HYDRANGEAS

No shrub puts on a summer show quite like Kansas City's favorite flowering shrub, the hydrangea. From the giant white blooms of a classic Annabelle to the sun-loving panicles of a Limelight, hydrangeas are one of the most versatile and most loved plants we carry. Whether you're working with full sun, deep shade, or something in between, there's a hydrangea for your yard. Our Nursery team would love to help you find it.

SUN-TOLERANT HYDRANGEAS

Panicle Hydrangeas – Hydrangea paniculata

Meet the panicle hydrangea – the toughest, most sun-tolerant hydrangea you can grow. These beauties thrive with six or more hours of direct sun, bloom reliably every year, and put on one of the longest color shows in the garden. Blooms open white or chartreuse in early summer, then deepen to shades of pink and dusty rose as the season goes on, often holding their color well into fall. Panicle hydrangeas bloom on new wood, which means they can be pruned back hard in late fall or early spring without any risk to flowering.

SUN-TOLERANT HYDRANGEA VARIETIES AT FAMILY TREE NURSERY

Varieties and availability vary by season and location.

Limelight Prime®

Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPPH'
6'H × 5'W

An improved Limelight with denser, more upright flower heads and an earlier bloom time that extends the overall display season. Blooms open soft lime green, then develop vivid pink and deep rose tones as the season progresses – one of the longest-blooming hydrangeas you can grow.

Little Lime®

Hydrangea paniculata 'Jane'
4'H × 4'W

A compact form of Limelight with the same large, conical flower heads in chartreuse and creamy white, maturing to soft pink through fall. Well suited to smaller beds, borders, and foundation plantings where a full-sized panicle hydrangea would overwhelm.

Quick Fire Fab®

Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPM'
8'H × 6'W

Blooms a full month ahead of most panicle hydrangeas, opening in early summer and aging through pink to a rich rose-red by fall – one of the longest bloom seasons available in a hydrangea. Large, cone-shaped flower heads on a well-branched, upright plant. Excellent for cut and dried arrangements.

Tiny Quick Fire®

Hydrangea paniculata 'SMHPLQF'
30"H × 30"W

The most compact version of the Quick Fire family, with the same early bloom time and the same white-to-pink color progression in a plant that tops out around two and a half feet tall and wide. Large conical flower heads open white in late spring and age to an attractive rose-pink lasting well into fall. Exceptionally versatile.

Bobo®

Hydrangea paniculata 'ILVOBO'
3'H × 4'W

A compact, mounded panicle hydrangea with an exceptionally long bloom season from midsummer through early fall. White flowers antique beautifully as they age. Its low, full habit fills out right to the ground without requiring additional plants in front. It's an easy-care choice for beds, borders, and mass plantings.

Little Hottie®

Hydrangea paniculata 'BAILPANONE'
4'H × 4'W

A compact panicle hydrangea selected for its great branching and sturdy, upright stems. Tight clusters of blooms open creamy white from distinctive light green buds, taking on pink hues by fall. Its combination of large blooms and smaller stature makes it well suited to foundation plantings, smaller beds, and containers.

Pinky Winky Prime®

Hydrangea paniculata 'ILVOHPPRM'
10'H × 10'W

An improved version of Pinky Winky with larger, fuller flower heads and deeper hot pink color. Blooms open white in mid to late summer, then transform to a rich pink – a two-toned effect that deepens as the season progresses. A bold specimen plant for larger borders and landscape backdrops.

Fire Light®

Hydrangea paniculata 'SMHPFL'
6'H × 6'W

A larger, reliably-hardy panicle hydrangea with enormous white and pink blooms from midsummer through fall. Adaptable to most well-drained soils and well suited to borders, screens, and mass plantings. The flowers age through shades of pink to a warm rose-red, providing color well into the season.

Fire Light Tidbit®

Hydrangea paniculata 'SMNHPK'
3'H × 3'W

A compact version of Fire Light with the same large white blooms that blush to pink as the season progresses on a mounded, smaller plant. Well suited to containers, border edges, and spots where a full-sized Fire Light would be too large. Blooms from midsummer through fall and adapts well to most soils as long as they are well drained.

