The best varieties of large-leaved hydrangea

Hydrangea is tree-like, oak-leaved, paniculate, large-leaved ... Breeders all over the world have created a huge number of varieties of various types of hydrangea, but not all of them take root in the open field in the middle lane. Which varieties are better to choose?

Hydrangea, also known as “Hydrangea”, is a wonderful aristocrat of the garden that wins the hearts of flower growers with abundant and long flowering. Inflorescences can be spherical and hemispherical, pyramidal and flat. Of all the species of this plant, only winter-hardy deciduous shrubs, including liana-like ones, and trees up to 2 m high are widespread in the middle lane.

Hydrangea

This plant with oval bright green leaves and large spherical inflorescences about 15 cm in diameter is one of the most unpretentious representatives of its extensive family.

Among the most proven varieties of hydrangea tree the following can be distinguished:

• Annabelle, a bush up to 150 cm high with leaves of a rich green color, blooming from late May to October with large snow-white spherical inflorescences with a diameter of more than 20 cm. In the fall, Annabelle's inflorescences become greenish. Hydrangea of ​​this variety prefers acidic fertile soil, grows well in partial shade, does not require special conditions in winter.
• Grandiflora is a spreading bush up to 2 m high with light green leaves, blooming profusely from June to September with light cream inflorescences about 20 cm in diameter.It is an unpretentious winter-hardy plant that takes root well in partial shade and in shaded areas and is often used in landscape design when creating decorative compositions.
• Sterilis - a variety of hydrangea tree-like, which is distinguished by exuberant and long flowering from July to October. The color of large hemispherical inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter (greenish-white at the beginning of flowering) gradually changes until it becomes snow-white.

Are gaining more and more popularity new varieties of tree hydrangea, such as:

• Pink Bella Anna - bush up to 120 cm high with large inflorescences of rich pink tones. The characteristic features of this hydrangea variety are quick adaptation to new conditions, abundant flowering before the first frost, no special requirements for care and soil composition, high frost resistance: Pink Bella Anna hydrangea does not need shelter even at temperatures below -30 ° C.
• White House blooms profusely with luxurious white inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter from June to September. The bush of this plant usually grows up to 150 cm in height and has a spreading domed crown.
• Invincible Spirit it is distinguished by beautiful inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter, changing color from dark pink to bright pink during the flowering process. Hydrangea Invincible Spirit is unpretentious and frost-resistant, tolerates pruning of the shoots that have died in winter, quickly recovers, and successfully takes root in partial shade.

Hydrangea paniculata

Bushes panicle hydrangea grow to a height of 150 cm and have inflorescences that resemble pyramidal panicles. For the middle lane, this plant is quite unpretentious. Some varieties are distinguished by high frost resistance and the ability to quickly recover after the loss of a large part of the shoots.

The best varieties panicle hydrangea:

• Grandiflora with large cone-shaped inflorescences, the color of which gradually changes from creamy white to white, pink and green-red;
• Vanilla Freise with white-pink inflorescences;
• Kyushu with pinkish white inflorescences;
• Limelight with very large golden inflorescences;
• Pinky Winkyblooming pink and red.

Extremely attractive new varieties panicle hydrangea:

• Unique with white inflorescences turning pink by autumn;
• Brussels Leys with giant ivory-colored inflorescences;
• Matilda with large creamy inflorescences;
• Diamant Rouge changes color of inflorescences from white to red;
• Bombshell is a dwarf shrub covered with white flowers;

Large-leaved hydrangea

Flowering is of incredible beauty large-leaved hydrangea with large spherical inflorescences, more demanding to care than tree and paniculate. The bushes must be planted in partial shade, carefully sheltered from frost, or the seedlings must be planted in bulky containers so that it is easier to move them indoors by winter.

Most beautiful varieties large-leaved hydrangea:

• Nico blue with blue inflorescences up to 30 cm in diameter, can be grown as a houseplant;
• Alpengluchen with red flowers fits perfectly into a bright garden;
• Red Baron with beautiful leaves also has large inflorescences of rich red color;
• Shniebol with luxurious white inflorescences - a new variety of large-leaved hydrangea;
• Kumiko - variety with pink inflorescences.

Hydrangea oakleaf

Heat-loving plants include hydrangea oakleaf with dense foliage and beautiful delicate flowers, collected in large inflorescences. Mature shrubs are hardy enough, but young plants need to be covered for the winter.

The best varieties oak-leaved hydrangea:

Snowflakethat boasts adorable flowers shaped like ... that's right, snowflakes! And by the end of flowering, the petals acquire an interesting red-green hue;

The Snow Queen (or Snow Queen) in June-July dissolves beautiful white panicle inflorescences, by the end of the season the foliage acquires a rich burgundy color.

Hydrangea is a beautiful garden plant that looks very romantic both in summer, when it blooms, and in autumn, when the foliage changes its color to deep wine shades. Choose your hydrangea that will delight your eyes all season! I wonder what kind of hydrangea do you like?

Today it is hard to believe that a few decades ago, large-leaved hydrangeas in regions with severe winters were considered a rarity and almost exotic.One could only dream of the most spectacular and famous of the hydrangas, because they seemed completely inappropriate for the middle lane. But over many years of trial and error, not only a strategy of proper care and protection for the winter has appeared, but also many varieties of hydrangeas that perfectly adapt to the harsh climate. Today, older varieties are increasingly giving way to delicious new cultivars with improved endurance.

Large-leaved hydrangeas Magical series

Large-leaved hydrangeas remain the most beloved hydrangea garden species today. Even though they are by no means always the most decorative and "reliable", it is the large-leaved beauties that have become a kind of standard among these shrubs - both in the effect of large caps and in the attractiveness of bright foliage. Yes, perhaps, and for different forms of cultivation and the possibilities of using as a decoration for gardens.

One of the main "trump cards" of large-leaved hydrangeas is a wide variety of colors. The color palette even for the same plant changes depending on the composition and characteristics of the soil, the quantity and quality of fertilizing, the characteristics of the water for irrigation and the weather. By changing the acidity of the soil, in pink (but not white) varieties of hydrangeas, you can get rare blue and blue colors. But large-leaved hydrangeas also have thousands of varieties that differ in their special charm of flowering, flower sizes, color changes as they bloom or wilt ... And each variety of large-leaved hydrangeas is unique.

