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How can you tell the difference between hydrangeas?

Author

Emma Newman

Published Mar 13, 2026

How can you tell the difference between hydrangeas?

An established bigleaf or mountain hydrangea will be pink if the soil is alkaline and blue if the soil is acidic. If a hydrangea has several color blooms like the one in the next photo, it may be transitioning to the current pH level or different parts of the garden soil may have different levels.

Likewise, how do I tell what kind of hydrangea I have?

If the flower buds open a green color, then turn white, and as they age turn green or greenish brown, you have an arborescens type. If the flowers open white and stay white until they get old, then you probably have a macrophylla type. White flowering macrophylla types are less common, but they do exist.

Subsequently, question is, what is the difference between lacecap and mophead hydrangea? Lacecap hydrangeas are almost identical to mophead hydrangeas with the only difference existing in their flowers. They have tiny fertile flower buds in the center, with showy flowers that circle the edge of the flower head.

Keeping this in consideration, which hydrangeas bloom on old and new wood?

Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood include the mophead, bigleaf (macrophylla), lacecap and oakleaf varieties. In terms of pruning, these beautiful shrubs require very little. But if you must, knowing when and what to cut is key. That's because the more old wood you take, the fewer flowers you'll have next summer.

How do I know if I have Endless Summer hydrangeas?

Endless Summer Hydrangeas at a Glance

  1. Bloom on both old and new wood.
  2. Flowers can be pink or blue.
  3. Cold hardy.
  4. Long blooming period from summer to fall.
  5. Can be grown in a container.
  6. Prefer partial shade in warmer climates.

Should I cut off dead hydrangea blooms?

You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth. However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place.

Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?

Hydrangeas like morning sun, but do not do well if they're in direct, hot afternoon sun. Partial shade in the later parts of the day is ideal for these beauties.

Is my hydrangea old or new wood?

“Old wood†means that buds are formed for next year's bloom at the end of the current growing season on stems produced during the previous summer. Typically pruned after flowering or early fall to encourage new flower buds on old stems. “New wood†means stems that have emerged during the current growing season.

What happens if you don't prune hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood do not need pruning and are better off for it. If you leave them alone, they'll bloom more profusely the next season. Just remember new growth may come, but that new growth will be without blooms next season.

Why didn't my hydrangeas flower this year?

The primary reasons hydrangeas don't bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer. Hydrangea varieties can be of the type that blooms on old wood, new wood or both. Old wood is the current year's growth and new wood is next year's (spring) growth.

How far do you cut back hydrangeas in the fall?

Some hydrangeas' branches often fall over under the weight of their blooms, especially after overhead irrigation or after a good rain. One way to alleviate this flopping is to cut the stems to a height of 18 to 24 inches to provide a sturdy framework to support new growth.

What side of the house do you plant hydrangeas?

No matter what part of the country you live in, the north-facing side of your home is largely without sunlight. Hydrangeas also thrive in wooded areas, so they do well when planted near small evergreens or woody shrubs.

Will hydrangeas grow back if cut down?

They are best pruned in fall or winter. Even if you cut canes back to ground level during dormancy, the shrubs will grow back and produce blooms in spring.

Should you cut back hydrangea bushes in the fall?

But when to prune them? Prune fall blooming hydrangeas, or old wood bloomers, after they bloom in the summer. Summer blooming hydrangeas, or those that bloom on new wood, are pruned in the fall, after they stop blooming. Hydrangeas are colorful and vibrant in the early season, but are hard to preserve after being cut.

How do I get my hydrangeas to bloom more?

How to Get More Smooth Hydrangea Flowers:
  1. Plant smooth hydrangeas in full sun if the soil stays moist.
  2. Water them during times of drought, especially during the heat of summer.
  3. Amend the soil with organic matter (such as compost).
  4. Prune stems back in early spring, just before new growth emerges.

Do hydrangeas bloom on old or new growth?

Old Wood Versus New Wood

Some hydrangea species bloom on last-year's growth, which is often called “old wood.†This old wood contains the flower buds that will open with the coming summer. Pruning in winter or spring would remove the flower buds, leaving us with a bloomless plant this year.

Do panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood?

