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Most varieties of hydrangeas – nikko blue hydrangea, quick fire hydrangea, vanilla strawberry hydrangea, etc. – can be propagated and grown easily in any area. But some varieties may not thrive or bloom well in certain geographical locations. Knowing which type of hydrangea grows best in your area will ensure that you will never grow short of healthy and blooming hydrangeas.
It is quite difficult to pinpoint exactly which varieties of hydrangeas grow best for a specific zone. But during the past few years, there were hydrangea varieties that seem to bloom almost year round – they sometimes bloom more than once during the summer even if they are located in the south regions of the United States. The best examples are the endless summer hydrangea and the blushing bride – they flower almost indefinitely in most climates. The term that is used for them is “everbloomers.” Other hydrangea varieties that are also easy to grow in a range of climates are the oak leaf, the PeeGee, and the Annabelle hydrangeas.
To check which hydrangeas will grow best in your area, you must know your exact planting zone. Go to the Plant Hardiness Zone Map of the United States and type your zip code.
Here are some common types of hydrangeas and the areas where they flower most easily.
- Hydrangea macrophylla (mopheads and lacecaps) – These varieties grow best in Zone 8, though some hydrangeas will grow well in colder areas provided that the winter is not too mild. The condition which can severely affect hydrangeas is exposure to winter after an extended warm weather.
- Hydrangea quercifolia (oak leaf hydrangea) – The oak leaf variety is most hardy through Zones 4b/5a. It blooms dramatically during the spring and thrives in light shade or sun. It is a hardy variety because it can grow unprotected in cooler locations than the areas tolerated by hydrangea macrophylla. It needs plenty of sun and normally will not bloom if there is none. Moreover, moist air and soil will negatively affect its growth and flowering.
- Hydrangea Paniculata (PeeGee) - All the paniculatas are very hardy in extreme cold; they can be grown in as far north as the Zone 3a. Paniculatas do best in cooler climates; they thrive in conditions that are opposite to those of oak leaf hydrangeas.
- Hydrangea arborescens (Annabelle) – This looks like a mophead. Annabelle is also very hardy in extreme cold, like the PeeGee. It blooms white flowers which age to a stunning light green hue.
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