This week I shall continue marching down the path of Hydrangeas, exploring even more outstanding cultivars for local gardeners. Like I said last week, for me personally it is super gratifying to shop the finest regional growers, acquiring worthy plants for our patrons to take home. There are far too many options out there for Hydrangeas (if that is even possible) and each and every year more worthy introductions become available. Breeders across the country are producing fabulous varieties with both striking foliage and sturdy flowers. As you consider which ones may work for your very own outdoor spaces, perhaps contemplate two additional species; PG (Hydrangea paniculata) and Smooth (Hydrangea arborescens) - both easy care shrubs for sunny garden locales.
Hydrangea paniculata: These are the PG (insider slang) or panicle-type Hydrangeas we see everywhere these days. They all bloom on new wood, making pruning each March super easy. PG types are perfect for full sun, or at least a half day of sun, and will produce copious amounts of blooms all summer through fall. Their flowers open up limey-white and then take on shades of pink to red as the summer progresses. These are NOT pH dependent and will NOT turn any other color. To me, PG's are super useful in sunny locations and the decision as to which one of the many flavors to choose comes down to size and how quickly you want the pink or red tones to arrive. For 2026, here are a couple worthy of contemplation…
‘Spring Sizzle’: Of all the new PG types for this year, this one from the First Editions Breeding Program at Bailey Nurseries is the winner. Flowers open early and are pure white, then they quickly transform to a Hawaiian Punch red. A perfect specimen plant maturing to about 6-feet tall and 5-feet wide. This one promises to sizzle, in a good way, in any sunny garden location.
‘Little Spooky’: We discovered this sweet little variety late last year and plan on having them around again for the fall planting season. This might be the smallest PG Hydrangea I have seen, maturing to only 3-feet or so, BUT it still sports massive cone-shaped blooms on thick and sturdy stems. And yes, it should still be flowering come Halloween for a truly spooky cut flower.
‘Skyfall’: Another 2025 discovery but fully worthy of mentioning again. These will be out for fall once again, displaying unusual flowers with star-shaped florets in large cones. Frankly, the flower reminds me of a gigantic, oversized Hyacinth flower! These mature in the 4 to 5-feet tall and wide range. As a bonus, James Bond lovers should secure this one for the movie title (and 007’s estate in the Scottish Highlands.)
‘Powerball’: A great option from Proven Winners, this one has rounded blossoms (think more like Hydrangea macrophylla) in a PG form! Huge blooms open lime-green, then age to white, and finally mature to a soft pink in later summer to fall. Plants stay fairly compact in the 4 to 6-feet tall and wide range. This one should be out for sale later this summer and fall. Perhaps it will give us luck in the lottery as well? Maybe, but only if we plant 3,876,436,232 of them to increase our odds. ☺
Hydrangea arborescens: These are also known as Smooth Hydrangeas, a super cold hardy and sun tolerant specie that should be used more in our area. Traditionally these produced huge white round flowers, but now there are shades of pink and lime around as well along with a variety of sizes, including large growers and some fabulous more modern dwarfs too. All bloom on new wood and can be pruned or sheared each March. They do not change color in our acidic soils and can make a wonderful sunny hedge or a striking individual landscape specimen.
‘FlowerFull’: This Smooth Hydrangea from the First Editions Program at Bailey Nursery came out in 2025, but I would love to remind you how useful it is. They take sun, produce a bazillion huge white flowers and are super cold hardy. Plants mature to about 4-feet tall and 5-feet wide over time. I am being serious when I say that I am not sure there is any Hydrangea that blooms more than this one… period, drop the mic.
‘Incrediball Storm Proof’: This beauty from the Proven Winners breeding program is an improvement on the OG ‘Incrediball’ variety. Thick stems hold up gigantic, rounded, white flowers that age to a limey-green. They are super easy to grow and prune. Shrubs stay compact in full sun, maturing at about 4-feet tall and wide.
Last week I dove into Hydrangea macrophylla and mentioned some new varieties to seek out. I purposely neglected one, perhaps the best new one, called ‘Centennial Ruby’. This variety was bred to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Monrovia Nursery - THE leading grower in the USA in my opinion. Every time these Hydrangeas come in, they are gone in a couple of days, and I was not sure if more could be secured. I am hearing now that yes, more will grace us in a couple weeks! This is one to find a home for in any garden for sure, sporting lovely ruby red flowers that age into a steely black color - completely unique. Deep green foliage and thick stems hold up these huge flowers from early summer until fall. One flower lasts for over 100 days for goodness sake, and then they bloom again on new wood! Great in pots or in the ground, this compact beauty will reach a tidy 3-feet tall and wide or so and grows best in partial sun to partial shade in our region.
There is one last Hydrangea selection I would like to highlight. Many people like something unique, a little different than the rest, and ‘Wow Time!' meets that criteria nicely. This is a one-of-a-kind Hydrangea, a unique cross of Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea paniculata. I am not sure how the mad plant scientists accomplished this, but the result is truly spectacular. Massive cloud-like flowers emerge all summer and fall with each individual floret shaped like a little star. They are also double, creating a big old mophead flower – one can hardly see the foliage when the flowers are out! In alkaline soils it is an interesting salmon pink color and in acidic locations it will turn shades of blue. These will thrive in partial to full sun, but be sure that they are well watered if in more sun, especially in the drier summer months. Specimens will mature at about 5-feet tall and wide and can easily be cut back a bit each March and then deadheaded as needed over summer and fall. I think if you saw this one in bloom you would be truly “Wowed” by this outstanding variety.
Let the summer filled with Hydrangeas commence forthwith! These summer bloomers are a must for any garden and their flowers are sure to make you smile. Explore some of these options and the many other notable varieties available locally. A visit to the garden center this time of year will offer a plethora of choices. Simply select the best one(s) for your location(s), plant them with some love, keep them watered and they will reward you with outstanding flower power all summer long for years to come.
