designing with hydrangeas

Dreaming of summer? Well, bigleaf hydrangeas are a versatile group of flowering shrubs that can be used in lots of ways in the garden. Here are just a few favorites.

THE MAIN ACT — A single hydrangea, covered in big, voluptuous flowers, creates a stunning focal point in any garden. Your eye is drawn to the plant, even in late summer, when the flowers turn an interesting papery brown.

MIX IT UP — All but the tallest cultivars are a good fit for mixed borders. Unlike the blooms of many shrubs that are long gone by summer, midsummer hydrangea flowers combine well with those of surrounding perennials and annuals. And hydrangeas’ tidy habit won’t overwhelm their shorter neighbors. Use shade-tolerant cultivars, like ‘Blue Billow’ or the ‘Mariesii’ in the top photo, to bring color to part-shade beds.

HEDGE YOUR BEST — Used as hedges, hydrangeas make a high-impact, low-maintenance way to line a path or fence. Mophead and lacecap blooms fit perfectly into informal settings and a mix of cultivars guarantees bountiful blooms for much of the summer. Or for a more traditional or formal-looking hedge, plant a line of a single cultivar.

PERFECT IN POTS — Many new, more compact cultivars, like the Cityline series or Endless Summer in the lower photo, are perfect for containers on the deck or patio. Placing them in pots makes it easy to bring them right up close, where you can enjoy the luscious blooms all summer.