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Hydrangea by colour

Hydrangeas mainly flower in shades of blue, pink and white. But the colouring may depend on the type of soil you have – some hydrangeas produce blue flowers on acid soils and pink on alkaline soils. And certain cultivars produce better colour than others. Here are our top choices.

Hydrangeas with blue flowers on acid soil

These produce rich blue flowers when grown in acid soil. If you have neutral soil, you could try acidifying it to improve the blue colour, or use a hydrangea colorant (products that contain aluminium). If you have alkaline soil, you could grow hydrangeas in large containers of ericaceous compost.
 

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blaumeise' (Teller Series) (L)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blaumeise' (Teller Series) (L)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>macrophylla</em> 'Blaumeise' (Teller Series) (L)
Hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird' (L)
Hydrangea serrata 'Bluebird' (L)
  • 0.5–1 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>serrata</em> 'Bluebird' (L)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Générale Vicomtesse de Vibraye' (H)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Générale Vicomtesse de Vibraye' (H)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>macrophylla</em> 'Générale Vicomtesse de Vibraye' (H)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Enziandom' (H)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Enziandom' (H)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>macrophylla</em> 'Enziandom' (H)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Zorro'PBR (L)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Zorro'PBR (L)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>macrophylla</em> 'Zorro'<sup>PBR</sup> (L)

White-flowered hydrangeas

White hydrangea flowers usually age to shades of pink, so bear this in mind when choosing a planting position, to ensure that works with the other plants around them.

Hydrangea paniculata Confetti ('Vlasveld 02'PBR)
Hydrangea paniculata Confetti ('Vlasveld 02'PBR)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 0.5–1 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>paniculata</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Confetti</span> ('Vlasveld 02'<sup>PBR</sup>)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lanarth White' (L)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Lanarth White' (L)
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>macrophylla</em> 'Lanarth White' (L)
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>arborescens</em> 'Annabelle'
Hydrangea quercifolia
Hydrangea quercifolia
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>quercifolia</em>
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillère' (H)
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillère' (H)
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>macrophylla</em> 'Madame Emile Mouillère' (H)
Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen ('Flemygea')
Hydrangea quercifolia Snow Queen ('Flemygea')
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>quercifolia</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Snow Queen</span> ('Flemygea')
Hydrangea quercifolia Snowflake ('Brido') (d)
Hydrangea quercifolia Snowflake ('Brido') (d)
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
  • 1.5–2.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>quercifolia</em> <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Snowflake</span> ('Brido') (d)
Hydrangea paniculata 'Silver Dollar'
Hydrangea paniculata 'Silver Dollar'
  • 1–1.5 metres
  • 1–1.5 metres
<em>Hydrangea</em> <em>paniculata</em> 'Silver Dollar'

Pink and red hydrangeas

These are naturally good on neutral to alkaline soils. Some cultivars, such as Vanille Fraise, start out white, but then turn pink.

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