1/10 Hydrangea «Serrata Tuff Stuff»: Hardy and compact, this flower is blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. (Kernow Plant Pics/Alamy Stock/Gardeningetc)
2/10 Hydrangea preziosa: “For me, this hydrangea is the best,” says Anne Greenall. “It starts out a light pink, changing over the season to a dark pink, with dark leaves, and dries well.”Forms a small to medium-sized deciduous shrub, in well-draining, humus-rich soil in full sun or semi-sun. -shade. If you want dried flowers, cut off the heads, waiting until autumn to harvest them. Or save the flowers in the fall to collect seeds for propagating hydrangeas. (Anne Gilbert/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
3/10 Hydrangea «Blaumeise»: «In my garden, which has acidic soil, they have striking flowers of a vivid dark blue,» says Anne. “If left to grow, it is a fairly erect, sturdy plant, medium to tall in height.”The color of hydrangeas can change depending on the type of soil they are growing in. It grows in well-drained, retentive and fertile soil types in semi-shade. (blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
4/10 «Polar bear» hydrangea: Grow this shrub in well-draining, humus-rich soil in protected sun or semi-shade for beautiful flowers in late summer and early fall. with so much success in the summer. (Deborah Vernon/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
5/10 Hydrangea «Ruby Slippers»: «I’m passionate about oakleaf hydrangeas, especially this one,» says Pennsylvania-based landscaper Nathan Tuno, who works at Roots Landscape Inc. “The oak-shaped leaves are large and the flowers have an exaggerated brush-like shape.” The flowers change from white to pink to red, and the foliage turns a deep red in the fall, especially in the sun. (blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
6/10 Hydrangea «Vanilla Fraise»: This deciduous shrub features stems laden with large clusters of pink and ivory flowers in midsummer, like strawberry and vanilla ice cream cones. In autumn they take on rich raspberry red hues. Having an arched silhouette, they make beautiful country house garden plants or work well in an informal garden. Grow in humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun or semi-shade. (Sarah Raven/Jonathan Buckley/Gardeningetc)
7/10 «Limelight» hydrangea: This shrub has amazing lemon-colored flower cones that bloom in summer, over time turn cream and then pink.»For low maintenance shrubs, varieties of *H. paniculata* should be in the top of the list,» says Brad MacDonald at Surfing Hydrangea Nursery in Massachusetts. “They are easy to grow in a wide range of conditions and consistently bloom year after year.” (Thijs de Graaf/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
8/10 «Endless Summer» Hydrangea: A round-flowered hydrangea that develops attractive sky-blue hues in acidic soil types and soft pink colors in alkaline soils. Grow this deciduous shrub in well-draining, fertile, retentive soil in a sheltered location. in semi-shade, like a forest plant under the shade of a tree. (Anne Gilbert/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
9/10 Anomala hydrangea: A wonderful deciduous vine for a shady wall. In summer, the oval green leaves are combined with huge white flowers. After taking time to become established, it is vigorous in fertile, retentive, well-draining soil in semi-shade. It’s grippy via aerial roots, but its mature weight can force it off the wall, so be sure to provide adequate support. (Steffen Hauser/botanikfoto/Alamy Stock Photo/Gardeningetc)
10/10 Annabelle Hydrangea: If you are landscaping with hydrangeas, this deciduous shrub will provide great structure. It has huge spherical white flowers (up to 30 cm in diameter) that turn pale green atop stout stems all summer long. It doesn’t fall off after rain and looks great in a vase. Grow it in retentive, well-draining soil in partial shade. (Sarah Raven/Jonathan Buckley/Gardeningetc)
