Hydrangea Varieties

The hydrangea is a beautiful flowering shrub that colors the garden in spring and summer. Hydrangea can grow up to 20 feet tall and they are known for their attractive shape and variety of colors. The flowers are the signature attraction, but the leaves are also worth noting; they often have a waxy or shiny appearance because of their wax coating. Hydrangea bushes are deciduous perennials that will require special care and attention to ensure they thrive and produce flowers and foliage year-round.

Hydrangea Varieties

There are over 300 varieties of hydrangea. Some of the varieties include;

Limelight hydrangeas

Limelight hydrangea produces continuous blooms of clusters between 8 to 12 inches long and open chartreuse, then fade to pink shades. This dwarf variety is approximately half the size of other hydrangea plants, reaching up to 3 ft tall and wide. They prefer cool temperatures with a minimum of 10 hours of sunlight throughout the day.

Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangeas are shrubs that thrive in acidic or alkaline soils; however, the soil should be acidic to get the bluest possible blooms. They’re known for their large, showy flowers and range in size from six inches to 5 feet. These plants will grow best in areas where the soil is not too heavy or light. They do well under part shade sun exposure. They bloom from early June and the bloom lasts for two months. Some of the mophead hydrangeas need additional protection during winter after an elongated warm condition though they can do well in cold conditions so long as the winter is not too cold and dry.

Hydrangea Serrata

Hydrangea Serrata is a species of hydrangea native to China. It flowers in late summer or early fall, with the flowers appearing before the leaves and thrives best in moist soil. The flowers are large and white, with light pink at the base. The leaves are short and glossy green.

Eldorado’ Hydrangea

Eldorado is a rare cultivar with large, showy flowers that are white with a pink base and sepals. The flower color is most intense when the flowers are fresh.

You and Me Together Hydrangea

You and Me Together Hydrangea is a beautiful flower. It is not too large, but it grows very well in the most difficult conditions. This car shows that you can still have a beautiful garden even if your climate is not perfect for planting flowers.

Hydrangea Care and Maintenance

Hydrangeas do well when watered well, especially during dry weather. They do not need constant watering though the soil needs to be moist but not wet to prevent fungal infection. Hydrangeas love the partial shade and you can plant in the sun; however, their growth will not be magnificent. The soil should be rich and well-drain with a pH between 5 and 6.

Disease and Pest Management

Hydrangea is a hardy shrub, but it can be affected by powdery mildew, rust, blight, aphids, spider mites, mold and scale insects. Powdery mildew causes leaf damage. Humid conditions can cause fungal infection, especially when the plant is not getting sufficient sun. You can check on how to control aphids here. Check out our next article on how to prevent fungal infection.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an easy to grow and maintain a type of plant, hydrangea should be your choice. It is not only a beautiful plant that comes in different shades and sizes, its also blooms last longer. Subscribe to our blog to learn more about gardening.