Hydrangeas suit a mild, damp climate, and this range covers the four types most gardeners want: mophead Endless Summer, cone-flowered Groundbreaker, rounded Annabelle and the self-clinging climbing hydrangea. Free tracked delivery to 25 EU countries.
Which hydrangea suits your garden?
| Type | Flowers | Light | Pruning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endless Summer (H. macrophylla) | Rounded mopheads in white, pink, blue, purple or red tones, early summer into autumn | Partial shade or sun with moisture | Light prune in spring: remove faded heads and damaged stems only |
| Groundbreaker (H. paniculata) | Cone-shaped heads in white, blush or ruby tones | Full sun or partial shade | Late winter or early spring, to keep the shape tidy |
| Annabelle (H. arborescens) | Large rounded heads, white or pink, summer into autumn | Partial shade or morning sun | Cut stems back in late winter or early spring |
| Climbing (H. petiolaris) | Creamy white lacecap flowers on a self-clinging climber | Sun, partial shade or full shade | Little needed; tidy after flowering |
What you receive
Most Endless Summer and Groundbreaker lines are sold as packs of 8 or 48 young plants in 14cm pots, about 20 to 25cm tall. That suits borders, hedging-style drifts and anyone planting for a large area, and the plants will need time to establish before they flower fully. Annabelle comes as a single plant in a 19cm pot at about 30cm, and the climbers in 15cm pots at about 65cm.
Growing hydrangeas
Plant in moist, well-drained soil enriched with compost, with some shade from the hottest afternoon sun. Water through dry spells, especially in the first two summers, and mulch in spring.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the flower colour?
Bigleaf (mophead) hydrangeas can shift between blue and pink depending on soil acidity: blue tones in acid soil and pink in alkaline soil. White varieties stay white.
When should I prune hydrangeas?
It depends on the type. Prune panicle and smooth hydrangeas in late winter or early spring; for Endless Summer mopheads, remove only faded heads and damaged stems in spring.
Do hydrangeas prefer sun or shade?
Most do best with morning sun and some afternoon shade. Panicle types tolerate more sun, and the climbing hydrangea copes with full shade.
Are these full-size shrubs?
No. They are young plants in 14 to 19cm pots, so allow a few seasons to reach full size.
See also climbing plants and shade garden plants.