With their big beautiful, colorful flower heads, hydrangeas are one of the most popular summer-flowering shrubs in the garden. The create interest spring thru fall and pair nicely with perennials and evergreens.

There are hundreds of varieties of hydrangeas, but some are better suited to Michigan’s climate then others.

Here’s a list of the hardiest hydrangeas that handle Michigan winters and bloom reliably every year without special care or pruning

Arborescence or smooth hydrangeas:  Flower blooms are only white or pink. Their flower color can’t be changed.

• Annabelle – white flowers
• Incrediball – white flowers
• Incrediball Blush – blush pink flowers
• Invincibelle Garnetta – New 2021– pink flowers
• Invincibelle Limetta – white flowers
• Invincibelle Mini Mauvette – Dwarf – pink flowers
• Invincibelle Ruby – pink flowers
• Invincibelle Spirit II – pink flowers
• Invincibelle Wee White – Dwarf – white flowers

Anomola or climbing hydrangea: white lacecap flowers

• Petiolaris – white lacecap flowers appear only after several years on being established in the ground, requires some type of support to grow up on, like a tree, trellis, wall or arbor

Paniculata or Summer Hydrangea: These all bloom white and age to varying shades of pink. Their flower color can’t be changed.

• Bobo – white flowers fade to pale pink
• Fire Light – white flowers fade to red/pink
• Fire Light Tidbit – Dwarf – New 2021– white flowers fade to red/pink
• Fire & Ice – white flowers fade to red/pink
• Limelight – white flowers fade to pale pink
• Limelight Prime – Dwarf – New 2021– white flowers fade pink
• Little Lime – Dwarf – white flowers fade to pale pink
• Little Quick Fire – Dwarf – white flowers fade to red/pink
• Pinky Winky – white flowers fade to bright pink
• Phantom – white flowers fade to soft pink
• Quick Fire – white flowers fade to red/pink
• Quick Fire Fab – Dwarf – New 2021– white flowers fade to bright pink
• Strawberry Sundae – white flowers fade to soft pink
• Vanilla Strawberry – white flowers fade to Strawberry pink
• Zinfin Doll – white flowers fade to bright pink

Quercifolia or Oakleaf Hydrangea: These all bloom white and age to varying shades of pink. Their flower color can’t be changed. Their unusually shaped leaves have spectacular fall color, changing from green to burgundy or purple.

• Alice – white flowers fade to soft pink
• Gatsby Pink – white flowers fade to bright pink
• Munchkin – Dwarf– white flowers fade to dull pink
• Pee Wee – Dwarf – white flowers fade to dull pink
• Ruby Slippers – white flowers fade to red/pink
• Snowcicle – -double-flowered – white flowers fade to dull pink
• Snow Queen – white flowers fade to soft pink

Visit any English Gardens location to view our selection.

Watch our video to learn more.