Hydrangeas are one of the most nostalgic garden plants. They make people think of their grandmother’s garden and the long summers they spent as a child. And because their leaves are so lush and their flowers last so long, not many plants deserve a place in the garden more.
People often think of all hydrangeas as the same thing, but there are actually several different species in the group, and each has its own specific needs when it comes to growing. If you know how to use and take care of each type of hydrangea, these beautiful plants will last for years and years, giving you new garden memories.
Hydrangeas are a garden classic, with their large, showy flower heads appearing in summer While all hydrangeas belong to the same genus, Hydrangea, they don’t all have the same growing habits One key difference is whether the plant blooms on old or new wood. Knowing this characteristic helps gardeners prune and care for their hydrangeas properly.
Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood are ideal for climates with cold winters. The flower buds form on the current season’s growth so even after a harsh winter the plant will still bloom. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood form their buds the year before. If those buds are killed over winter the plant will have no flowers that summer.
For gardeners in cold regions wanting reliable blooms, focusing on hydrangeas that flower on new wood is a wise choice. The two main types of hydrangea that bloom on new wood are panicle and smooth hydrangeas.
Panicle Hydrangeas
Panicle hydrangeas, Hydrangea paniculata, are known for their enormous, conical flower heads. They bloom in mid-to-late summer on new wood grown each spring. Some popular panicle hydrangea cultivars include:
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Limelight: A very hardy variety with bright greenish-white blooms that turn pink in fall. Grows up to 6-8 feet.
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Little Lime: A dwarf form of Limelight, reaching 3-5 feet.
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Quick Fire: Blooms up to a month earlier than other panicle hydrangeas, with flowers opening white then becoming deep pink. Grows 6-8 feet tall.
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Little Quick Fire: A smaller version that grows just 3-5 feet tall.
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Phantom: Has huge flower heads up to 14 inches across. Blooms are creamy white, turning rose pink. Grows 6 feet tall.
Panicle hydrangeas do best in full sun to part shade. They prefer moist, well-draining soil but are quite drought tolerant once established. These are low maintenance plants, only needing occasional pruning to shape or control size. They can be pruned in late winter or early spring since the flower buds form on new wood. Panicle hydrangeas make excellent specimen plants, mass plantings, or privacy hedges.
Smooth Hydrangeas
Smooth hydrangeas, Hydrangea arborescens, are named for their stems which lack the peeling bark of other types. They produce rounded flower heads made up of small fertile and showy sterile florets. Popular smooth hydrangea varieties include:
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Annabelle: The most well-known, with huge white blooms. Grows 4-5 feet tall.
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Incrediball: Has massive 12-16 inch ball-shaped flower heads. Grows 3-5 feet tall.
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Invincibelle: Offers bright pink blooms and dark green foliage. Grows 3-4 feet tall.
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Lime Rickey: Features fragrant chartreuse to white blooms. A compact grower reaching just 3 feet tall.
Smooth hydrangeas thrive in part shade with moist, fertile soil. Morning sun is ideal with afternoon shade. Plants are cold hardy to zone 4. Like panicle hydrangeas, smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood so can be pruned in late winter or spring. They also tolerate severe pruning. These easy-care shrubs work well in mixed beds and cottage gardens.
Caring for Hydrangeas That Bloom on New Wood
Hydrangeas that flower on new wood are low maintenance plants. Here are some tips for keeping them healthy and producing abundant blooms:
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Plant in spring: Set out new plants in spring once the danger of frost has passed. Container-grown hydrangeas can be planted anytime during the growing season.
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Water consistently: Give new plantings a thorough soaking 2-3 times a week until established. Mature plants need 1-2 inches of water per week.
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Add mulch: Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of shredded bark or other organic mulch around plants. Mulch conserves moisture and insulates roots.
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Prune in late winter/early spring: Pruning panicle and smooth hydrangeas in late winter or early spring removes only wood that grew last year, before the current season’s flower buds form. This timed pruning encourages prolific blooming.
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Fertilize lightly: Apply a balanced fertilizer or compost in early spring. Too much fertility leads to excessive foliage at the expense of flowers.
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Protect new growth: Avoid pruning or disturbing plants as new growth is emerging in spring; new stems snap easily while still tender.
Growing hydrangeas that bloom on new wood allows gardeners in all regions to enjoy these beautiful, low-maintenance shrubs. Pay attention to proper planting, site selection, and care for your specific variety. Then sit back and watch the flowers unfold each summer on your panicle or smooth hydrangeas.
Panicle Hydrangeas: Hydrangea paniculata
Also known by the common name PeeGee, panicle hydrangeas are robust plants with excellent hardiness, and drought tolerance. They thrive in the hot and humid summers of the deep South and shrug off frigid northern winters. These are the easiest hydrangea to grow, but you wouldn’t know it from their over-sized blooms. Showstoppers like White Wedding® and Moon Dance™ Hydrangea give bigleaf varieties a run for their money.
Ideal Conditions for Oakleaf Hydrangeas
This plant looks beautiful in woodland gardens and mixed borders. It can grow in full sun to part shade in hardiness zones 5 through 9. Drought tolerant, but thrives in moist soils, give oakleaf hydrangea a well-draining location. Plants benefit from a layer of mulch year round.
Oakleaf hydrangeas require very little pruning. Plants flower on old wood, so if you need to shape the plant, you should prune it in the summer after the flowers have died. Dead or damaged branches can be removed any time.
Pruning New Wood Hydrangeas
FAQ
What type of hydrangeas bloom on new wood?
How to prune hydrangeas that bloom on new wood?
Does oakleaf hydrangea bloom on old or new wood?
Why do hydrangeas bloom so early?
The result is known as the Endless Summer Hydrangea, which produces flowers on both new and old wood. This means that their blooms appear earlier and last longer than many other types. Naturally, this has implications for proper pruning.
Do hydrangeas bloom on old wood?
Old wood should be stiffer, tougher, thicker, and more grey or brown, while new wood will be much more flexible, soft, and should still have a greenish tinge. You can also check your hydrangea in the fall to see if any buds are starting to push out already. If there are buds already on the branches, then it blooms on old wood.
Can a reblooming Hydrangea flower on wood?
Reblooming hydrangeas, also known as remontant hydrangeas, are types of big leaf and mountain hydrangeas that have the unique ability to flower on both old and new wood. Even if the buds are damaged in winter weather, the plant can still flower on wood it produces that season. Reblooming varieties include the Let’s Dance series, and Tuff Stuff.
Do hydrangeas bloom in spring?
If all the shoots were cut in the fall, then the plant will not bloom in the spring. Some hydrangea species bloom on “new wood” which is the growth from the current season. These species are: arborescens and paniculata.