Old varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas, which appeared in garden centers and botanical gardens even before the middle of the last century, have long become a rarity. New, improved versions of even classic varieties offer important bonuses to spectacular flowering:

• the ability to better endure harsh winters under the right shelter (their frost resistance is almost -30 degrees);
• fast recovery;
• resistance to pests and diseases.

But choosing new varieties is not an easy task. And it is only complicated by the situation with the division of varieties into potted and intended for open soil, which remains almost unchanged today: many hydrangeas are sold as plants that can be planted in the garden, others only as pot or indoor forms. Although, as a rule, there is not much difference between these varieties.

The differences in the winter hardiness of acclimatized and imported hydrangeas are much more important: to get a shrub that can survive even the most unpredictable winters, albeit with shelter, you need to choose varieties that have been adapted in local nurseries and garden centers, grown in your region or in similar conditions of climatic zones. Checking the declared frost resistance is very important. Indeed, even the most reliably proven varieties brought from Europe, the characteristics will differ from the domestic planting material. Therefore, before buying, always check the information about the plant and do not hesitate to ask in more detail about how the seedlings were grown, what conditions and shelters they are used to.

Despite the fact that an individual approach and the choice of regional plants is the best strategy, among the varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas there are those cultivars that have proven themselves better than others in regions with harsh winters. Such hydrangeas are considered reliable, they are recommended to be chosen for getting acquainted with large-leaved hydrangeas, creating skeletal plantings, hedges or single flower beds with a single shrub. In the cultivation of selected varieties in the middle lane, problems or difficulties arise less often, the plants are well studied and tested by dozens of gardeners from various regions.

Hydrangea large-leaved series Forever & Ever

Chosen and proven doesn't mean boring. Hydrangea varieties that are suitable for growing in the middle lane are able to surprise not only with the classic palette. Among the best cultivars, there are both original colors and remontant stars, which bloom repeatedly and especially abundantly.

Let's take a closer look at the best varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas for the middle lane.

15 interesting hardy varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas

"Papillon" - a charming terry hydrangea variety that changes its bright pink color to reddish-green when flowering. The compact size of the bush, rather dark leaves and the special density of inflorescences only emphasize how similar the flowers of this beautiful hydrangea are to roses.

"Blueberry Cheesecake" - a remontant variety of hydrangea with a compact meter-long bush, the width of which always exceeds the height. "Blueberry Cheesecake" blooms only in July, but pleases with flowering until October. Semi-double flowers with purple bracts and a light yellow center look original, the leaves are very dark in summer, and red in autumn.

"Quadricolor" - a spreading variety of hydrangea up to one and a half meters high with very large, up to 20 cm leaves of a rich green color, decorated with interesting specks. Large inflorescences, scutes, surprise with a pink-whitish color, which on acidic soil can be easily changed to blue tones.

Large-leaved hydrangea "Papillon"

"Spike" - a very beautiful ruffle remontant hydrangea variety with dark pink, with a slight purple tint, the color of the flowers, conquering the wavy corrugated edge of the petals. The inflorescences are large, spherical, the flowers in them are so densely arranged that they cannot fully open. The main color appears only over time, replacing the white-blue-green shades of young flowers that appear in July. The greens of the variety are very bright.

"Green Shadow" - a hydrangea variety with a strikingly dense and austere-looking bush up to 1 m high and a very original color of inflorescences, in which rich lime green is combined with burgundy-bloody tips of petals and uneven spots, gradually covering the entire flower, starting from the edges and spreading to the middle. It is a fast growing variety with inflorescences that do not fade in autumn and bright color of leaves.

"Cotton Candy" - one of the best hybrid varieties of hydrangea, combining an interesting wavy or jagged edge of bright pink "candy" petals with a light yellow-light green spot in the center of the flower. The bush is compact, dense, one meter in height and in diameter, surprises with its dark, uneven color of leaves. The inflorescences are not dense, but delicate. The stems are highly branched and are highly durable. This remontant variety seems strikingly delicate and solemnly noble.

Large-leaved hydrangea "Spike"

"Gerda Steiniger" - a large one and a half meter and very bright variety with spherical caps of inflorescences of a strikingly rich crimson-purple color, the shade of which changes depending on the composition of the soil, but is uniform throughout the inflorescence. The color changes throughout the summer. Straight shoots and bright leaves emphasize the ideal shape of the inflorescences. This large-leaved hydrangea grows very quickly and recovers when it freezes.

"Tricolor" - one of the best varieties of hydrangea with upright rigid shoots and stunningly beautiful variegated foliage. The inflorescence plates of white flowers only emphasize the irregular yellow and white spots on the muted green leaves of the plant. The only drawback of the variety is its extreme intolerance to alkaline soils.

"Bailmer" series Endless summer - the legendary remontant hydrangea variety, considered the standard for growing in the middle lane. The color of the flowers varies from delicate shades of pink to blue. But inflorescences are always large, up to 20 cm in diameter, balls that appear only at the end of July. Serrated leaves of a dark color and a powerful, up to 2 m height, bush along with strong straight stems make this hydrangea a favorite not only of gardeners, but also of florists. Today, this particular variety is considered the most winter-hardy of all large-leaved ones.

Large-leaved hydrangea "Gerda Steiniger" Large-leaved hydrangea "Tricolor"

"Blushing Bride" the Endless Summer series is a new version of the legendary variety, distinguished by pastel-yellow, delicate, watercolor colors. This is a semi-double variety with white flowers and light, almost imperceptible pink, lilac and blue, as if blurred spots and a dark center. Re-flowering starts earlier than other varieties, hydrangea is the most resistant to disease.

"Hanabi" - a unique variety of hydrangea with a star-shaped double flowers of a snow-white color. The bushes are quite powerful and fast-growing, up to 1.5 m high, with dark, saturated color leaves. The globular buds appear to be strikingly heavy.

"Hamburg" - one of the best bright pink varieties of hydrangea with dense inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter, capable of acquiring a rich blue color on acidic soil. Fringed petals. The bush is one meter long, strong, the leaves are very bright.

