How to Grow and Care for Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are one of the most popular garden plants. It's easy to see why: Not only are they simple to grow, but they produce loads of beautiful blooms.
There are five main types of hydrangeas, and while they all require a similar growing environment, there is enough variety to guarantee that no matter where you live there will be a hydrangea that will flourish in your yard.
Whether you want to plant a hydrangea in a pot (Yes, you can do this!) or need to know when to prune them, we have all the answers for you. So get your gardening shoes on, pull out your garden plan, and head outside!
Hydrangea Basic Info
- Common Name: Hydrangea
- Botanical Name: Hydrangea spp.
- Plant Family: Hydrangeaceae
- Type of Plant: Shrub, tree, or vine
- Native Origin: Asia and the Americas
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part sun, depending on variety and location
- Preferred Soil Type/PH range: Depends on variety and bloom color preference
- Mature Size: 1 to 5 feet for dwarf varieties. Up to 80 feet for vine varieties
- Flower color: Pink, purple, blue, white, green, and variegated
- Toxic to pet: Yes, if ingested
- Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
When to Plant Hydrangeas
You can plant hydrangeas in the spring soon after the last frost, or in the fall when the nights have turned cool but before there is any chance of frost. Planting when the temperatures are cooler will help give the plant time to establish a strong root system before the heat of the summer or the first winter frost.
Where to Plant Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas prefer to grow in spots that get full sun in the morning and partial sunlight in the afternoon. While they can handle all day sun, they will require extra watering during hot spells in warmer areas, such as USDA Hardiness Zones 8 or higher. (Find your zone here.) Hydrangeas can also grow in shaded areas, but their bloom production will be hindered.
How to Plant Hydrangeas
While they can grow in any type of soil hydrangea grow best in soil that is hummus-rich. If your soil has a high clay content it can help to amend it with compost and organic matter before planting. (Here are some tips for composting at home.)
It’s also important to look at the grow tag to see how big the mature plant will be and the spacing recommendations.
Once you have chosen your location and amended the soil you are ready to plant! Start by digging a hole that is twice the width, and the same depth as the container. Set the plant in the hole so that the top of the root ball is the same height or ever-so-slightly higher than the soil surface.
