Are all hydrangeas hardy? 13 winter hardy varieties

table of contents

Are all hydrangeas hardy?
Hibernate hydrangea properly
Wintering of container plants
Winter hardy hydrangea varieties
Farm hydrangea (H. macrophylla)
Panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata)
Snowball hydrangea (H. arborescens)
Velvet Hydrangea (H. sargentiana)
Climbing hydrangea (H. petiolaris)
Hydrangea (H. serrata)

The garden classic has been cultivated for centuries. With their impressive flowers and eye-catching leaf color in autumn, the romantic garden beauties set special accents in every garden. With proper care, hydrangeas grow into splendid semi-shrubs. They are suitable for cultivation in the bed, but also as a container plant on the balcony and terrace. The garden perennials are considered to be very robust. Often, however, the question arises: Are hydrangeas also winter hardy? Below are some remarks on this.

Are all hydrangeas hardy?

More or less all cultivated hydrangeas are hardy. However, it is always advisable to provide the plants with light winter protection during prolonged periods of frost. Hydrangeas are subshrubs. The fresh shoots only lignify at their base. These can freeze back in very cold winters. Sometimes just a few nights with temperatures below - 20 ° C are enough. They can also do cold east winds

Flowers destroy quickly for the following year. However, it is not a problem if hydrangeas freeze back heavily above ground, because they keep sprouting from below. They form new shoot buds in the same year. Frozen and dead flower stems can be cut back in early spring when frosts are no longer to be expected.

Hydrangea varieties require special winter protection in particularly cold regions of the country, for example in the low mountain ranges or in eastern Germany.

Hibernate hydrangea properly

It always makes sense to also provide hardy shrubs such as hydrangeas with light winter protection. It should be noted

no fertilization more from late summer
Shoots must mature by winter
Cut out dried up and too long shoots
thereby avoidance of snow breakage
otherwise no further cutback
pour properly
Avoid waterlogging
root damage makes plants more susceptible to frost damage

If the temperatures then permanently drop below zero, winter protection should be used:

Spread bark mulch or leaves around plants
Layer height 10 cm
In addition, pile up the root neck with garden soil or compost
Height about 10 to 20 cm
Protection of the shoots with a special fleece or linen sack
then fix with rope
alternatively use of a wire mesh
cover this with sticks

When applying winter protection, it must be ensured that the plants can always breathe. Newly planted hydrangea varieties that have not yet spent winter outdoors are generally given winter protection. Farmhouse and plate hydrangeas are usually extremely hardy plants if they are located in partial shade and the soil is very humus-rich. In this case, winter protection is not absolutely necessary. Are relatively winterproof

Farm hydrangeas
Climbing hydrangeas
Panicle hydrangeas
Quick ball hydrangeas
Velvet hydrangeas

tip: Foil and other airtight materials are not to be used. Condensation forms underneath and the shoots begin to rot.

In general, shade-loving hydrangeas survive strong frosts relatively well. Hydrangeas, on the other hand, do not tolerate the sun as frost-resistant. Wintering in the house would be appropriate here. They are also very suitable as container plants.

Wintering of container plants

These plants are also grown in large pots. However, they then require a bit more maintenance and need good winter protection, especially if it rains frequently in winter and the temperatures are in the minus range for a long time. When cultivating in a bucket, it is essential to ensure that the pot is large enough. Its diameter should never be less than 30 to 40 cm. Then it is also possible to spend the winter outdoors with appropriate winter protection. Otherwise the hydrangea has to be brought into the house.

A cold house or an unheated greenhouse would be ideal
Shades against the winter sun are necessary
hibernate in the basement if necessary
optimal temperature 3 to 5 ° C

The metabolic cycle is shut down due to the cold and the lack of daylight. The plants are in a kind of "hibernation", which promotes bud formation. However, scale insects are also in high season.
However, there are a few additional measures that need to be taken when overwintering outdoors:

Cover the surface of the bucket with a layer of leaves
Wrap the bucket with several layers of bubble wrap
then coconut mats or fleece over it
Overhang 10 cm over the edge of the pot
Place the bucket on a styrofoam board, insulation board or thick wooden board
Look for a shady place protected from wind and rain
ideally in front of a house wall

tip: Even in winter, a hardy hydrangea needs watering, but moderately. The best time is in the morning. Avoid waterlogging.

Winter hardy hydrangea varieties

The genus of the hydrangea has a variety of species. They have their origins in North America and Asia. They are deciduous subshrubs with a more or less conspicuous autumn foliage. They eventually shed their leaves in winter. As a rule, the plants are all hardy. There are also particularly winter-hardy hydrangea varieties.