Hydrangea large-leaved "Blushing Bride" series Endless Summer Hydrangea large-leaved "Hanabi" Hydrangea large-leaved "Hamburg"

"Lemmenhof" - a watercolor hydrangea variety that blooms in June, forming powerful one and a half meter bushes. The flattened, but very large inflorescences surprise with their pink, delicate flowers with a lightening center, and the leaves conquer with a rich bright color.

Nikko Blue - a star among blue-colored hydrangeas. A very dense crown of a shrub up to one and a half meters high is combined with bright green foliage. It is a remontant hydrangea that is marketed as exceptionally blue, but only shows true color on acidic soil. On neutral and alkaline, its color changes from bright blue to almost white. The variety usually blooms in June.

"Lanarth White" - one of the most beautiful white-flowered varieties of large-leaved hydrangea. It looks delicate and elegant, especially in the initial stage of flowering. The crown is wide, one meter in height, the leaves are dark green with a slight reddish bloom. Flowering starts in July, the inflorescences are surprising in their size - up to 30 cm in diameter. The snow-white tone is combined with an almost imperceptible pale pink or pale blue along the edge, but you can only see the shades up close.

Large-leaved hydrangea "Lemmenhof"

You should also pay attention to other fashionable varieties of hydrangea:

• dark pink variety "Admiration";
• unpretentious terry hydrangea varieties "Coco" with triangular petals;
• grade "Eva Lyon Holmes" c medium-sized, but strikingly dense hemispheres of inflorescences, changing candy-pink color to bright blue on acidic soils;
• Early Sensation - one of the early flowering varieties with a dense, but not austere crown, decorated with a golden border with copper autumn foliage and June bloom in bright pink tones;
• "All Summer Beauty" - a wide variety of hydrangea with a spreading crown, large caps of inflorescences, in which white, cream, blue and pink colors in various shades are combined in various combinations (usually on one bush you can count up to 20 semitones, depending on the soil);
• Madame Emile Mouilliere - a spreading variety with cream-white flowers, decorated with a pink or blue eye;
• General Vicomtesse de Vibraye - high grade with spherical large inflorescences and large pale pink or light blue flowers up to 5 cm in diameter;
• "Let’s Dance Starlight" - remontant hydrangea with a cold shade of openwork pink inflorescences and dark leaves;
• "Lilacina" - lilac-pink hydrangea with a unique feather-shaped petals with a snow-white edge;
• "Mini Penny" - pale pink hydrangea with bright leaves and very dense inflorescences;
• raspberry red with a light center, frost-resistant variety "Maltisse";
• "Bouquet Rose" - it is not for nothing that it has become one of the most common varieties up to 1 m in height with very large inflorescences of pink or blue color and a squat, "flattened" bush shape.

Large-leaved hydrangea "Early Sensation"

The best series of varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas for the middle lane

In addition to individual varieties of hydrangea, series that combine plants with similar characteristics, type of inflorescence or color change are also very popular. Representatives of certain series have proven themselves better than other plants for growing in regions with harsh winters or can boast of particularly spectacular colors. These series include four groups of frost-resistant varieties.

You & me - a series of hydrangea varieties, among which there are amazingly hardy plants. Due to their remontability, they are great for growing in the middle lane, provided that they have a standard shelter. A common feature of the plants is easy care, compact dense bushes, large spherical inflorescences and an overall neat appearance. But the main advantage is long and very abundant flowering, during which there is a change in different shades of color.

The best varieties of the You & Me series include:

• "Love" - one of the most delicate remontant varieties of garden hydrangea; at a meter height, the variety conquers with dark foliage up to 15 cm long and a dense spherical crown, delicate rosette "double" flowers with a blurred pink or purple color, depending on the acidity of the soil; the variety blooms from mid-June until the arrival of frosts;
• rose-colored variety Symphony;
• "Expression" - meter-long variety with pink or lilac-blue flowers similar to water lilies (at the beginning of blooming - cream), dark foliage and early, beginning in June, flowering;
• "Passion" - bright pink, combining several shades of hydrangea variety with globular inflorescences;
• pale pink variety "Emotion";
• "Forever" - a variety with a rounded dense bush and double pink flowers in dense inflorescences that change tone depending on the reaction of the soil;
• "Together" - a variety of hydrangea with dense double flowers in openwork, very beautiful dense inflorescences, the color of which can range from light green to pink, lilac and blue;
• "Eternity" with rosette-like light pale pink flowers;
• "Romance" - a double lilac-pink variety with pointed petals, giving the flowers a similarity to asterisks.

Hydrangea large-leaved series You & Me variety "Expression" Hydrangea large-leaved series You & Me variety "Together"

Forever & Ever - a series of winter-hardy hydrangeas, part of the plants in which repeats the species of the previous series. Variability of colors, doubleness, density of scutes and dark leaves are combined with dense, squat bushes of ideally rounded shape. The best varieties of this series include:

• "White Ball" with dense inflorescences similar to white balls;
• "Blue Heaven" –One of the most abundant hydrangeas, offering to admire the transitions from lilac to blue and ultramarine colors on the appropriate soil;
• "Peppermint" - a charming hydrangea variety that blooms in July and surprises with the beauty of flat inflorescences up to 25 cm in diameter; white petals are decorated with delicate pastel pink, purple or blue strokes, giving the plant an uneven variegation; this hydrangea appears to be a strikingly large-flowered variety; the beauty of flowering is emphasized by the glossy shine of the leaves;
• "Fantasia" - a remontant variety with a unique multicolor from light green to bright green, red, bloody and crimson, and the variegated ripples change unevenly to brighter shades;
• "Red Sensation" - a compact variety of hydrangea with a dazzling red color of globular inflorescences that change to rich burgundy and cream colors after drying.

Hydrangea large-leaved series Forever & Ever grade "Peppermint"

Hovaria - a series of large-leaved hydrangeas of remontant varieties, considered one of the most resistant to both frost and diseases. This series is characterized by stunning combinations of pink-red and light green colors, as well as a change in the appearance of the shrub from season to season.

