These spectacular compact hydrangea sort fit into even the tiniest garden .
Hydrangeas are scurvy - sustentation shrub grown for their openhanded , beautiful flowers . But one feature has confine their use in small gardens : their size . Manyhydrangeas are very enceinte , crowding out other nearby plants . industrial plant breeder have been arduous at work creating pocket-size hydrangea assortment that still pop the question spectacular flowers .
Most of these dwarf or small hydrangea variety top out at three or four feet or less , so they ’re easy to conform to into blind drunk spaces . practice them in container on a patio , porch , or balcony or as low hedge or foundation plants . add to a perennial border or the foreground of a mixed shrub edge , these compact hydrangea provide month ofnonstop flowers .
Credit: Barrie Collins
There are severaltypes of hydrangea , include bigleaf , panicle , and oakleaf . Each has unequaled feature , but small varieties are available regardless of which eccentric is your ducky . Here are 18 spectacular choice .
Jacob Fox
Compact Bigleaf Hydrangeas
As the name announces , bigleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla ) have big leaf . They also bring forth big flowers that can be either ball - shapedmopheads or more delicate - looking lacecaps . Flower color is often dependent on thepH of the soil — an acidulent soil will produce blueish or purple flowers and an alkaline grunge outcome in pink bloom . These hydrangea grow best in morning sunshine , with some shade in the afternoon . They arehardy in Zones 5 - 9 .
While the spreading of the primary plant life is fix ( usually 2 to 4 feet ) , a bigleaf hydrangea may send out offshoot . The spreading of the plant with the offshoots will be smashing , or you may well murder branch to keep your plant more thick .
Bob Stefko
Credit:Jacob Fox
Mini Mountain Hydrangeas
Native to the woodland of Japan and Korea , batch hydrangea ( Hydrangea serrata ) is standardised to bigleaf hydrangea but with small , more touchy leaves and flowers . Its long - lasting blooms are typically lacecaps , and , like bigleaf hydrangea , theirflower people of color is affect by soil pH. It grow best in light , open shade and is dauntless in Zones 5 to 9 .
Dean Schoeppner
Petite Panicle Hydrangeas
This species is also aboriginal to Asia but is audacious than most hydrangea , perform well in Zones 3 - 8 . In the wild , panicle hydrangeas ( Hydrangea paniculata ) are large shrub , sometimes attain 15 to 20 feet tall and 12 foot wide . They form declamatory clusters ( panicles ) of white flower on unexampled increase from July to until frost . They often age to pink as the weather cool ; soil pH does not affect prime color . They grow well infull to part sun .
Proven Winners
Small Smooth Hydrangeas
The fluid hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens ) is native to eastern North America . It ’s an upright , multistemmed shrub with a loose , open branching habit . Its flattened clustering of 2- to 6 - inch wide greenish - white prime appear from late leap through summer . It get good in part tint in Zones 3 to 9 .
Little Oakleaf Hydrangeas
Another North American native , the oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia ) hails from the Southeast . It catch its name from the shape of its leaf , which are deep lobed so they resemble the leaf of oak tree . It has an upright , multi - stemmed habit , grow 6 to 8 foot tall and wide with pyramidal clustering of white flowers and exfoliate barque . Hardy in Zones 5 to 9 , it can be grown in full Lord’s Day with abundant wet , or part shade .
Because oakleaf hydrangea bloom on old woodwind instrument , limit prune to removing damage branchesand spent blossom heads just below the clump .
Frequently Asked Questions
Hydrangea is of Greek line : “ Hydro ” mean water , and “ angos ” means shock or vessel . Since hydrangea needs a plenty of water , its name is appropriate .
Some hydrangea can cause severe illness if jaw or swallowed . If a frankfurter or cat ingests a large amount of hydrangea flower , it can get very sick . Hydrangea contains cyanogenic glycosides , which can stimulate intestinal distress .
Hydrangea . ASPCA .
Credit:Bob Stefko
Hydrangea . North Carolina State University Extension .
Credit:Dean Schoeppner
Credit:Proven Winners
Credit: Barrie Collins
