Hydrangeas for the Home Landscape

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Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53
Lisle, IL 60532

Phone: 630-968-0074
Email: trees@mortonarb.org

Tagged as: Low growing shrubs, Hydrangea, Deciduous, shrubs

Botanical Name: Hydrangea arborescens
Common Name: Smooth Hydrangea
Height: 3-5' Spread: 3-5' Habit/Form: Rounded mounds Growth Rate: Fast Zone: 4-9
Cultural Requirements: A very adaptable native hydrangea; will thrive in rich, moist, well-drained soil; pH adaptable. Prefers part shade but can do well in full sun if soil moisture is sufficient. Often needs to be watered on hot, dry summer days, as leaves will droop under drought conditions. Cut down about 1/3 of the stems to about 6 inches from the ground every few years to rejuvenate vigor. Pruning annually will reduce the size of the flowers. Remove spent flowers to enjoy a second flush in August.
Ornamental Characteristics: Large, 2 to 6-inch long, dark, serrated leaves display no fall color. Flowers clusters begin as an apple green color changing to creamy white and eventually brown. For garden purposes, cultivars are more effective.
Uses in the Landscape: Works best in masses or groupings in naturalized areas.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle'
Common Name: Annabelle Hydrangea
Height: 3-5' Spread: 3-5' Habit/Form: Suckering Growth Rate: Fast Zone: 4-9
Cultural Requirements: Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil, pH adaptable. Best in part shade but will endure full sun if soil moisture level is high enough. During hot, dry summer days supplemental watering is a must. Plants can be cut back to about 1/3 of the stems annually, or 6 inches from the ground every few years. Pruning annually will reduce the size of the flowers. Plants flower on new wood.
Ornamental Characteristics: One of the most popular hydrangea cultivars because of its extremely large rounded inflorescences. Individual creamy-white flower heads can be 12 inches in diameter and bloom in mid-June against dark, serrated foliage.
Uses in the Landscape: Colony-forming, use in mass or in a mixed shrub border.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea arborescens f. grandiflora
Common Name: Hills-of-snow Hydrangea
Height: 3-5' Spread: 3-5' Habit/Form: Suckering Growth Rate: Fast Zone: 4-9
Cultural Requirements: Thrives in rich, moist, well-drained soil; pH adaptable. Best in part shade but can endure full sun if soil moisture is adequate. Supplemental watering is a must. Plants can be cut back to about 1/3 of the stems annually, or 6 inches from the ground every few years. Pruning annually will reduce the size of the flowers. Plants flower on new wood.
Ornamental Characteristics: This commonly used hydrangea cultivar is admired for its large, clean, white flower clusters. The 6 to 8-inch flower heads are not as large or symmetrical as the cultivar 'Annabelle' hydrangea, but they contrast well against the dark, serrated foliage.
Uses in the Landscape: Works well in shrub borders or in mass.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia
Common Name: Oak-leaf Hydrangea
Height: 4-6'(8') Spread: 4-6' Habit/Form: Upright mounded Growth Rate: Slow to medium Zone: 5-9
Cultural Requirements: Best in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic, organic rich soil. Mulch is recommended for keeping roots cool and moist. Prefers sun to part shade. Flower buds can be damaged in extremely cold winters. Flowers on old wood and should be prune after flowering; remove winter-damaged stems as soon as leaves begin to emerge in spring. This hydrangea is a disease and insect free shrub.
Ornamental Characteristics: This very handsome hydrangea is a shrub for all seasons. The deep green, sometimes glossy, oakleaf-shaped leaves are 3-8 inches long and turn a deep burgundy fall color that can persist into December. Large, 4-12-inch, cone-shaped panicles open white then eventually turn a purplish-pink. Older bark is a cinnamon-brown color and tends to peel off in strips. This is the only hydrangea with exfoliating bark.
Uses in the Landscape: Excellent for mass plantings, groupings, or even as a specimen.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
Common Name: Snow Queen Oak-leaf Hydrangea
Height: 4-6' Spread: 4-6' Habit/Form: Compact and mounded Growth Rate: Slow to medium Zone: 5-9
Cultural Requirements: Thrives in moist, slightly acidic, organically rich, well-drained soil. Mulch is recommended for keeping roots cool and moist. Prefers sun to part shade. Flower buds can be damaged in extremely cold winters. Flowers on old wood and should be prune after flowering; remove winter-damaged stems as soon as leaves begin to emerge in spring. This hydrangea is a disease and insect free shrub.
Ornamental Characteristics: Large, oakleaf-shaped dark green leaves turn a deep reddish-bronze in the fall. The 6-8 inch long, white, cone-shaped flowers appear in June and July and age to pink. The flower panicles are more upright throughout the season and denser than H. quercifolia. Older, cinnamon-colored bark peels in strips.
Uses in the Landscape: Use as single specimen or in groups, as a foundation planting or in mixed borders.

Botanical Name: Hydrangea quercifolia 'Sikes Dwarf'
Common Name: Sikes Dwarf Oak-leaf Hydrangea, Pee Wee
Height: 2-4' Spread: 2-4' Habit/Form: Compact and mounded Growth Rate: Slow to medium Zone: 5-9
Cultural Requirements: Thrives in moist, slightly acidic, organically rich, well-drained soil. Mulch is recommended for keeping roots cool and moist. Prefers sun to part shade. Flower buds can be damaged in extremely cold winters. Flowers on old wood and should be prune after flowering; remove winter-damaged stems as soon as leaves begin to emerge in spring. This hydrangea is a disease and insect free shrub.
Ornamental Characteristics: A smaller version of the oak-leafed hydrangea. The 4-inch beautiful white, cone-shaped flowers are more open and loose than the species and turn a reddish-pink as they mature. The handsome, foliage turns a purple-red in the fall.
Uses in the Landscape: A good choice for smaller gardens.

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