CLASSIC HYDRANGEAS

For Shade – Annabelle, Lacecap & Mountain-type Hydrangeas

These are the hydrangeas Kansas City gardeners have grown for generations. Classic-style hydrangeas thrive in the shaded spots where so many other plants struggle, and they deliver some of the most beautiful, timeless blooms in the garden. If you've got morning sun and afternoon shade, or a north- or east-facing bed, these hydrangeas are for you.

Close-up of Invincibelle Wee White hydrangea flowers with a blurred green background

ANNABELLE-TYPE HYDRANGEAS

Hydrangea arborescens

The quintessential shade garden hydrangea – that enormous, perfectly round white bloom you've admired in yards all over Kansas City. Reliable, unfussy plants that bloom on new wood, meaning they can be cut back hard in late fall or early spring without sacrificing any flowers.

From the tried-and-true Annabelle to newer varieties like Incrediball®, Flowerfull®, and Invincibelle Wee White®, there's an option for every space – whether you need a classic backdrop shrub, stems that hold up through summer rain, or a compact variety for a front border or container.

LACECAP HYDRANGEAS

Including Mountain Hydrangeas – Hydrangea serrata

Lacecap-style hydrangeas are for the gardener looking for subtle elegance. These blooms feature a flat, delicate flower head with a ring of larger florets surrounding a cluster of tiny buds at the center. The look is more refined and naturalistic than a mophead, and it's just as stunning in a shaded border or woodland garden setting.

Mountain hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) are closely related to bigleaf hydrangeas, smaller in stature, and often lacecap in form. A lovely, slightly more compact option for gardeners who love the lacecap style. Ask our team which lacecap and mountain varieties are in stock this season.

COLORFUL HYDRANGEAS

Bigleaf Hydrangeas – Hydrangea macrophylla

This is the hydrangea that stops traffic. Big, bold mophead blooms in shades of pink, blue, purple, and lavender. And yes, some varieties can actually change color depending on your soil. Bigleaf hydrangeas are shade lovers that do best with morning sun and afternoon protection. Most varieties bloom on old wood, meaning the flower buds are set in late summer on the previous season's growth.

OUR MOST POPULAR PINK & BLUE HYDRANGEA VARIETIES

Varieties and availability vary by season and location.

Bloomstruck®

Hydrangea macrophylla 'PIIHM-II'
4'H × 5'W

Part of the Endless Summer® series. Large, violet-blue or rose-pink mophead blooms depending on soil pH, carried on distinctive ruby-red stems that add three-season interest. Deep green foliage turns burgundy in fall. Blooms on both old and new wood, offering more opportunities for color throughout the season than traditional bigleaf varieties.

Summer Crush®

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmacfive'
3'H × 3'W

Part of the Endless Summer® series. One of the largest, most saturated colors available in bigleaf hydrangeas – intensely raspberry-red. A compact, rounded habit makes it well suited to containers and front borders. Blooms on both old and new wood. Prefers morning sun with afternoon shade and a consistently moist, well-drained soil.

Nantucket Blue

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Grenan'
6'H × 6'W

One of the most sought-after bigleaf hydrangeas for its large, lavender-blue mophead blooms that appear from midsummer to early fall. Requires acidic soil to maintain its blue color; bloom color will shift toward pink in less acidic conditions. Blooms on old wood. Best in morning sun with afternoon shade.

Eclipse®

Hydrangea macrophylla 'BAILMACSEVEN'
3'H × 3'W

A standout bigleaf hydrangea that leads with its foliage as much as its flowers. Deep amethyst or cranberry mophead blooms are carried above rich, near-black leaves that hold their dark color throughout the season. An outstanding accent plant or container specimen. Blooms on old wood.

Tuff Stuff™

Hydrangea serrata 'MAK20'
3'H × 3'W

A mountain hydrangea with showy lacecap-style blooms in pink to white with creamy centers, turning more blue in acidic soil. Deep green foliage turns an outstanding burgundy in fall. Re-blooms on both old and new wood – a forgiving choice for gardeners still learning hydrangea pruning. Prefers morning sun and afternoon shade with consistent moisture.

