Hydrangea L.

Hydrangea

Some hydrangea comparisons

	Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’	Hydrangea arborescens ‘Dardom’	Hydrangea macrophylla
Common Name	hydrangea	smooth hydrangea	blue hydrangea
Plant	Shrubs that reach 3–5′ (91–152 cm) in height.	Shrubs are 3–5′ (91–152 cm) high.
Leaves	Dark green, wrinkled, 8–12″ (20–30 cm) across.	Elliptical, serrated, 3–8″ (7.6–20 cm) long, and dark green.
Flowers	Large white flowerheads up to 8–12″ (20–30 cm) across.	Dome-shaped corymbs 6–10″ (15–25 cm) around contain both sterile and mostly fertile flowers.
Fruit		Dehiscent ribbed brown seed capsules 1/16″ (2 mm) long.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-9	USDA Zones: 4-9	USDA Zones: 6-9
Habitats		Wooded slopes, bases of hills, shaded banks, ravines

	Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’	Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’	Hydrangea quercifolia
Common Name	peegee hydrangea	panicled hydrangea	oak leaved hydrangea
Plant	These shrubs reach heights of 15–25′ (4.6–7.6 m), and somewhat less in diameter, often taking the form of a small tree.	These small trees reach heights of 10–30′ (3–9.1 m).	Oakleaf hydrangea favors calcium-bearing soils and grows in open hardwood forests. Shrubs are up to 8′ (2.4 m) tall, and about the same around. Bark is cinnamon-colored and felt-like, peeling when older.
Leaves	Opposite, roughly oval shaped, with serrated edges, 2–5″ (5–12 cm) long.	Leaves are opposite, roughly oval shaped, with serrated edges, 2–5″ (5–12 cm) long.	Dark green, opposite, lobed like oak leaves, longer than they are wide, up to 1′ (30 cm) long. In the fall, the leaves are attractively colored, including a deep red-violet.
Flowers	White or pink, more cone-shaped than ball-shaped, in clusters up to 10″ (25 cm) long and 8″ (20 cm) around. They bloom from July to September.	Blooms are white or pink, cone-shaped, in clusters up to 10″ (25 cm) long and 8″ (20 cm) around. They bloom from July to September.	Large (up to 1′ (30 cm)) flower clusters contain many cream-colored, white or pinkish flowers. Individual flowers are about 1″ (2.5 cm) around.
Fruit	Dehiscent, cuplike capsules.	Dehiscent, cuplike capsules.	Small brown dehiscent capsules.
Range/ Zones	USDA Zones: 3-8	USDA Zones: 3-8	USDA Zones: 5-9
Habitats			Hardwood forest understories, in calcium-bearing soil.

Hydrangea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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