Hydrangeas were once dismissed as dull. In reality, they are some of the most dependable and versatile plants you can grow. As shrubs or climbers, and even bred for ground cover or baskets, they reward simple, regular care with long-lasting colour.

Flowerheads come in a wide range of shapes and shades, offering more choice than many gardeners realise. The key is choosing the right type for the right job. Here’s how to pick the perfect hydrangea for your garden.

H. arborescens

A tough, resilient and naturally compact shrub, best known for the classic ‘Annabelle’. Its huge white summer flowerheads can be so heavy they weigh down the branches. Garden centres now offer more choice, including ‘Pink Annabelle’, with soft pink blooms opening from deeper pink buds.

Pruning guide: Light pruning encourages smaller, self-supporting flowerheads Cut stems down to 15cm for fewer but much larger blooms

H. aspera

A bold, shade-loving hydrangea for borders with neutral or acid soil. The large leaves are softly hairy and attractive from spring through summer. In July and August, domed buds open into large lacecap flowerheads. A ring of soft purplish or bluish florets surrounds a mass of tiny central flowers.

Look out for:

• ‘Hot Chocolate’ with purple-tinted foliage, reddish undersides and pink lacecap flowers

• ‘Gold Rush’ with golden leaves turning green in summer, then orange in autumn

On limey soil, grow in a large container for best results.

H. macrophylla

The traditional hydrangea, known for its rounded heads of colourful florets. These plants tolerate a wide range of conditions but give their best display in a sunny spot.

There are two main forms:

Mopheads: Large, rounded flowerheads packed with bold florets

Lacecaps: A ring of colourful florets surrounding a centre of tiny, less showy flowers

Flower colour depends on soil:

• Pink on limey soil

• Blue on acid soil

Hydrangea colourant from garden centres can encourage blue flowers on limey soil.

H. paniculata

Easy to control in size through pruning. The harder they are pruned, the larger the flowerheads and the later they bloom, making it easier to fit them into your planting scheme. Cone-shaped flowerheads usually open white and mature to pink.

Popular varieties include:

• ‘Limelight’ with lime green spikes ageing to pink

• ‘Pinky-Winky’ whose white flowers quickly turn pink, creating bicoloured spikes

H. petiolaris

The well-known climbing hydrangea. Its stems cling to brick, stone or wooden fences without causing damage, attaching in a similar way to ivy. Huge white lacecap flowers appear in early summer. Mature plants are also valued by nesting birds.

‘Mirranda’ is a variegated form with cream-yellow leaf edges.

Hydrangea quercifolia

The oak-leaved hydrangea is grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. Large, oak-shaped leaves create impact throughout the season. In late summer, conical white flowerheads appear. In autumn, foliage turns golden. Try ‘Little Honey’ which offers:

• Neater, spreading growth

• Golden leaves in spring

• Vivid red foliage in autumn

H. serrata

A naturally compact Japanese hydrangea, well suited to smaller spaces. The prettily toothed leaves add to its appeal. Lacecap flowers are:

• Blue on acid soils

• Pink on limey soils

Autumn foliage colour adds further interest.

‘Bluebird’ is an outstanding choice for small gardens on acid soil.

Hydrangeas as climbers

The correct name for climbing hydrangea has returned to Hydrangea petiolaris. Alongside it is a close relative that looks very similar: Schizophragma hydrangeoides. This self-clinging climber produces lacecap flowerheads up to 25cm across. The variety ‘Moonlight’ has silvery foliage that turns yellow in autumn. A superb choice for covering walls and fences.

Hydrangeas as specimen plants

Many varieties of Hydrangea paniculata make excellent specimen plants in both small and large gardens. Size is easily managed through pruning:

• Light pruning produces smaller, bushier plants

• Hard pruning encourages larger growth and bigger flowerheads

RHS Award of Garden Merit winners include:

• ‘Phantom’ with large white heads turning coral pink

• ‘Pink Diamond’ with very large white florets ageing to pink

• ‘Silver Dollar’ with very upright growth

Top tips for success

• Choose varieties whose colours develop attractively from bud to maturity

• All hydrangeas are straightforward to prune

• Climbing types usually need little or no pruning until they fill their space

• H. paniculata varieties are excellent for cutting, so consider planting extra where a few stems can be taken

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