooms on old wood; Prune after flowering
Bloom Time: July ~ August
 

Big leaf hydrangeas are hardy in the Midwest, but flowering abundance can vary greatly from year to year. Flower buds are produced on "old wood" or "old growth", meaning the flowers are produced the previous year, immediately after flowering. As a result, flower buds are often damaged by severe winter temperatures or fluctuating temperatures in early spring. This can greatly affect blooming, which can be hit or miss during the growing season. Regarding flower color, coloration is indirectly related to the pH of soil (available aluminum). When grown in acidic soils (pH < 7), more aluminum is available in the soil, turning the flowers blue. However, when grown in alkaline soils (pH > 7), there is less aluminum available, and flowers are pink. For the Midwest, soils are generally alkaline, thus most shrubs will yield pink flowers.
 
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer' ENDLESS SUMMER
bigleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 4 feet
 
Hydrangea macrophylla 'P11HM-11' BLOOMSTRUCK
bigleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 3 - 4 feet
Spread: 4 - 5 feet
Hydrangea macrophylla 'David Ramsey'
bigleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 4 - 5 feet
Spread: 5 - 6 feet
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mini Penny'
bigleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 4 feet
Hydrangea macrophylla 'ES14' LET'S DANCE RHAPSODY BLUE
bigleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 2 - 3 feet
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Tokyo Delight'
bigleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 6 feet
       
       

Hydrangea paniculata (panicle hydrangea)

Bloom Time: July ~ September
Blooms on new wood; Prune late winter/early spring
 

Hydrangea paniculata 'Bokraflame' MAGICAL CANDLE
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Medium: Water
Height & Spread: 4 - 5 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 6 - 8 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Dvppinky' PINKY-WINKY
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 6 - 8 feet
Spread: 5 - 6 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Lamb'
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 6 - 8 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora'
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 10 - 25 feet 
Spread: 8 - 16 feet 
Hydrangea paniculata 'Renhy' VANILLA STRAWBERRY
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 6 - 8 feet
Spread: 4 - 5 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Ilvobo' BOBO
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 2 - 3 feet
Spread: 3 - 4 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva'
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 8 - 12 feet
Spread: 7 - 10 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Interhydia' PINK DIAMOND
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 8 - 15 feet 
Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPREZEP' ZINFIN DOLL
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 6 - 8 feet
Spread: 4 - 6 feet
Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane' LITTLE LIME
panicle hydrangea
Deciduous shurb

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 3 - 5 feet
   
       
       

Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea)

Blooms on old wood; Prune after flowering if needed
Bloom Time: June ~ July

 

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'
oakleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height & Spread: 5 - 8 feet











'Pee Wee' (Bottom right) next to 'Alice' (upper left)
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Pee Wee'
oakleaf hydrangea 
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 3 - 4 feet
Spread: 2.5 - 3 feet
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Brido' SNOW FLAKE
oakleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 5 - 8 feet
Spread: 5 - 10 feet
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Piihq-i' JETSTREAM
oakleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 5 - 6 feet
Spread: 4 - 5 feet
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Flemygea' SNOW QUEEN
oakleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub

Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 4 - 6 feet 
Spread: 6 - 8 feet

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
oakleaf hydrangea
Deciduous shrub
 
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Height: 3 - 4 feet
Spread: 3 - 5 feet
 
 

Updated April 2024