The best varieties of hydrangeas in this series include:

• "Sweet Fantasy" - a powerful variety with a dense bush and an amazing variegated color of flowers, offering to admire the maroon splashes and dashes on a pale pink background;
• "Love You Kiss" - one of the unique varieties, flaunting amazing white flowers with bright pink ruffles;
• "Hopcorn" - a variety of hydrangea with dense inflorescences, the round petals of flowers in which cause associations with popcorn; the color is uneven, light green at the beginning of the blooming of the inflorescences is replaced by dark shades of pink, lilac and purple;
• Hobella - a variety that changes color from pink to light green, and then to red;
• "Ripple" - quite large, up to 2 m in height with a secure shelter, a hydrangea variety with very strong shoots and spherical inflorescences; burgundy shade of dark leaves is combined with a unique carmine-pink and blurred in the white center color of flowers, located very tightly.

Hydrangea large-leaved series Hovaria cultivar "Love You Kiss" Hydrangea large-leaved series Hovaria cultivar "Hopcorn"

The amazing series also enjoys particular popularity among gardeners. Magical... Of course, most of all large-leaved hydrangeas of the varieties included in this series are loved for their colors, but they are no less famous for their unpretentiousness. All varieties of the series are united by a variable palette of colors, but always including light green at one of the flowering stages. White, salmon, pink, lilac, lilac, red, different shades of green color, the varieties conquer with their multicolor and extraordinary picturesqueness. It is thanks to the constant play of colors that the hydrangeas of this series are also called chameleons.

Hydrangea large-leaved series Magical grade "Wings"

The best varieties of this series are: pale pink "Ocean", light green pink "Amethyst", light green cream "Pearl", carmine "Sapphire", white-light green "Noblesse", pink-blue hydrangea "Revolution", white-light green "Wings", pink-orange-lime "Coral", light green carmine "Jade", black-stemmed with lemon at first, and then snow-white color of flowers "Black Pearl", pale cream variety "Bride", creamy pink "Topaz", light green lemon "Emerald", light green-gray-pink variety with round petals "Robin", sunny green "Summergreen", ruby ​​red "Ruby Red", white-red "Red Harlequin", hot pink "Garnet", red-green "Greenfire"... The name of the variety is always preceded by the name of the series - Magic or Mag.

Hydrangea is not very common in our gardens. People believe that this is not a frost-hardy plant and you will not get around the hassle with it. But this is only partly true - it's all about the varieties. In this article, we will consider the best varieties of hydrangeas and its types that do great in our climatic conditions.

Types of hydrangeas

In the genus of hydrangeas of the Hortense family, there are several dozen species. These are mainly large shrubs, less often vines or trees. For our latitudes, two types are most suitable - paniculate and tree-like, bushes with spreading branches and large leaves. Shelter of hydrangea for the winter, which is described in a separate article on our website, does not present any difficulties, and in warm winters you can do without shelters at all.

Why is there a prejudice that hydrangea is a capricious plant? The fact is that flower shops have long been selling all kinds of large-leaved hydrangea in pots. But it is the large-leaved hydrangea that is frost-resistant. As a rule, these plants are beautiful only this year, and after planting in the garden, they stop blooming. Therefore, many CIS residents have the opinion that hydrangea is not for our gardens. And very much in vain.

Let's take a look at what types of hydrangeas can decorate your garden.

1) Panicle hydrangea. This type of hydrangea is a bush up to 2 meters high. Hydrangea paniculata prefers moist, slightly acidic soils, feels fine on clay and alkaline soils. Calmly tolerates partial shade. The most important fact for gardeners is that panicle hydrangea varieties bloom on the shoots of the first year of life. That is, if frosts damaged the bush, then this will not affect flowering. The main difference between panicle hydrangea and tree hydrangea, another popular representative of hydrangeas, is that its inflorescences have the shape of a panicle (similar to that of a lilac), not a ball. The flowering of hydrangea paniculata is very long, and over time, the color of the flowers changes.

2) Treelike hydrangea. Perhaps the most unpretentious and frost-resistant type of hydrangea. There are not so many varieties of tree hydrangeas.Breeders are doing their job and recently a lot of new products have appeared, however, it is guaranteed that you can find a rather limited list of tree hydrangea varieties on sale. This plant is a bush with a height of 1.5-2.5 meters in the form of a dome with spherical inflorescences, the color of which changes over time. Flowers remain on the shoots until the end of the season. The tree hydrangea can winter without shelter, the main thing is to carry out sanitary pruning in the fall.

2) Large-leaved hydrangea. As already mentioned, this type of hydrangea does not differ in frost resistance, and in general requires more care than panicle and large-leaved hydrangea. This is not a small potted plant, as one might think: in favorable conditions, the large-leaved hydrangea grows up to 2.5 meters in the form of a bush with rounded inflorescences of all kinds of colors. Not so long ago, only experienced gardeners thought about planting large-leaved hydrangeas. Now, with the development of new varieties of large-leaved hydrangea, it has become possible to plant them in the middle lane. Such hydrangeas are frost-hardy (but, nevertheless, they are advised to cover them for the winter), they can bloom on the shoots of the current year.

Curly hydrangea (petiolate)

4) Curly hydrangea (petiolate). Unlike most relatives, climbing hydrangea is a vine. The shoots of this hydrangea are woody, it grows slowly. The petiolate hydrangea is used either as a ground cover crop, or as a hedge - on a trellis. Curly hydrangea can rise up to 20 meters in height, clinging to the support with suckers and aerial roots. Inflorescences are corymbose. Unfortunately, the plant is not winter-hardy enough, it needs additional shelter, therefore, residents of the southern regions of the CIS are advised to start a petiole hydrangea.

5) Hydrangea is oak-leaved. This type of hydrangea is not hardy, therefore it is advised to grow it in protected areas or in the south of the country. The peculiarity of the oak-leaved hydrangea is that, in addition to the inflorescences, the leaves of the hydrangea also look very beautiful (like that of an oak, from which the name comes).

Hydrangea Oakleaf

By the way, the susceptibility of plants to diseases often depends on the type and variety of hydrangeas.

There are many more types of hydrangeas, but in our climate, amateurs-gardeners have access to mainly tree-like, paniculate and large-leaved hydrangeas. Let's take a look at the most popular and best varieties of these hydrangeas.

