What Type Of Hydrangea Do I Have?

Does your hydrangea have large leaves, up to 6 inches in length?

You have a type of hydrangea called bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Does your hydrangea have large puffy flower heads that can be purple, blue, or pink?

Does your hydrangea have tiny fertile flower buds in the center, with showy flowers that form a ring the edge of the flower head?

Are the flower heads of your hydrangea cone-shaped?

Is your hydrangea a large shrub with white flowers?

Does your hydrangea have leaves that resemble oak tree leaves?

Mophead hydrangeas are the most recognizable and popular hydrangea due to their large puffy flower heads. Their flowers can be purple, blue, or pink, and they thrive in hardiness zone 6. The flower buds of mophead hydrangeas can be sensitive to the cold, and therefore may not survive the winter months.

Lacecap hydrangeas are almost identical to mophead hydrangeas with the only difference existing in its flowers. They have tiny fertile flower buds in the center, with showy flowers that circle the edge of the flower head. These showy flowers are sterile, and their only purpose is to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to the fertile buds in the center.

Mountain hydrangeas are the least common type of bigleaf hydrangea. Scientifically known as Hydrangea serrata, it bears a similar resemblance to lacecap hydrangeas with its flattened heads but has much smaller flowers and leaves.

Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are known for their cone-shaped flower heads. These are large blooms that typically start white and may turn to pink as they mature. These are the most cold-hardy hydrangea and can grow from zones 3 to 7. They bloom from mid to late summer and the flowers can last a long time.

The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is native to the United States. It is a large shrub that can grow up to six feet tall and is usually planted as a hedge plant. The smooth hydrangea can tolerate hotter climates and thrive in hardiness zones 4 to 9. Their bloom time occurs between June and September and their flowers are typically white and smaller than the bigleaf varieties. Upon first opening, their flowers will appear green and whiten as they mature.

The oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is named for its foliage which is shaped like oak tree leaves. Their leaves can range from golden orange and bright red to deep mahogany. The oakleaf hydrangea has white cone-shaped flower heads and can come in two forms: single blossom and double-blossom. Its flowers will gradually turn pink as the plant matures.

The climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea animola ssp. petiolaris), is the most distinct type of hydrangea because it is a vine. The climbing hydrangea is native to Asia and is also commonly called Japanese hydrangea vine. Once matured, lacecap-like flowers will have a very pleasant fragrance. Bloom time for the climbing hydrangea occurs from early to mid-summer and it is hardy in zones four through eight.