Tiny Tuff Stuff™

Hydrangea serrata 'MAKD'
2'H × 2'W

The most compact member of the Tuff Stuff family, with the same showy lacecap blooms in pink to white with creamy centers, turning more blue in acidic soil. Reblooms on both old and new wood. Deep green foliage turns rich burgundy in fall. An excellent choice for containers, border edging, and spaces where even a standard Tuff Stuff would be too large.

ENDLESS SUMMER SERIES

The Endless Summer series changed the way gardeners think about bigleaf hydrangeas. Traditional bigleaf varieties bloom once on old wood – a late frost or a poorly-timed pruning meant you lost your blooms for the season. Endless Summer varieties bloom on both old and new wood, meaning they rebloom throughout the summer and into fall, and they're far more forgiving if something goes wrong in their first flush.

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR HYDRANGEA'S COLOR?

For some bigleaf varieties (hydrangea macrophylla), bloom color is directly tied to soil pH. Add aluminum sulfate to lower your soil's pH and shift blooms toward blue. Add lime to raise the pH and push blooms toward pink. Most white-blooming varieties won't change color regardless of pH – and not every bigleaf variety is color-responsive, so ask our team before you start amending.

OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS

Hydrangea quercifolia

Oakleaf hydrangeas earn their spot in the garden four times over: long white blooms in summer, dramatic crimson and burgundy foliage in fall, rich cinnamon-colored exfoliating bark through winter, and bold architectural oak-shaped leaves in spring. They are adaptable to full-sun and handle dry shade better than almost any other hydrangea type and are among the most drought-tolerant once established. Bloom on old wood. Deadhead late summer after flowering.

TOP OAKLEAF HYDRANGEAS FOR ZONE 6

Varieties and availability vary by season and location.

Alice

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Alice'
10'H × 10'W

A large, bold oakleaf hydrangea with enormous, fragrant white flower spikes that fade to pink from early to midsummer. Dark green foliage emerges grayish green in spring and turns an outstanding burgundy in fall. Peeling red-hued bark provides winter interest well after the blooms are gone. Best used as a specimen or in mass plantings where its size can be appreciated.

Snow Queen

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen'
6'H × 5'W

A phenomenally attractive oakleaf hydrangea with upright, fragrant white flower spikes that fade to pink from early to midsummer. Dark green foliage turns a striking brick red in fall, and the peeling cinnamon bark extends interest through winter. A reliable, low-maintenance choice for shaded borders and woodland garden settings.

Jetstream™

Hydrangea quercifolia 'PIIHQ-I'
6'H × 5'W

A dense oakleaf hydrangea with fragrant white flower spikes that mature to soft pink from late spring through midsummer. Bold, lobed foliage turns brick red in fall and the peeling bark adds winter interest. A well-behaved, upright plant suited to borders, accent groupings, and shaded spots that benefit from year-round ornamental interest.

Ruby Slippers

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Ruby Slippers'
4'H × 5'W

A compact oakleaf hydrangea with one of the most dramatic bloom progressions in the category. Flowers emerge white and quickly deepen to a rich, vivid pink from early to midsummer. Dark green, highly ornamental foliage turns outstanding burgundy in fall and the peeling bark providing winter structure. Well suited to smaller gardens.

Munchkin

Hydrangea quercifolia 'Munchkin'
3'H × 4'W

A compact oakleaf hydrangea with fragrant white flower spikes that mature to pink from late spring through midsummer. Large lobed leaves emerge grayish green in spring and turn an outstanding brick red in fall. The peeling bark and winter structure make it a four-season contributor to the landscape. A low-maintenance choice for shaded beds and borders.

CLIMBING HYDRANGEAS

Hydrangea anomala petiolaris

A hydrangea with a completely different mission. This vine clings to walls, fences, trellises, or any upright structure using aerial roots – no extra support needed – and can reach up to 30 feet over time. Lacecap-style white fragrant blooms appear in early summer against rich glossy green or variegated foliage. Slow to establish in year one or two, but rewards patience with decades of stunning low-maintenance coverage.

CARING FOR YOUR HYDRANGEAS

How do I plant hydrangeas?

Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball and roughly the same depth. Mix equal parts compost into the existing soil to improve drainage and break up Kansas City's heavy clay.