Hydrangea paniculata: the best varieties

Vanilla Fraize hydrangea variety

Panicle hydrangea variety Vanilla Freise (Vanilla Freise, Rennie)

The hydrangea variety Vanilla Freise is a spreading bush up to 2 meters high. The flowers are initially pure white, but over time they take on an increasingly intense pink color. Late-flowering variety of hydrangeas, frost-resistant. The Sunday Fraze is a small copy of the Vanilla Fraze hydrangea. This hydrangea variety prefers sunny, sheltered from the wind, and moist soils.

Pinky Winky, DVPinky hydrangea variety

Pinky Winky panicle hydrangea variety

The Pinky Winky hydrangea variety is a bush 1.5-1.8 meters high with openwork conical inflorescences 15-20 cm in size. The flowers are white above, and purple-pink below. The Pinky Winky hydrangea variety blooms from mid-summer to early autumn. The variety is frost-resistant, but it is recommended to cover it in cold winters. Does not tolerate droughts.

Hydrangea variety paniculata Grandiflora (Grandiflora)

Hydrangea variety paniculata Grandiflora

The hydrangea variety Grandiflora is a large branchy bush with lush white conical inflorescences that turn pink over time. The hydrangea variety Grandiflora blooms from mid-summer to September. Loves light, but feels good in the shade. Winter-hardy plant, winter hardiness increases with age

Hydrangea variety paniculata Limelight

Hydrangea variety paniculata Limelight

The Limelight hydrangea variety is a relatively low bush up to one and a half meters high with white-green flowers of a wide conical shape, which turn pink over time. Hydrangea variety Limelight is photophilous, frost-hardy (frost resistance increases with age), does not tolerate limestone soils

Phantom hydrangea variety

This type of hydrangea has the largest of the panicle hydrangea inflorescences, the color of which varies from light cream to pinkish. The Phantom hydrangea variety is characterized by a tall bush (about 2 meters), tolerates partial shade, is very winter-hardy, and prefers fertile moist soils.

Phantom hydrangea variety

Hydrangea variety paniculata Pink Diamond

Hydrangea Pink Diamond stands out with large, but not wide, pyramidal inflorescences, at first pink or dark pink, over time - almost lilac. This hydrangea variety grows as a low-branched shrub up to two meters high. Pink Diamond hydrangea blooms in July-September. It can grow in partial shade, but does not tolerate droughts. Pink Diamond hydrangea is considered frost-resistant, but requires shelter in the first year.

Variety of hydrangea paniculata Pink Diamond

Wim's Red hydrangea variety

Weems Red is a hydrangea variety with large panicle inflorescences that change their color from white to pink and burgundy. The bush of this hydrangea variety grows up to one and a half meters in height. The flowering period is extremely long - from June to October. The plant is capable of growing in partial shade, frost-resistant (preferably covered in the first year), prefers moist acidic soils. Drought intolerant.

Hydrangea variety paniculata Weems Red

Bobo hydrangea variety (Bobo)

The variety of hydrangea paniculata Bobo was bred relatively recently and is a dwarf form with a bush height of up to 70 cm.The flowers are initially colored lemon-green, eventually turning white and pink. It blooms from mid-late summer to September. Loves semi-shady places with acidic moist soils.

Bobo hydrangea variety

Fraise Melba hydrangea variety

Hydrangea variety paniculata Frezy Melba

Like the previous hydrangea variety, Freyzi Melba was recently bred. The result of the work of the breeders is a bush with thick branches that practically do not need support up to 2 meters high and large inflorescences of a white-crimson color. The sharp, contrasting transition of crimson to white looks especially impressive. Like most hydrangeas, it is frost-resistant, loves moist acidic soils and partial shade.

Hydrangea variety paniculata Polar Bear

Hydrangea variety paniculata Polar Bear

The name of this hydrangea variety characterizes not only the color - from white-green to white and slightly pink, but also extreme winter hardiness. Hydrangea Polar Bear is the most frost-resistant among all panicle hydrangeas. The variety of hydrangea paniculata Polar bear grows in the form of a bush 1.5-1.7 meters high, blooms from mid-summer to the very frost. Relatively unpretentious to soils, tolerates stagnant water and droughts, can grow in partial shade, although it prefers light.

Great Star hydrangea variety

Great Star panicle hydrangea variety

Speaking about varieties of hydrangea paniculata, one cannot fail to mention the beautiful inflorescences of the Great Star variety, which look like stars with thin long curved petals. This variety of hydrangea grows as a bush up to 2 meters high with few shoots. Hydrangea Great Star tolerates partial shade, winter-hardy, does not tolerate droughts and limestone soils.

Hydrangea tree: the best varieties

Annabelle hydrangea variety

Annabelle tree hydrangea variety

The most common variety of tree hydrangea is undoubtedly the snow-white beauty Annabelle. It grows in the form of a bush up to two meters high, blooms from July to cold weather. The flowers are white, large (more than 20 cm in diameter).The hydrangea variety Annabel does not need shelter for the winter, prefers to grow in partial shade, does not like droughts

Hydrangea variety of tree-like Bella Anna (Bella Anna)

Variety of hydrangea tree Bella Anna

Hortense Bella Anna is a low bush (1-1.3 meters), with thin branches, bending under the weight of huge inflorescences - crimson or deep pink. The flower petals of this variety of inflorescences are pointed, which gives them an unusual look for hydrangeas. Blooms from mid-summer until frost. Winter hardiness is high, does not tolerate stagnant moisture. It is considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful varieties of hydrangeas.

Hayes Starburst tree hydrangea variety

Hayes Starburst tree hydrangea variety

This hydrangea variety is distinguished by the fact that its flowers are double, the only one among all tree hydrangeas. Hayes Starburst is a low bush up to 1.2 meters tall with white corymbose inflorescences, which turn slightly green over time. The hydrangea variety Hayes Starburst blooms from July to the very frost, frost-hardy, feels good both in partial shade and in the light

Hydrangea variety tree-like Pink Pincushion

Hydrangea variety tree-like Pink Pincushion

Another representative of treelike hydrangeas, the Pink Pincushion cultivar (translated as "pink pin cushion") is a bush just over a meter high with flat pink-white inflorescences. The flowering of this variety of hydrangeas occurs in mid-late summer. In terms of soil, acidity and moisture, the plant is not quite whimsical. Pink Pincushion - not hardy enough, requires shelter.

