The hydrangea is one of the most popular plants in German gardens. All hydrangea species originally come from America and Asia. They captivate with their enchanting flowers, which, depending on the hydrangea variety, fill gardens with color from spring to autumn. Many different types and varieties of hydrangea are available to suit every need and taste. The plant magazine Plantopedia has summarized an overview of the most relevant specimens.
hydrangea varieties
Farmer's Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
The farmer's hydrangea originally comes from Japan. For many years it has made a name for itself in Central Europe and is considered the queen of all hydrangea species. This is not least due to the countless variations of striking flowers. which she presents in spherical or plate-like form. It has sterile pseudoflowers. This means that they are not used for seed propagation, as is the case with other hydrangea species.
Farmhouse hydrangeas in the garden bed
Special features/properties
The Hydrangea macrophylla offers several different hydrangea varieties that reach a height of between 100 centimeters and 150 centimeters and a growth width of 100 centimeters to about 130 centimeters. Particularly hard-growing specimens can also grow to over 200 centimeters with the same width.
The colors are diverse and range from white to pink tones to red. One phenomenon is the possible color change of pink and red colored hydrangeas. This can turn the hydrangea flowers blue and purple with an aluminum fertilizer or when planted in acidic soil. Depending on the variety, the flowering period usually begins in June/July and ends in September.
Farmer's Hydrangea Varieties:
(Ball shaped flowers)
Endless Summer
- blooms from May to October
- many flowers on new shoots and old wood
- Flower color: pink or blue
- blooms several times a season
- Growth height: up to 150 centimeters
- suitable for bucket keeping
Forever & Ever
- many small inflorescences
- Flower colors: white, pink, red, blue
- Flowering period: June to September
- Growth height: 70 to 90 centimeters
- bushy growth
- suitable as a cut flower
Kanmara
- particularly large flower "balls"
- Foliage in strong dark green
- Flower Color: Pink, Pink, Champagne, Purple, White
- Flowering period: June to September
- Growth height: between 100 and 150 centimeters
- compact growth - ideal for tub cultivation
magical
- Flowering period: June to October
- Flower color: white, pink, red, blue, purple
- multiple flower color changes
- Growth height: up to 120 centimeters
- plate-shaped flowers
Farmer's hydrangea in a bucket
Hanabi
- double flowers
- slow, bushy growth
- sensitive to frost
- Flower color: white
- Flowering period: July to September
- Growth height: up to 150 centimeters
- already forms the buds for the following year in autumn
Pirate's Gold
- green-yellow variegated foliage
- marginal flowers
- Flower color: pink
- Flowering period: June to September
- Growth height: up to 120 centimeters
tiffany
- cupped flowers
- Flowering time: June to September
- Flower color: pink, blue, lavender (opened)
- Growth height: up to 150 centimeters
You and Me Romance
- flat inflorescence
- above average flower size
- double flowers
- Flower color: pink, light blue
- Flowering period: May/June to September
- Growth height: 70 to 100 centimeters
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata)
As the name suggests, panicle hydrangea varieties show a panicle-shaped inflorescence. They only bloom on fresh wood. With regular pruning, these hydrangeas can achieve a compact and highly branched growth. Specimens that have a long flowering period change their color to a soft pink towards the end of flowering.
Panicle hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata
Special features/properties
The panicle hydrangeas usually reach an immense growth height, which can be up to 300 centimeters depending on the variety. Some panicle hydrangea varieties take up a lot of space because they have a very sprawling growth. They are among the fast-growing varieties and fill gardens with a pleasant floral scent.
Panicle hydrangea varieties:
grandiflora
- long panicles up to 30 centimeters
- medium-high growth of up to 200 centimeters
- Flowering period: June to September
- Flower color: white, creamy white
Limelight
- panicles of flowers up to 30 centimeters in size
- Flower Color: White to light yellow
- Flowering period: July to October
- Growth height: between 150 and 200 centimeters
Little Lime
- particularly floriferous
- compact growth
- fragrant flowers
- Flower Color: Creamy white, lime green, pink tint in mature flowers
- Flowering period: July to September
- Growth height: up to 120 centimeters
phantom
- compact, upright growth
- must be trimmed regularly
- Flowering period: August to October
- Flower color: white, creamy white, soft pink
- Growth height: up to 250 centimeters
Panicle hydrangeas in the garden bed
Wims Red
- airy, loose flower arrangement
- Broad growth up to 200 centimeters
- Growth height: between 150 and 300 centimeters
- Flowering period: July to September
- Flower Colors: Creamy white, white - changing to pink and dark red towards the end of flowering
- smells like honey
Snowball Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens)
Among the hydrangea species, the snowball hydrangea is one of the most popular and widespread specimens in German gardens.
Special features
It impresses with its exceptional robustness and is absolutely insensitive to frost. Its snowball-shaped, large flowers are relatively heavy, so that thin branches in particular often hang down due to the weight. Because of this, regular pruning is required. They are among the medium-sized hydrangea species, although some plants remain relatively small. Others, on the other hand, are just as wide as they are high.
Snowball hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens
Snowball Hydrangea Varieties:
Annabell
- Flower Color: Creamy white, white turning progressively green just before wilting
- Flowering period: June to August
- Growth height: up to 200 centimeters
- Growth width: up to 200 centimeters
Hayes Starbust
- newer breed
- double flowers
- very dense growth
- Flower color: creamy white with greenish accents
- Flowering time: June to September
- Growth height: between 50 and 120 centimeters
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
The oakleaf hydrangea comes from the southeastern United States. It owes its name to the North American oak, as its leaves change color in autumn like those of the oaks and have an oak-leaved shape. Accordingly, they closely resemble the North American oak.
Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia
Special features/properties
A scent emanates from the oak leaf hydrangea varieties, which can also be perceived from a few meters away. They are very floriferous. With a bushy growth and a growth height of up to 170 centimeters, they offer plenty of space for countless panicles. Cinnamon-colored annual shoots create a special contrast.
As a rule, all hydrangea varieties grow upright. With age, spurs can form all around. Some varieties have the shortest flowering times of any hydrangea species. But it also impresses with its autumn foliage, which presents itself in earth-colored red tones and brings color to the garden even without flowers on gray days. Small specimens usually have upstanding panicles. In larger versions, they usually hang down.
Oakleaf Hydrangea Varieties:
harmony
- 30 cm long pendulous panicles
- Flowering period: July to September
- Flower Color: Cream
- Growth height: up to 300 centimeters
- more fragrant
pee wee
- short stature
- Flowers grow in a pyramid shape
- Growth height: maximum 150 centimeters
- 15 cm long, upright flower umbels
- Flowering period: June to August
- Flower color: White - becoming pink and red-purple in the course
- lightly scented
Oakleaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea quercifolia
snow flakes
- pyramid-shaped and double-filled umbels
- 30 cm long pendulous panicles
- purple foliage in autumn
- Flower Color: Snow white changing color to pink as it fades
- Flowering time: late-blooming mid/late July to September
- Growth height: up to 200 centimeters
snow queen
- 20 cm upright flowers
- Flower color: white with a later transition to pink
- Flowering period: July to August
- Growth height: around 150 centimeters, rarely up to 200 centimeters (also in width)
- lightly scented
Velvet Hydrangea (Hydrangea sargentiana)
This garden plant presents itself with velvety soft foliage. It is one of the strong-growing hydrangea species. It can grow as a shrub or as a small tree. They are ideal for cultivation in tubs. It is less hardy than the other hydrangeas. This should be taken into account when choosing a location. This hydrangea is also known under the name "fur hydrangea", which can be traced back to the hair on the leaves.
Hydrangea sargentiana grows as a shrub or tree
Special features/properties
This hydrangea species is one of the few that presents itself with a two-tone flower from the start. These are sterile, so their seeds cannot be used for propagation. It belongs to the medium-sized species of hydrangea, although some varieties can reach a height of well over three meters under optimal site conditions. They are conditionally hardy. They often react sensitively to extreme cold and need special protection against the cold.
Velvet hydrangea varieties:
Hydrangea aspera ssp. sargentiana
- Leaves covered with slightly bristly hairs on the underside
- Flowering period: July to August
- Flower color: Outer flowers are pink-white to white, inner flowers are light purple
- Growth height: between 200 and 350 centimeters (just as wide)
Macrophylla
- 25 centimeter diameter of the umbels
- Flower colors: Outer blossoms white, pink, inner blossoms red, pink - in acidic soil blue, blue-violet
- Flowering period: July to August
- Growth height: between 150 and 200 centimeters
mauvette
- plate-shaped inflorescences
- Flowering period: July to August
- Flower Color: White outer flowers, mauve inner flowers
- dark green foliage
- Growth height: up to 200 centimeters
- Growth width: up to 200 centimeters
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
Climbing hydrangeas are perfect for boring walls and facades. Among the hydrangea species, they are the ones that start blooming first in the gardening season. The special feature: they can be grown into a hemispherical shrub or used as ground cover in the garden bed.
Climbing Hydrangea, Hydrangea petiolaris
Special features/properties
What is particularly striking about the climbing hydrangeas are the shiny leaves, which grow in a round or egg shape on long petioles. In autumn they take on a yellowish tint. Some varieties retain their green foliage through the mild winter months into the following year. They consist of sterile outer flowers and fertile inner flowers. This Hydrangea species already forms its buds in autumn. Protection against the cold during cold winters protects against a lack of flowering in the following year.
Climbing hydrangea varieties:
Cordifolia
- dwarfism
- deciduous leaf dress
- Flowering period: June to July
- Flower color: creamy white
- Height of growth: approx. 60 centimeters free-standing, up to 300 centimeters as a climbing plant
miranda
- yellow variegated leaves
- big flowers
- Flowering period: June to July
- Flower color: creamy white
- Growth height: up to 300 centimeters
Semiola
- new breed
- evergreen foliage
- Flowering period: May to June
- Flower color: white
- Growth height: up to 250 centimeters
Silver Lining
- white-green variegated leaves
- Flowering period: July to August
- Flower color: white
- Height of growth: as a tendril up to 15 metres, otherwise 150 to 200 centimeters high and wide
- well suited for pot planting
Japanese tea hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata)
The name dates back to the last few centuries, when sweetness was discovered in the leaves of this species of hydrangea, which the Asians used in their tea. In fact, it contains the sweetener dulcin, also known as "phyllodulcin". This has a 250x stronger sweetening effect than conventional sugar. In Asia, the tea hydrangea usually grows wild. In Germany, it is planted specifically in gardens and parks because it enchants with its vigorous flowering early in the year.
Hydrangea, Hydrangea serrata
Special features/properties
In appearance it is very similar to the plate hydrangea species, but its plate-shaped flowers are smaller. The plant is quite easy to care for and with a pronounced winter hardiness it can also withstand cold minus temperatures. It belongs to the small hydrangea varieties. If it is planted in acidic soil or is supplied with aluminum fertilizer, the flower color changes to blue or purple.
Tea Hydrangea Varieties:
Oamacha
- "Original" tea hydrangea, the leaves of which contain sweeteners
- bushy growth
- Flowering period: July to October
- Flower color: sterile outer flowers white-pink, inner flower light pink, amethyst pink
- Growth height: up to 150 centimeters
Kiyosumi
- small garden hydrangea
- Flower Color: White edged with pink
- Flowering period: June to September
- Growth height: between 100 and 120 centimeters