Find out how to grow hydrangeas, and these Insta-friendly delights will charm you with a long-lasting display in your garden design.
These beautiful blooms come in every hue imaginable, ranging from bubblegum pink and zingy lime to softer shades of delicate blush pink and milky white. Then, in autumn, the papery leaves fade into soft vintage tones tinged with bronze and gold.
From where to plant them to the best fertiliser, here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for hydrangeas.
How do I grow hydrangeas?
If you’re looking to grow hydrangeas in your garden, follow these top tips recommended by Nigel Lawton, Plant Buyer at Dobies Garden Centres.
- The best time to plant hydrangeas in your garden landscaping is during spring or autumn when the soil is warm and moist. Although summer planting is possible, it requires more frequent watering to prevent them drying out.
- Keeping the soil consistently damp is especially important during the first growing season while the plant establishes itself.
- Applying an annual mulch of compost, leaf mould or well-rotted manure in spring helps retain moisture and provides nutrients to support healthy growth.
Nigel Lawton is a passionate and highly experienced gardener with a lifelong dedication to horticulture. His love for plants began straight after leaving high school, when he went on to study at horticultural college for three years, laying the foundations for a career that has now spanned more than 26 years in garden centres across the UK.
How do I care for hydrangeas?
While hydrangeas are pretty robust and self-supporting, there are some things to keep in mind when it comes to caring for them, according to Chris Wood, Head Florist at Waitrose Gardens:
- Water them regularly: Hydrangeas are “notoriously thirsty”, so ensure you’re watering plants at least three to four times per week in sunny weather and do so from the base, rather than sprinkling it on the leaves. Keep an eye on the moisture levels to ensure the plant doesn’t dry out.
- Light: “Hydrangeas prefer partial shade rather than direct sunlight. They tend to thrive in a location that is not too sunny or shaded, so definitely avoid a south-facing position in the garden.”
- Soil: Ensure the soil is rich, moist and free-draining.
- Fertiliser: “Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring, but avoid a high nitrogen-based fertiliser which would encourage leaf growth rather than blooms. It’s best to use one which includes added magnesium and iron, which helps promote strong plant growth and a vibrant flower colour.”
- Mulching: To reduce moisture loss, apply organic matter on a regular basis – especially in hot weather.
- Soil preparation: “Cultivars with blue flowers will remain blue when they are grown in more acidic soil ( PH 4.5-5). To enhance red and pink colours, apply dressing containing ground limestone or chalk during winter. White and green hydrangea will remain white and green regardless of the soil PH.”
Chris Wood, Waitrose Head Florist, who has worked for Waitrose for 14 years and in the horticultural industry for over 30 years and holds a National Diploma in Horticulture.
What type of hydrangea should I grow?
There’s a type of hydrangea for every garden. The mop-head and lace-cap varieties are what most people think of when it comes to choosing a hydrangea. In varying shades of blue and pink, according to your soil type, these pretty shrubs covered in saucer-sized blooms tend to be the go-to.
But recently, more modern takes have become fashionable in current garden trends. ‘Annabelle’ is one variety having a moment – its graceful, arching branches are covered with luminous white pompom blooms that look just like snowballs. It’s the perfect choice if you want to add a touch of luxury to your garden with a froth of flowers.
“Hydrangea paniculata is another favourite, recognised for its large cone-shaped flower heads in soft shades of white, cream and pink,” adds Nigel Lawton.
You can also get a greater choice of compact and mini varieties now, which are perfect for containers and add a contemporary note to balcony and patio ideas, especially when clipped into shape. Some even have honey- or jasmine-like scented flowers.
Where to buy hydrangeas
Hydrangea Aborescens ‘Annabelle’
Creamy white in summer and pale lime in fall, ‘Annabelle’ is one of the prettiest hydrangea varieties around.
Hydrangea ‘Hot Chocolate’
This variety blooms in pink-mauve, regardless of soil type, and has beautiful chocolate-coloured leaves before flowering.
Hydrangea Macrophylla ‘Blue Danube’
Indigo-blue in acidic soil and hot pink in alkaline soil, this gorgeous variety flowers in July and August.
Where do I plant hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas can grow in shade, but as Nigel Lawton explains, “they do best in moist, free-draining soil and dappled shade, not too sunny and not too shady.”
“It’s best to avoid south-facing spots, especially if the soil is very dry, as too much direct sunlight can lead to wilting and scorched flowers,” he adds. “While they thrive in partial shade, they can tolerate more sun if the soil is kept consistently moist.”
If it’s too late and yours is already planted in a sun trap, cover it with an umbrella during hot spells to offer temporary relief from the sun. Alternatively, if it’s in a container, move it into the shade when the temperature soars.
How do I get my hydrangeas to flower?
Lack of blooms on your hydrangeas can be down to a few things. Most types of hydrangea flower on ‘old wood’ (the branches that produced flowers previously). Freezing weather can damage new buds, leading to a lack of flowers.
If you have a hydrangea that won’t flower, you may have pruned it back too hard the year before. Often, hydrangeas that aren’t producing flowers have been pruned in early summer and late winter.
If they are over pruned, you can end up waiting a whole year before they flower again. To avoid this, prune back stems in early spring, just before new growth emerges. If in doubt, always check the pruning info for the variety you’re growing.
Alternatively, it could be down to soil, as hydrangeas need phosphorus to flower. Adding bone meal (available on Amazon) is a great way to increase phosphorus levels in the soil.
For vibrant flowers and healthy growth, treat your plant regularly with a hydrangea feed (such as this Vitax feed from Amazon) that’s specially formulated for the job. If your hydrangea is planted in a pot, you’ll need to do this once a week in spring and summer when it’s packing on growth.
Do hydrangreas grow well in pots?
There are more and more varieties of hydrangeas being sold specifically for growing in containers, so they can be a good choice for your garden planter ideas. Small, compact varieties, such as ‘Little Lime’, will do well and can be clipped into a lollipop standard shape.
Choose a decent sized pot to allow for growth and use a good quality potting mix that’s two parts John Innes No 3 (available on Amazon) and one-part peat-free multipurpose compost (available at Wickes). Water in well.
An organic mulch will help to retain moisture as your plant settles into its new home. Water and feed regularly throughout spring and summer.
Do hydrangeas come back every year?
Hydrangeas are reliable shrubs you can count on each year, making them a good choice for a low-maintenance garden.
However, growing them in very dry soil and full sun can cause their leaves to scorch and may result in a lack of flowers. The new spring growth is prone to frost damage, so if this happens, prune back damaged shoots to just above the first healthy pair of buds.
But generally, they return every season to delight you again and again.
“Whether planted in borders, containers or as part of a shaded garden scheme, hydrangeas can make a real statement throughout summer and into autumn,” concludes Nigel Lawton.
Looking for more ways to transform your garden? Learn about these hassle-free types of ornamental grasses or browse these herb garden ideas.
The original version of this article previously appeared on Gardeningetc, a sister website to Homebuilding & Renovating.