Hydrangea variety tree-like Invincibelle Spirit

Hydrangea variety tree Invincibel Spirit

The hydrangea variety Invincibel Spirit ("invincible spirit") has large bright pink inflorescences, which eventually turn light pink. The bush of this hydrangea variety grows up to 1-1.2 m, in the presence of snow cover it does not need shelter

Hydrangea variety of tree-like Grandiflora (Grandiflora)

Hydrangea variety of tree-like Grandiflora

The hydrangea variety Grandiflora is one of the most common and oldest varieties of tree hydrangeas, figuratively speaking - "mongrel". However, the beauty of this mongrel is not inferior to new varieties - large snow-white cap-like inflorescences change color from green to white. The diameter of the Grandiflora hydrangea inflorescences is up to 20 cm. This variety of hydrangeas is quite frost-hardy, loves light and moist fertile soils.

Large-leaved hydrangea: the best varieties

Varieties of hydrangea large-leaved series Endless Summer (Endless Summer)

Large-leaved hydrangea varieties Endless Summer - a pioneer among winter-hardy large-leaved hydrangeas. Before the breeding of the varieties of the Endless Summer series, only residents of the southern regions could think about breeding large-leaved hydrangea in the CIS. Endless Summer hydrangea varieties are not only frost-resistant, but also capable of forming flowers both on the shoots of the new year and on the shoots of the last year. Its name - Endless Summer - this hydrangea received for its ability to bloom again. Thus, this variety of hydrangeas became the "parent" of other varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas that bloom on the shoots of the current year.

Large-leaved hydrangea variety Endless summer

Large-leaved hydrangea Endless summer is a bush up to one and a half meters high, blooms in spherical inflorescences from blue to pink - depending on the acidity of the soil (alkaline soil - pink, acidic soil - blue)

Hydrangea varieties of large-leaved series Yu and Me (You and Me, You and me)

Large-leaved hydrangea variety U and mi Tugese

Hydrangeas U & Me are a terry series of large-leaved hydrangeas. Among the most beloved varieties of hydrangea in this series are Tugese, Forever, Romance, Expression, Symphony, Eternity. It is a small shrub about 0.7-0.8 meters high with spherical inflorescences. Relatively frost-resistant - it still needs light shelter for the winter.Prefers light or light partial shade. The color of Y & Me hydrangea flowers can vary depending on the acidity of the soil (pink, purple, blue). Repaired variety, that is, it is able to bloom more than once per season

Large-leaved hydrangea variety Alpengluhen

Large-leaved hydrangea variety Alpen-Gluchen

The hydrangea variety Alpen-Gluchen stands out for its stunning red flowers, which can turn pink in acidic soils. The height of the bush of this variety is up to 1.2 meters, the flowers bloom on last year's shoots, the branches are quite powerful and sag under the weight of the flowers. Requires shelter for the winter

Large-leaved hydrangea variety Nikko Blue

Hydrangea large-leaved Nikko Blue

Nikko Blue - a variety of hydrangeas for lovers of bright blue flowers. This large-leaved hydrangea is a short bush of about 1.2 meters with lush round inflorescences up to 30 cm in diameter. Initially, they are painted white-green, but over time they become blue and even blue. The petals of Nikko Blue hydrangea inflorescences are softly rounded, which gives the flower airiness and lightness. Frost resistance is quite low, blooms on last year's shoots, likes partial shade.

To list all varieties of large-leaved hydrangea is a thankless task, as well as trying to choose the best varieties of hydrangeas from them. It is not for nothing that large-leaved hydrangeas are considered the most beautiful due to a wide range of colors, full of luxurious inflorescences. Until recently, considered a forbidden fruit, many varieties of large-leaved hydrangea are now available for residents of central Russia - the Forever and Ever series, Earley Sensation, Mini Penny, Shamrock, Ripple, Pappermint, Blue Haven, Coco Blank and many others.

We suggest you read about caring for hydrangeas in a separate article "Hydrangea: planting, care, reproduction", and about preparing hydrangeas for winter - in the article "Hydrangea: preparing for winter".
Tatiana Kuzmenko, member of the editorial board Sobcor of the Internet edition “AtmAgro. Agroindustrial Bulletin "

Review of the best paniculate, tree-like and large-leaved hydrangeas according to the reviews of florists

Hydrangea is a lush and long-flowering deciduous shrub. The thyroid inflorescences consist of fertile (bisexual) and sterile (sterile) flowers. They can be chaotically located, but more often they form viburnum-shaped inflorescences with fertile flowers in the center and sterile along the edge. There are varieties with only one type of flower. The scutellum can be flat, spherical, hemispherical, or pyramidal. Treelike and panicle hydrangeas have taken root well in Central Russia, largely due to their vitality. In the Moscow region, hydrangeas grow best in the open sun; in the southern regions of Russia, it is recommended to plant them in partial shade. In care, it is important to ensure regular and abundant watering (it is not for nothing that the Latin name for hydrangea hydrangea is translated as "a vessel with water"). We will tell you in detail about the best varieties of hydrangeas in our review.

In Russia, varieties of 3 types of hydrangea are widespread: tree, paniculate and large-leaved.

Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata). Shrub or standard tree 2 - 5 m high. Wild forms are found in Japan and China. Panicle hydrangea Differs in dark green leaves and burgundy shoots. Inflorescences are formed on the shoots of the current year. The buds bloom very slowly, so abundant mass flowering occurs in August. The inflorescence is a pyramidal scutellum, reminiscent of a panicle. At the time of dissolution, a greenish tint is present, then the color becomes pure white or cream, and by autumn pinkish tones with a brick tint and again a greenish tint appear. The flowering bush attracts bees with its aroma and is a good honey plant. The high frost resistance of the species makes it possible to grow it even in the North-West region. In the Moscow region, panicle hydrangeas winter without shelter. Shoots woody quickly and winter well.

Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens). Shrub from 1 to 3 m in height, native to North America. Unpretentious and winter hardy. Loves shading. Able to endure short-term drought: drooping leaves "come to life" immediately after abundant watering. Spherical or flat shields are formed at the tops of annual shoots. At the beginning of flowering, the inflorescences have a greenish tint, and in full dissolution they become creamy. In the inflorescences, fertile flowers predominate, and there are few sterile ones. But there are varieties with sterile inflorescences. Shields are large, with a diameter of 10 - 15 to 20 cm. It blooms from June to September. Young growth often does not ripen and freezes out, but after spring pruning, the bush grows back well. Freezing does not affect flowering.

Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Shrub 1 - 2 m high. In winter it leaves with green herbaceous shoots, which will become lignified only the next year. This biological feature leads to strong freezing of young growth in a harsh climate. In winter, all leaves are removed, the shoots are tied, bent to the ground and covered with lutrasil. Inflorescences are not formed on all annual shoots, so the flowering is not as abundant, unlike other types of hydrangea. Inflorescences exceed 20 cm in diameter. Dwarf varieties are good for container growing. The shape and color of the inflorescences is varied. Varieties of the "changeable" variety are able to change the color of the inflorescences depending on the chemical composition of the soil. Large-leaved hydrangeas grow best in acidic soils.

Rating of the best varieties of hydrangeas - TOP 10

The best varieties of panicle hydrangeas

Polar Bear 480 (for a seedling with a height of 30 - 40 cm with a closed root system) The Polar Bear variety opens our rating of the best panicle hydrangeas. The variety appeared as a result of crossing the panicle hydrangeas Limelight and Grandiflora. The variety has surpassed its parents. The shrub is 1.5 - 2 m high, very compact and tidy. Inflorescences are dense, broadly pyramidal, up to 30 - 40 cm long. Large clusters are formed on strong shoots that do not droop and retain the shape of the crown. The flowers are predominantly sterile, very large, more than 3 cm in diameter. Huge airy snow-white inflorescences fully justify the name "Polar Bear". At the beginning of the dissolution, the flowers have a delicate pistachio color, which is replaced by white and cream, at the end of summer they turn pink. On one bush, white and pink inflorescences from the base may be present at the same time. It adapts well to growing conditions, is resistant to increased gas pollution, and is rarely affected by diseases. Easy to form and recover quickly. It hibernates without shelter, but in the Moscow region and the Middle Lane, trunk circles are mulched with sawdust or needles. Main pluses: spectacular large inflorescences record winter hardiness not drooping shoots Minuses: picky about soil fertility

9.9 / 10 Rating Reviews I discovered hydrangeas from the Polar Bear variety. Now I grow several varieties, but I still consider the Polar Bear panicle hydrangea to be the best and most beautiful.

Phantom 450 (for a seedling with a height of 30 - 40 cm with a closed root system) A powerful, fast-growing, spreading bush, often exceeding 2 meters in height, up to 2 m wide. Shoots are strong, upright. The young growth is juicy red-brown in color, and the old shoots take on a grayish tint. Inflorescences are broadly conical with a blunt apex, more than 30 cm long, consists of large sterile flowers. In September, the creamy color changes to pale pink. Able to grow on any soil. Differs in high resistance to diseases. Even when planted on waterlogged soils, the bushes do not suffer from root rot. Shows excellent winter hardiness, and during freezing in some years it quickly recovers and blooms luxuriantly. The variety is perfect both for bush formation and for growing a standard tree.It is able to grow in one place for several decades without transplantation and rejuvenation. It propagates well by cuttings and layering. In the middle lane, it is preferable to plant in sunny areas. Main pluses: high decorativeness of large inflorescences strong honey aroma good adaptation to soil and climatic conditions Minuses: for moderate growth and the formation of large inflorescences, annual pruning is required

9.8 / 10 Rating Reviews On my site, the soil is far from ideal for hydrangeas, but the Phantom feels great, blooms with wide brushes of 25 cm long.

Vanilla Fraise 400 (for a seedling with a height of 30 - 40 cm with a closed root system) Vanille Fraise is a variety of panicle hydrangea that is very popular among gardeners. Shrub 1.5 - 2 m high, with an asymmetric wide spreading crown. This variety got the name "vanilla strawberry" for the unique color of the inflorescences. At the beginning of flowering, they are pale white, but in the sun, over time, the flowers begin to turn pink from the base, acquiring a crimson color by autumn. As a result, the individual inflorescence looks like whipped vanilla ice cream with strawberry syrup. The length of the broad-pyramidal inflorescences is 30 - 35 cm. The flowers are sterile. The shoots droop under the weight of the inflorescences. The plant is unpretentious and frost-resistant (4 - 5 zone). In the Moscow region, adult bushes hibernate without shelter, but mulching is carried out for young seedlings. Blooms in the first year of planting. Main pluses: frost resistance original color of inflorescences unpretentiousness Minuses: garter required

9.7 / 10 Rating Reviews I think this panicle hydrangea is the best for the Moscow region - unlike other varieties, Vanilla Freyz turns pink earlier and looks gorgeous.

Pinky Winky 400 (for a seedling with a height of 30 - 40 cm with a closed root system) Spectacular Belgian variety of panicle hydrangea. The bush in different regions has a height of 1.5 - 2.5 m. The crown of an adult plant is wide, spreading. Shoots not drooping, red-brown, standing out among the sparse leaves. White cone-shaped inflorescences with a pointed apex consist of fertile and sterile flowers, the latter prevailing. A feature of the variety is the continued growth of inflorescences in the fall. As a result, the bases turn bright purple, and new large white flowers bloom at the top. Inflorescences of medium density, directed upwards. With good care, the inflorescences already in the first flowering will be large, 20 - 25 cm long. Young bushes can not be tied up, but with age, the appearance of especially large panicles in rainy and windy weather can lead to bending of the shoots, therefore, a garter is used to support. Winter hardiness is high. Before winter, it is recommended to cut off the inflorescences to eliminate the likelihood of shoots breaking off. In some years, preventive treatments may be required. Main pluses: strong shoots purple autumn color of leaves and inflorescences good winter hardiness Minuses: sensitivity to soil type and acidity affected by pests and diseases

9.5 / 10 Rating Reviews I planted a seedling in a sunny place, I indulge in top dressing and rejoice at the beautiful inflorescences. Pinky Winky is a very good variety of panicle hydrangea, with proper care it will certainly thank you.

