Research: Identifying Hydrangeas

Research: Identifying Hydrangeas

When I moved into the cabin, it already had a hydrangea bush. I have two more now. They were both gifts that came in as house plants. They are planted nearby each other in the front and have been much more successful than expected. We also have wild hydrangea growing around us.

I’ve done a little research to try to figure out what I have and how I should care form them. There are a lot of different kinds of hydrangeas, but most garden centers stick with these:

French or Bigleaf Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla)

This is what you see everywhere.

Mophead Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla hortensia) Photo by Marc Ryckaert from Wikimedia Commons
Mophead Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla hortensia)
Photo by Marc Ryckaert from Wikimedia Commons

Mophead Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla hortensia)

Globe-shaped clusters of large male flowers

Lacecap Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla normalis) Photo by KENPEI from Wikimedia Commons
Lacecap Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla normalis)
Photo by KENPEI from Wikimedia Commons

Lacecap Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla normalis)

Flattened flower heads with female flowers in the middle and male flowers on the outside

They start to bloom early in the summer and have flowers until early fall. People are forever telling me how to turn them blue. I really don’t want them to be blue. I think they look very good the color they are.

Smooth Hydrangea (hydrangea arborescens) Photo by KENPEI from Wikimedia Commons
Smooth Hydrangea (hydrangea arborescens)
Photo by KENPEI from Wikimedia Commons

Smooth Hydrangea (hydrangea arborescens)

Large bushes with flowers that start out green, then turn white.

Oakleaf Hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia) Photo by Anne Norman from Wikimedia Commons
Oakleaf Hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia)
Photo by Anne Norman from Wikimedia Commons

Oakleaf Hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia)

The leaves are shaped like oak leaves and may be green or colored red or orange. The flowers are white.

Panicle Hydrangeas (hydrangea paniculata) Photo by Frank Vincentz from Wikimedia Commons
Panicle Hydrangeas (hydrangea paniculata)
Photo by Frank Vincentz from Wikimedia Commons

Panicle Hydrangeas (hydrangea paniculata)

Cone shaped clusters of white or pink flowers.

Mountain Hydrangeas (hydrangea serrata) Photo by Yoko Nekonomania from Wikimedia Commons
Mountain Hydrangeas (hydrangea serrata)
Photo by Yoko Nekonomania from Wikimedia Commons

Mountain Hydrangeas (hydrangea serrata)

The flowers look like Lacecap Hydrangeas, but the flowers and leaves are smaller. The flowers may be blue or pink. They can take colder temperatures.

Hydrangeas at the Cabin

So what do I have? I’m not positive, but I think the first one is a Mophead Bigleaf Hydrangea. I think the next one was a Lacecap Hydrangea. And I think the last one is a Mountain Hydrangea, because the leaves are smaller and thinner.

I haven’t done much but trim back any sticky outy bits to keep their shape and cut back any dead flowers. People keep telling me how to turn them blue, but I really like them the colors they are.

 “To make soil more acid, just sprinkle ½ cup of garden sulfur over the soil beneath the hydrangea, and water it in. To make it more alkaline, do the same with lime. Endless Summer Color Me Pink and Color Me Blue products supply pelletized lime and sulfur respectively. Depending on the size of your plant and your soil conditions, you may need to apply it several times. Be patient; results may take months.”
The Grumpy Gardener’s Guide to Hydrangeas, May 2017 Southern Living

Bonide 56429 Pink Fertilizer turns Hydrangea Flowers Pink
Bonide 56429 Color Me Pink Fertilizer turns Hydrangea Flowers Pink
Bonide 56428 Blue Fertilizer turns Hydrangea Flowers Blue
Bonide 56428 Color Me Blue Fertilizer turns Hydrangea Flowers Blue