Panicle Hydrangeas, regardless of variety, can all be pruned at the same time because they will bloom on new wood. You can prune in the Fall, Winter, or Spring to get blooms for the following Summer.

Is Miracle Grow good for hydrangeas?

All-purpose Miracle-Gro fertilizer is well suited for hydrangeas. Mix the Miracle-Gro fertilizer with water according to package instructions for the size of your hydrangea shrubs. Apply the Miracle-Gro fertilizer every other time you water, about every two to three weeks.

What does a mophead hydrangea look like?

Mophead hydrangeas offer big, dome-shaped clusters of flowers in blue, pink, or white. Most mopheads bloom in late spring or early summer but make their flower buds the year before you see them. As you care for this type of hydrangea, know that it is best to prune them in early summer, right after the flowers fade.

What is a blue hydrangea?

Give your garden a splash of cooling blue by growing blue hydrangeas. Blue flower tones appear in the French or bigleaf hydrangea. When plant roots absorb aluminum, petal colors take on blue tones. If your soil is naturally acidic, your hydrangea blooms will tend toward blue and purple shades.

Which hydrangeas are fragrant?

The PeeGee hydrangea (an acronym for Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora') has a particularly sweet scent. This variety grows up to 20 feet tall and can be trained as a small tree. Another fragrant hydrangea is climbing hydrangea, Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris.

How far apart should I plant hydrangeas?

Some hydrangeas bloom up to six-feet-wide. Be sure to check the plant's tag to see what its mature size will be before planting it. When planting hydrangea, "you want to ensure there is space for air flow," McEnaney explains. To do so, plant hydrangeas at least two feet apart.

What is a Phantom hydrangea?

Phantom Panicle Hydrangea

'Phantom' is a medium sized shrub 6 ft.high and 6 ft.wide with a branching habit. The flowerheads are huge, measuring up to 15 inches with a mixture of showy but sterile flowers and smaller, fertile ones. The color of the flowers is not affected by the pH of the soil.

Should I deadhead my lacecap hydrangea?

Right after the plant finishes flowering, snip off the longer flowering shoots to a lower bud. This “deadheading†helps your plant remain in flower all summer long. Remove up to one-third of each stem, making the cut at a bud. Lacecap hydrangea information tells you that these shrubs tolerate severe pruning.

What is the most common hydrangea?

The most common type of hydrangea is a Bigleaf, or French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). These are categorized in mophead (big puffy balls), lacecap (similar to mophead but with tiny buds in the center) and mountain (similar to lacecap, but extremely cold hardy with smaller blooms).

Will hydrangeas bloom in full shade?

These shrubs grow best in partial or full shade, with a little direct morning sun and a lot of indirect light, such as the filtered light found under a high-canopied leafy tree. Many varieties of hydrangea love this type of location.

Why don t My Endless Summer hydrangeas bloom?

There are a few main reasons that you may not see blooms on your hydrangea bushes: sun exposure, over-watering and over-fertilizing. Endless Summer® hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon dappled shade. Also, over-watering and over-fertilizing your plants can inhibit bloom production.

Do any hydrangeas like full sun?

Most hydrangeas prefer only morning sun. Yet one type of hydrangea can soak up the sun all day: the panicle hydrangea. While they can stand the sun, these do just fine in partial shade, too. Plus, panicle hydrangeas are the hardiest hydrangeas.

Do summer crush hydrangeas rebloom?

From deep red-pink to pretty purple-blue depending on your soil pH you can't go wrong with the Summer Crush hydrangea bush for stunning hues. Reblooming flowers. Enjoy a long bloom season from late spring through summer.

How big do Twist and Shout hydrangeas get?

Hydrangea Twist n Shout has glossy pointy leaves that turn an outstanding burgundy in the fall. It will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require shorter plants in front.

Which hydrangeas do best in full sun?

While several species of hydrangeas thrive in shade, panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) are the best for growing in full sun. These summer-blooming shrubs produce large clusters of white flowers for several weeks. The showy blooms fade to shades of pink or red before drying to beige.

How big do summer crush hydrangeas get?

The Summer Crush is more cold hardy than traditional macrophylla hydrangeas. At a mature size between 18-36″ H x 18-36″ W, there's no doubt you can find a spot for at least one of these beauties somewhere in your landscape!