Welcome to Hydrangea Guide, with extensive information and tips on Hydrangea plants and varieties we are here to help gardeners grow there hydrangeas successfully and offer help for anyone experiencing any problems trying to grow them.

Being one of the most popular garden plants in the world and are popular across the United States as well as in the United Kingdom.

With many varieties available from dwarf hydrangeas such as ‘Selma’ which only grow to around 3ft (90cm) tall and are ideal for pots and planters to larger mop head varieties which get to around 6-10ft tall and add a spectacular display of flowers in the summer

There is also the popular Hydrangea petiolaris which is a climbing variety that gets to a colossal 1500cm, ideal for covering large areas.

Fact Guide

• Common Name: Hydrangea
• Botanical Name: Hydrangea
• Sizes range from 80cm(31″)-800cm(314″) Tall x 90cm(35″)-250cm(98″) wide. (Climbing Hydrangeas can get to 1500cm(590″) tall
• The flower colour on some Hydrangea’s can be determined by the soil type, colours can range from pink, mauve, white, green to blue.
• With so many varieties available there a Hydrangea for all gardens including smaller varieties ideal for pots and growing in smaller gardens.

Common Hydrangea Problems

There are two problems most associated with them, firstly you may be wondering why your plant wont flower even though its been in the garden for years and was flowering when you purchased it.

Secondly the flower colour is also something many gardeners have trouble with (flowering pink instead of blue) , Some have the unique ability to change flower colour and its all down to the soil PH level.

Not all Hydrangeas do this but the most common varieties which are the large mop head and delicate looking lacecap cultivars  do. The more Acidic the soil, the higher the Aluminium levels in the soil. Iits this trace element in the soil that causes the flowers to change colour. The higher the aluminium level the more acidic the soil the flowers tend to turn blue.

Turning Hydrangeas Pink

To help keep the flowers pink the soil needs to be alkaline, if you find your flowers are turning blue you can try applying a dressing of limestone or chalk to the soil around the plant. In very acidic soils this may not work or may need repeating yearly.

To read our detailed article on changing the flower colour – click here

 

Turning Hydrangeas Blue

Blue Hydrangeas need to be grown in acidic soil (high in aluminium) or ericaceous compost in pots. Acidic soil is around PH 4.5-5. A good organic way to try and make your soil more acidic is by mixing Sphagnum moss, composted oak leaves or compost or farm manure into the soil. For Hydrangeas in planters and tubs you can buy Hydrangea blueing compounds which help turn the compost more acidic and they can. be effective.

 

Mauve flowers

Acidic to neutral soils usually produce mauve flowers

Hydrangea with white or green shaded flowers do not change colours because of soil types.

 

Why is my Hydrangea not flowering?

 

Hydrangeas look fantastic when they come into flower but what if your one of the many gardeners whose shrub looks lush and green with plenty of new growth but no flowers.

There are many reasons you might have problems with a Hydrangea producing very little flowers or none at all.

• Soils which are to rich can cause poor flowering as the soil could be to high in Nitrogen.
• Frost damage to young foliage can also effect flowering due to being in areas to exposed.
• Pruning to hard or at the wrong time can also cause  a lack of flowers as Hydrangea do flower on new growth and us common for gardeners to cut off the new foliage which produces the flowers.

 

When to Prune Hydrangeas?

The most common varieties, mop heads and lacecaps can be pruned late spring after flower just below the spent flowers to a good strong set of leaves. In less sheltered areas and colder areas the mop head varieties can benefit from being pruned in early spring as the old spent flowers can provide some protection from frost during winter and early Spring. See Pruning Hydrangeas & Pruning Oakleaf Hydrangeas

 

Pruning Hydrangea petiolaris (climbing Hydrangea)

Climbing hydrangeas (hydrangea petiolaris) need to be pruned after flowering to a good set of leaves not to hard. If you prune to hard this may reduce next years flowers as they tend to flower towards the end of the branches on new growth.

Read More about climbing Hydrangeas (will open a new window)

Can I prune an old established Hydrangea hard?

They can an be pruned back hard if needed to generate new growth and bring old plants back to life. If you do this they will probably not flowers for a few years.

 

Where to plant

Hydrangea are hardy shrubs and are best planted in fertile well-drained soil and a cool semi shaded site away from exposed areas where cold winds may damage new spring growth. Feed in late Winter or early Spring with fertiliser. Remember over feeding with a feed that contains to much Nitrogen can cause to much new growth and effect flowering. More Info

 

Hydrangea Propagation

They can be propagated from around Autumn by taking cutting from the plant. Climbing Hydrangea are best propagating using layering.

 

Why not quickly get a cup of tea and sit back and watch the short video below for more information on Hydrangeas and the different types.

 

See our hand picked Hydrangea videos section