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Current Genus: Hydrangea
Hydrangea involucrata 'Wim Rutten' (Blue Bunny) - Bracted Hydrangea
For much of the summer this unusual Hydrangea is adorned with plump, downy flower buds, looking like furry Peony buds, and they open in mid to late summer to bluish or pinkish lacecap flowers. This Dutch selection was introduced for producing an abundance of flowers. The large leaves are also covered with white felt, and the shrub grows slowly to 3-6 feet. A rare species which always attracts attention in the garden. PPAF. Z. 6-9
Smooth Hydrangeas - Hydrangea arborescens
If you_ve been lusting after Hydrangeas but live in an area too cold for the florist type, this is the one you want! Globular flower heads up to one foot across are supported by strong stems which hold the flowers upright even in wet weather. The flowers open light green, become white, and finally turn papery brown in fall. H. arborescens is a bushy multistemmed shrub growing to 3-5 feet. Native to the eastern and central U.S., it will grow in considerable shade and, unlike many other Hydrangeas, will tolerate dry soil. Since flowers form on new growth, neither winter_s cold nor the gardener_s pruners will reduce the following summer_s bloom. Z. 4-9
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' - Smooth Hydrangea
If you've been lusting after Hydrangeas but live in an area too cold for the florist type, this is the one you want! Globular flower heads up to one foot across are supported by strong stems which hold the flowers upright even in wet weather. The flowers open light green, become white, and finally turn papery brown in fall. H. arborescens is a bushy multistemmed shrub growing to 3-5 feet. Native to the eastern and central U.S., it will grow in considerable shade and, unlike many other Hydrangeas, will tolerate dry soil. Since flowers form on new growth, neither winter's cold nor the gardener's pruners will reduce the following summer's bloom. PHS Gold Medal and Georgia Gold Medal Winner. Z. 4-9
Hydrangea arborescens Incrediball - Smooth Hydrangea
From the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research Center in Fletcher, N.C., led by Dr. Thomas Ranney, comes this introduction developed from 'Annabelle' but with larger flowers and strong stems which hold them nicely upright. PPAF. Z. 4-9
Hydrangea arborescens Invincibelleª Spirit - Smooth Hydrangea
This is a real breakthrough from Fletcher, N.C. It came when Richard Olsen, a graduate student of Dr. Ranney's, found a pink-flowering H. arborescens while hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The team went right to work to get this color into a nice garden Hydrangea, and—voilˆ—here's the result: a pink-flowered Snowball Hydrangea that is not only super hardy but offers a series of repeat blooms nearly all summer. While some pink Hydrangeas look a little harsh to us, this is truly a lovely color, a rich burgundy in bud that lightens to a clear pink when open. Every gardener will want to give this one a try. PPAF. Z. 4-9
Panicle Hydrangeas - Hydrangea paniculata
Large flower clusters are produced in late summer and into early fall, long after most other shrubs have called it a day. Tough and cold hardy, Panicle Hydrangea flowers on new wood so that flower buds are never winter killed. Easy to grow in full sun, it tolerates considerable shade as well. Z. 3-8
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' - Panicle Hydrangea
Striking, bright lime-green flowers look cool and refreshing in the late-summer landscape. Since the unique color is held right into autumn, just think of the great combinations that you can make in your border by combining with the blues of Asters and Salvias! PHS Gold Medal Award. PP 12874.
Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky - Panicle Hydrangea
What's the story behind the name, you ask? Pinky Winky refers to the Belgian breeder's son's favorite Teletubbie! That out of the way, we can tell you about the plant. The over foot-long flower heads produce white flowers in midsummer that age to a vivid pink on sturdy stalks and do not flop. The plant grows 6-8 feet high and makes a colorful statement in the summer garden. PP 16166. Z. 3-8
Oakleaf Hydrangeas - Hydrangea quercifolia
An outstanding native shrub, Oakleaf Hydrangea develops huge exuberant leaves that lend character to any planting. In fall the leaves, backlit by the sun, sparkle in shades of red and burgundy. Elegant panicles of white flowers make their appearance in June. It performs best in part shade but is tolerant of deep shade as well as full sun, as long as adequate moisture is provided. Z. (5)6-9
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Amethyst' - Oakleaf Hydrangea
Michael Dirr of the University of Georgia has been busy the last few years releasing new gardenworthy plants. 'Amethyst' grows compactly to about 6 feet and bears panicles of white flowers that turn wine-red with age. Z. (5)6-9
Plants are nice and bushy.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Little Honey' - Oakleaf Hydrangea
A sport of the dwarf selection 'PeeWee', 'Little Honey' has chartreuse to golden yellow foliage beautifully set off by reddish brown stems. The color holds well in dappled light or part shade, and in fall scarlet suffuses the gold for a dramatic adieu to the growing season. The late spring flower heads of white will be familiar to connoisseurs of Oakleaf Hydrangeas. Grows to about 3 feet high and wide. PP 15477.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'PeeWee' - Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea
The smallest Oakleaf Hydrangea of all, this compact selection has more petite flowers and foliage than the species. Grows to only 2-3 feet with equal spread, perhaps a little more with age. If you're really pressed for space but just have to have an Oakleaf Hydrangea (and who doesn't?), this is the one you want.
Specimen Plants, grown in 2.5-gallon pots.
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen' - Oakleaf Hydrangea
Especially large panicles of white flowers gracefully bend the tips of the branches down but never weigh them down to the ground. This famous selection, which grows as a small to medium-sized shrub, was one of the first plants to receive the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's Gold Medal Plant Award. PP 4458. Z. (5)6-9
Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' - Oakleaf Hydrangea
An unusual double-flowered selection of the Oakleaf Hydrangea. New petals emerge from the center of each flower panicle on top of older ones, keeping the bloom looking fresh for weeks. Originally developed for use as a cut flower, 'Snowflake' is just as showy in the garden in moist soil and part shade.
Lacecap Hydrangeas - Hydrangea serrata
Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow' - Hardy Hydrangea
A Lacecap Hydrangea with lovely sky-blue flowers in summer on a compact, mounding shrub. A fine introduction from Korea by Dr. Richard Lighty, it has proved reliably hardy in the mid-Atlantic states and has bloomed even after severe winters. PHS Gold Medal. Z. 6-9
Hydrangea serrata 'Kurenai' - Lacecap Hydrangea
The beautiful white flowers of this Lacecap Hydrangea age to a deep red. Incredibly showy! Lacecap Hydrangeas are restrained growers to 3-4 feet high and wide. Z. 6-9
