Hydrangea Bushes

With their spectacularly showy blooms, coming in a range of shapes and sizes, it’s no wonder that shrubby hydrangeas are so beloved amongst gardeners. Plant your hydrangea(s) in well-drained but moist, fertile soil, and position either in full sun or partial shade. As a rule of thumb, blue hydrangeas prefer acidic soil while pink hydrangeas grow in alkaline soils. Hardy and tolerant of a range of conditions, hydrangeas are perfect for coastal, woodland and cottage gardens, alike!

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Roots' Cotswolds Valley Nursery

Meet Alice

Putting shrubs in the starlight (and boy do they shine…)

From tending Shakespeare’s gardens to nurturing citrus plants in National Trust orangeries, Alice has a wealth of knowledge and experience working at some of the very finest spaces. With a team of dedicated growers on hand to help, Alice utilises our industry-leading nursery (and the lovely, fertile conditions of the Cotswolds) to grow shrubs that aren’t just good-looking, they’re good-growing too.

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Which hydrangea?

Which hydrangea?

The hydrangea you opt for, of course, depends on personal taste but we can certainly help you narrow it down a bit! For smaller spaces and patio gardens, opt for a container-viable cultivar, such as one from the ‘Little’ series, which grow to between just half a metre and three-quarters of a metre tall. For the showiest blooms, something like ‘Strong Annabelle’ is hard to look past, with snowball-like flowers each measuring up to 30cm across (this variety is also an excellent option for making a hydrangea hedge). For more conical blooms, pick a panicled hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). And while all hydrangeas tend to grow nicely in a little shade, one of the most shade-tolerant species is Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea).

Hydrangea planting schemes

Hydrangea planting schemes

Shrubby hydrangeas are perfect for a range of planting schemes, most notably coastal, woodland and cottage gardens. Their hardiness and salt tolerance makes them a good choice for sunny, seaside growing, while their ability to grow in dappled or partial shade means they work equally well in woodland-style gardens alongside plants like hostas and heucheras. Cottage gardens can really benefit from the addition of a hydrangea or two, and look wonderful paired with peonies and roses. Plus, they make for excellent cut flowers!

Caring for hydrangeas

Caring for hydrangeas

Hydrangeas benefit from planting in moist but well-drained soil, preferably with decent levels of fertility. If your soil has poor drainage, amending it with some rotted organic matter. The same tactic applies if your soil is too sandy and retains no moisture; the addition of some compost, for instance, can help keep a bit more moisture in. Hydrangeas grow nicely in both sun and partial shade, with panicled hydrangeas generally considered to be the most sun-tolerant, and bigleaf hydrangeas the most shade-tolerant. Mulch after planting and occasionally thereafter to help suppress weeds and lock in moisture.

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