Farm hydrangea (H. macrophylla)

It is originally from Japan. The pseudo-flowers are sterile and do not serve to reproduce seeds. The imposing inflorescences are spherical or flat like a plate. The color varies between white, pink and red. The flowers are already planted in the previous year, in autumn. The growth height is 100 to 150 cm and the growth width 100 to 130 cm. Depending on the variety, the flowers appear from June / July to September. With aluminum fertilization, pink and red flowers can change their color to blue or purple

Endless summer

ball-shaped inflorescences
very willing to flower and remounting
fresh flowers until the first frost
Blue and pink colors
Flowering from May to October
blooms on old and new wood
Shape cutting possible
dense, compact growth
Growth height 100 to 150 cm
Spread 80 to 100
Sun to partial shade
winterproof
good container plant

Kanmara

ball-shaped, large inflorescences
Colors: delicate watercolor tones, pink, rose, rose, champagne, white, lilac
Flowering June to September
deep dark green foliage
very compact growth
Growth height 100 to 150 cm
good container plant
hardy

Forever & ever

smaller ball-shaped flowers
but many inflorescences
remounting variety
Colors: blue, pink, red, white
Flowering period June to September
large, dark green leaves
quite bushy, compact growth
Height 70 to 90 cm
winter hardy variety
Use as a cut flower

Panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata)

As the name suggests, the inflorescences are panicle-shaped and lilac-like. They appear on annual wood. The color varies between white and cream. It changes to pink or red as it blooms. The flowers give off a delicate fragrance. Depending on the variety, they can reach a height of up to 300 cm. The breadth growth is similar. this hydrangea therefore needs sufficient space. She is quite fast growing. A pruning can be done in autumn or spring before budding. A strong topiary can encourage compact and highly branched growth

Grandiflora

most common variety
quite large, conical panicles
reach length up to 30 cm
Colors white and pink
Color change at Wither to pink
Flowering period June to September
extremely vigorous
upright, loose, branching growing
Foliage leaves pale green, oval
Height 200 to 250 cm
Width 175 to 250 cm
Support of the flowering shoots necessary
Sun and partial shade
insect friendly

phantom

imposing large panicles
somewhat compressed in length
Colors: white, cream-white, pink
Flowering from August to October
upright, compact growth
Height 250 cm
Width 150 to 240 cm
regular pruning advisable
Sun and partial shade

Limelight

Panicles up to 30 cm in length
Color white to light yellow
fragrant
Flowers are suitable for drying
Flowering July to October
strong, upright growth
Growth height 150 to 200 cm
Spread 160 to 180 cm
Foliage leaves up to 15 cm in size
lanceolate-oval with serrated edge
Sun and partial shade

Snowball hydrangea (H. arborescens)

There are also hardy varieties among these hydrangeas. The flowers are very large, heavy and snowball-shaped. They appear in a variety. The shoots droop due to the weight of the flowers. A support is advisable. The flowering period extends from June to September. The hydrangea, also known as the forest hydrangea, is very robust and hardy. You love partial shade. A regular cut is recommended. The multiplication takes place by division. Runners are formed. The growth height varies up to 300 cm.

Annabell

most popular variety
large umbel-shaped flowers
reach a diameter of up to 25 cm
Color: white, cream
Flower balls initially green
changes to white as it fades
fragrant
Flowering period June to September
Foliage leaves medium green, oval
many basic instincts
upright growth
Growth height up to 200 cm
Spread up to 180 cm
Cut back in spring
good adaptation to different lighting conditions

Hayes starbust

newer breed
star-shaped, very filigree pseudo-flowers
Flowers double
Color: cream-white with a greenish tinge
vigorously growing
Growth height 50 to 120 cm
Flowering period June to September

Velvet Hydrangea (H. sargentiana)

The hydrangea owes its name to the velvety hairs of its leaves. It is also known as the fur hydrangea. It can reach a height of 200 cm. The flowers are flat umbels with a diameter of 10 to 30 cm. The pseudo-flowers are colored white and the fertile flowers are purple, blue or pink. They give off a honey-like scent and thus attract bees. The hardy hydrangeas love partial shade.

Mauvette

plate-shaped flowers
Color: white outside, mauve inside
Flowering July to August
dark green foliage
Growth height 200 cm
Spread up to 200 cm

Macrophylla

Flower umbels with a diameter of up to 25 cm
outer petals pink to white
inner petals red, pink
Flowering July to August
little branched, growing upright
Foliage leaves up to 35 cm tall, dark green, hairy
Growth height 200 to 350 cm
Spread 175 to 300 cm
Penumbra

Climbing hydrangea (H. petiolaris)

This hydrangea is characterized by its climbing habit. The marginal, white pseudo-flowers are plate-shaped. The flowers are created in the early autumn. They reach a diameter of up to 20 cm and give off a sweet scent of elderberry and jasmine. Bees and bumblebees are welcome guests to these hardy hydrangeas. The summer foliage is shiny green. The leaves turn yellow towards autumn. It adheres to substrates with adhesive roots. Shady north and west walls can be greened.

Seminola

simple, white flowers
Flowering June to August
Height 250 to 300 cm
Width 100 to 150 cm
evergreen
Leaves are shed in cold regions
copper-red young shoots
regular pruning in spring
Bee pasture
Can also be used as a ground cover

Hydrangea (H. serrata)

The inflorescences are large and plate-shaped. Mostly they appear two-colored, white, pink or red. Often only a wreath surrounds the fertile inner flowers. The buds of these hardy hydrangeas are planted in the early autumn. The hydrangea has a compact habit, but is rather small. It reaches a height of 100 cm. This plant is very easy to care for and extremely hardy. A cut is not absolutely necessary.

Lanarth White