Place the plant so the top of the root ball sits at or slightly above ground level, backfill with your compost and existing soil mix, then lay mulch 2–3 inches deep in a wide ring around the plant, keeping mulch pulled back a few inches from the base of the stem to prevent rot.

Water your newly planted hydrangea with a slow trickle from your garden hose until the soil is thoroughly saturated (about 20-30 minutes). Do not water again until the top 2 inches of soil have dried out.

How do I water hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas are heavy drinkers, but they don't like wet feet. Before planting, work generous amounts of compost into your beds to break up Kansas City's heavy clay and improve drainage.

As a general rule, landscape plants need about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season and 1 inch per month during dormancy. But plants don't have calendars. So check your hydrangeas every few days – more frequently during hot or dry spells. Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry.

When it's time to water, set a hose at the base of the plant and let it trickle slowly. Don't rely on your sprinkler system, which waters the foliage rather than the roots. Your goal is to saturate the soil 8–10 inches deep, where the roots actually live.

When do I prune my hydrangeas?

Pruning is where most hydrangea problems start. It comes down to one question: does your variety bloom on old wood or new wood?

Old wood bloomers set flower buds in late summer on the previous season's stems. Prune immediately after flowering – never in fall, winter, or early spring. Includes most bigleaf hydrangeas, lacecaps, oakleaf, and climbing hydrangeas.

New wood bloomers set buds on the current season's growth and can be cut back hard in late fall or early spring without any risk to flowering. Includes panicle hydrangeas and Annabelle types.

Not sure what you have? Bring in a photo or sample of its blooms to any of our three locations and we'll help you identify it.

When do I prune my reblooming hydrangeas?

Reblooming varieties like Bloomstruck® and Summer Crush® from the Endless Summer® series bloom on both old and new wood, giving you more flexibility around pruning. A light cleanup trim right after the first flush of blooms encourages the best rebloom. Avoid heavy pruning in fall, which can reduce the number of overwintered buds available for early season flowering.

Not sure if your hydrangea is a reblooming variety? Bring in a photo or sample of its blooms to any of our three locations and we'll help you identify it.

How often do I fertilize my hydrangeas?

If you want big, healthy blooms, fertilizing is non-negotiable. Hydrangeas are heavy feeders and consistent nutrition makes a visible difference in bloom size, color, and overall plant vigor. We recommend using Family Tree Nursery General Purpose 15-7-15 Controlled Release Plant Food, available at all three of our locations. Apply once every 4 weeks during the growing season, scratching lightly into the soil surface around the base of the plant and watering thoroughly after application. The balanced 15-7-15 NPK formula supports strong root development, healthy foliage, and the abundant blooms you're after.

How do I change the color of my hydrangeas?

For some bigleaf varieties (hydrangea macrophylla), bloom color is directly tied to soil pH. Add aluminum sulfate to lower your soil's pH and shift blooms toward blue. Add lime to raise the pH and push blooms toward pink. Most white-blooming varieties won't change color regardless of pH and not every bigleaf variety is color-responsive, so ask our team before you start amending.

Why are my hydrangeas wilting?

Wilting in hydrangeas is common, but the cause matters. There are three main culprits:

Heat wilt happens on hot afternoons when the plant is losing moisture faster than it can absorb it. The leaves droop but the soil is still moist. No action needed. Check back the following morning and your hydrangea will likely have recovered on its own.

Dry wilt looks similar, but the soil is dry 2 inches down. Water slowly and deeply at the base until the soil is saturated 8–10 inches down. Avoid the temptation to drench it quickly – a slow trickle absorbs better than a fast pour.

Overwatering wilt is the one most people miss. If your plant is wilting but the soil is consistently wet, the roots may be suffocating or rotting. Let the soil dry out before watering again, and check that your bed has adequate drainage. In Kansas City's heavy clay, this is more common than you'd think.

Not sure which one you're dealing with? Bring photos or a sample of the affected foliage into any of our three locations and our team can help you diagnose it.

FIND HYDRANGEAS AT FAMILY TREE NURSERY

We carry a carefully selected range of hydrangeas across all three of our Kansas City-area locations. Availability varies by season. Stop by and our team will walk you through what's in stock and help you find the right fit for your space, light, and goals.