Limelight 400 (for a seedling 20-30 cm high with a closed root system) A powerful, compact bush with a height of 2 m, does not fall apart under the weight of inflorescences and does not require a garter. Shoots are green, densely leafy. Shirokopyramidalnye sterile inflorescences up to 30 cm long appear in August and decorate the bush until October. At the beginning of flowering, the flowers have a bright lime shade, which becomes yellow-green in partial shade, and snow-white in the sun. By the fall, a typical pinkish hue appears. In autumn, the leaves of a lilac shade increase decorativeness. Maintaining soil fertility is important to obtain large, greenish buds.In winter, it is recommended to cut off all inflorescences so that the shoots do not break under the weight of snow-covered brushes. Shows good resistance to disease and frost. Young bushes in a harsh winter can freeze slightly, but with age, frost resistance increases. Main pluses: keeps the shape of the crown well disease resistance winter hardiness original color of inflorescences Minuses: in the middle lane in the sun, the lime color quickly turns to white picky about soil and fertilizing

9.5 / 10 Rating Reviews Limelight is a very good variety of panicle hydrangea. On a 2-year-old seedling there were very large inflorescences, the shoots do not droop and do not fall apart in rainy weather.

The best varieties of tree hydrangeas

Annabelle 440 (for a seedling 15-25 cm high with a closed root system) Delicate tree hydrangea variety. Shrub no more than 1.5 m in height and up to 3 m in diameter. The crown is spherical, loose. Spherical inflorescences with a diameter of 15 - 25 cm consist of sterile flowers. At the beginning of the dissolution, there is a greenish tint, and then they become snow-white. The leaves remain green for a very long time, turning slightly yellow in late autumn. Shows excellent frost resistance, is rarely affected by diseases, grows quickly and easily recovers. In one place, without transplanting, the bushes grow for 40-50 years or more, without losing their decorative effect. In the Middle Lane, young seedlings are covered. Main pluses: high decorativeness tolerates short-term drought and slightly alkaline soil Minuses: wide crown requires a spacious area

9.7 / 10 Rating Reviews My tree hydrangea Anabel adorns the collection of conifers, they complement each other well: a white fluffy hat and juicy greenery.

Sterilis 500 (for a seedling 20-30 cm high with a closed root system) A well-known variety of tree hydrangea. Shrub 1.3 - 1.9 m high with a rounded crown. The foliage is medium, the bush looks loose. Young shoots are green, pubescent. Hemispherical lush inflorescences with a diameter of 20 - 30 cm consist of large sterile flowers. In complete dissolution, inflorescences are pure white. Winter hardiness is high (zones 4 - 5), but in regions with severe winters, shelter is required. Has a high growth rate and quickly builds up shoots. For the formation of large inflorescences, it needs annual spring pruning. Main pluses: very lush bloom high growth rates large inflorescences Minuses: shoots droop under the weight of inflorescences

9.5 / 10 Rating Reviews I really like the huge caps of Sterilis hydrangea inflorescences, which are good when cut. I forgive him for drooping heads.

White Dome 440 (for a seedling 15-25 cm high with a closed root system) A variety of tree hydrangea. The bush is 1.2 - 1.5 m high, with a rounded crown. The leaves are large, up to 20 cm in length. Inflorescences are a flat shield, in the form of a dome with a diameter of 10 - 25 cm, in the center there are small fertile flowers, and large sterile flowers only along the edge, which gives the effect of openwork. The color of the inflorescences is creamy with a snow-white border. The shoots are strong, erect, the bush keeps its shape and without support. A spherical crown in diameter can reach 2 - 3 m. The growth force is high, the annual growth is 20 cm. Winter hardiness is high (zone 5). In the Leningrad Region and the Moscow Region, adult plants hibernate without shelter, but young ones can freeze slightly. Main pluses: original shape of inflorescences strong, not drooping shoots Minuses: exactingness to fertility and care

9.5 / 10 Rating Reviews Every winter I cut it into 2 buds, the bush winters well and blooms profusely. Compact and neat variety.

The best varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas

Endless Summer 500 (for a seedling 15 - 20 cm high with a closed root system) Legendary large-leaved hydrangea variety capable of blooming both on last year's shoots and on the current year's shoots. It belongs to the group of remontant varieties. This feature is important for Central Russia.Even in case of freezing, the bush in favorable conditions can please with flowering. Due to its ability to form buds several times per season, the variety was named "Endless Summer". In a sunny place, the bush does not grow higher than 1.5 m, but gives a lot of spherical inflorescences with a diameter of 10 - 15 cm. The color of sterile flowers can vary from bright pink to blue, depending on the acidity of the soil. Often, the same plant contains inflorescences of different shades. Bright inflorescences are good for cutting, from which they form original bouquets with a delicate aroma. Despite the high declared frost resistance, in the Middle Lane it is recommended to mulch and cover the bushes with non-woven material. Main pluses: remontant grade high winter hardiness powdery mildew resistance Minuses: exactingness to light and soil fertility spring pruning is required

9.7 / 10 Rating Reviews The first 2 years I created the best conditions for the growth of a small hydrangea seedling, and now I enjoy a neat bush and lush flowering.

Peppermint 350 (for a seedling 15 - 20 cm high with a closed root system) Repairing variety of large-leaved hydrangea from the Forever & Ever series. The unusual two-tone color of the inflorescences attracts attention: the flowers have a wide white border, and in the center they can be pink, purple or blue. Inflorescences of large sterile flowers, up to 25 cm in diameter, in the form of a hemisphere. The height of the bush is 0.7 - 0.9 m, a compact spherical crown. Suitable for container growing. For full development, sunny areas are allocated, partial shade - only in the south. Main pluses: original color of inflorescences remontant grade Minuses: exacting care

9.5 / 10 Rating Reviews The variety is good, but not for lazy growers. Requires proper treatment and a lot of attention. An adult bush hibernates under cover and blooms twice and very profusely.

All hydrangeas love frequent and abundant watering. For planting, areas protected from the winds are chosen from the south or east side. In landscape design, hydrangea is used as a tapeworm on a lawn or in compositions with a rose, clematis, lilies, spirea, rhododendrons, barberries, lilacs and conifers. When choosing neighbors, not only aesthetic compatibility is taken into account, but also the general requirements for soil composition and care. Hydrangeas complement the garden in a natural, natural style and in a sophisticated Japanese style equally well. Hedges from different varieties of the same species look spectacular.

Attention! The reliability of the information and the results of the ratings is subjective and does not constitute advertising.