Hydrangea

Grows 6' to 10' tall and spreads 3' to 5'. Prefers sun or partial shade. Many recommend morning sun and afternoon shade. Hardy in Zones 5b - 9. Buds for next year's flowers form soon after the bloom period ends (except for Annabelle), so pruning should be done quickly after flowering.

Overview Central Florida Flowers Dave's Garden gardenguides.com hydrangea.com Images hydrangeashydrangeas.com An excellent resource. Sources for Hydrangeas New Hydrangeas for North and Central Florida: Bigleaf and Mountain Hydrangeas (UF)

Lacecap Hydrangea at the Hama Rikyu Teien Gardens in Tokyo.

• Big Leaf or French Hydrangea (hydrangea macrophylla). There are two basic types: Mopheads, which resemble pom-poms and are the most popular form of Hydrangea and Lacecaps, which are flatter and have a center of fertile flowers and edges of sterile flowers (see picture above).
  • botany.com
  • Clemson
  • Images
  • University of Florida " The coarse green foliage works well as a foundation plant or accent in a flower garden, or does well in containers for use on shaded patios and decks."
• Mountain Hydrangea, Lacecap Hydrangea, or Sawtooth Hydrangea (hydrangea serrata)
  • Dave's Garden
  • paghat.com
  • Royal Horticultural Society
  • University of Florida
• Oak Leaf Hydrangea (hydrangea quercifolia) Native to Florida
  • Images
  • paghat.com
  • University of Florida " The flowers, produced in midsummer in panicles, are at first white, then fade to pink and then tan."
• Peegee Hydrangeas (hydrangea paniculata)
  • hydrangeashydrangeas.com
• Annabelle (hydrangea arborescens)
  • hydrangeahydrangeas.com