Can hydrangeas grow in shade?
With bountiful flowers and exceptional versatility, it's no wonder that hydrangeas have become so popular among gardeners! With a wide range of varieties available, there is a hydrangea for nearly every garden. Given a sunny spot with well-draining soil, they are bound to bring you joy year after year. But will hydrangeas grow in the shade?
Hydrangeas grow best in full sun (more than 6 hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun). With that being said, all hydrangeas can handle some shade, but the timing and type of shade are important to consider. They can be in full shade during the hottest part of the day, as long as they are getting some morning sun. This is especially true in hotter climates. However, if they aren't getting enough sun, they don't flower as much and their stems tend to be weaker and floppier.
Don't let a little shade crush your hydrangea-garden dreams. We've compiled a list of hydrangeas that are more shade-tolerant than others.
When to worry about your hydrangeas in the shade
If your hydrangea isn't blooming, has flopping stems, or stunted growth, it's likely that it isn't receiving enough light. Don't worry; you can always move it! Transplant your hydrangea to an area in your garden with more sun, or move it to a container to grow on sunny decks or patios.
FAQs
Out of the five most common hydrangeas – panicle, smooth, oakleaf, bigleaf, and mountain – you'll have the best luck with panicle hydrangeas. They are the most sun tolerant.
Where should you not plant hydrangeas? ›
Planting in Dry, Poorly-Drained Soil
Planting in infertile soil can be detrimental to the growth of your hydrangeas. Most hydrangeas prefer loamy, well-drained soil with lots of nutrients—avoid rocky, dry soil.
Will vinegar make hydrangeas blue? ›
Well, for a quick, cheap and easy fix, you just need apple cider vinegar! Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with 10 litres of water (an average watering can's worth) and direct the solution at the base of the hydrangea, avoiding the leaves. Do this every couple of weeks and the colour will gradually change.
Will limelight hydrangea grow in shade? ›
This extremely durable, long-lived plant is easy to grow. It likes full sun in cold climates, afternoon shade in warmer ones, but it does require well-drained soils that do not remain soggy for any amount of time.
What is the best hydrangea for the north side of the house? ›
If you wish to grow climbing plants against a north-facing wall, consider the climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris), a woody climbing vine that blooms nicely, is well-behaved, and does well in shady areas.
What month is best to plant hydrangeas? ›
So, when is the best time to plant hydrangeas? Aim for late spring, well after any danger of frost has passed, or early fall, when night temperatures usher in cooler air. If you garden in a region where the ground freezes, get plants into the ground at least six weeks prior to fall's first killing frost.
What side of the house should a hydrangea be planted on? ›
This is because hydrangeas love the warm morning sun, but they dislike the heat of the afternoon. The best place to plant hydrangeas is in a sheltered location with sunny mornings and shady afternoons. You often find this on the north or south side of your home.
What do you put in the hole when planting hydrangeas? ›
Hydrangeas do best in soil rich in organic material, well-drained but that does not become completely dry. Whatever your soil is like, use it. Do not try to dig a hole and fill it with soil you bought somewhere else. If your soil is poor, just use extra organic material.
Do coffee grounds help hydrangeas? ›
If you've been trying to get your hydrangeas to become big and blue, then we might just have the tip for you. Hydrangeas color is based on how acidic your soil is—the more acidic the soil you plant your hydrangeas in, the more blue. We've found that adding a few coffee grounds to your soil can do just the trick.
What does baking soda do for hydrangeas? ›
“It may just be the thing you need to revive your hydrangeas and make them look like those big, beautiful, summertime flowers that you've been dreaming about!” To save her hydrangea, Courtenay poured some baking soda onto the soil, which helps plants become less acidic and can prevent fungal growth on plants.
Therefore, using Epsom salt won't have any impact on flower color. In fact, adding too much magnesium (which hydrangeas don't really require in high amounts) could potentially lead to an imbalance in soil nutrients, making it even harder for the hydrangeas to access the aluminum they need to produce blue flowers.
Can endless summer hydrangeas grow in shade? ›
How do I get my hydrangea to bloom endlessly? A: There are a few main reasons that you may not see blooms on your hydrangea bushes: sun exposure, over-watering and over-fertilizing. Endless Summer® hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon dappled shade.
Can summer crush hydrangea take full shade? ›
As with other mophead or French hydrangeas, Summer Crush requires morning sun and afternoon shade. If you're in a warmer zone (8-9), limit the amount of morning sun to just a couple of hours.
What shrubs are best for full shade? ›
Luckily, we have alternatives, especially when it comes to growing shrubs in the shade. There are some spectacular standouts we can enjoy, including azaleas (pictured above), climbing hydrangeas, Euonymus, red and yellow twig dogwoods, elderberries, ninebark, spirea and others.
Can oakleaf hydrangea take full shade? ›
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
There may not be a more versatile and well-loved shrub in the landscape than the hydrangea, and the oakleaf hydrangea is the king of them. It is true that the oakleaf hydrangea can handle full shade, but it also does equally well in part shade and even some full-sun locations.
