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13+ Types of White Hydrangeas for Your Pretty Garden

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by

Henna

1. Annabelle Smooth Hydrangea

 

For an extra bit of landscape elegance, consider the classic mophead Annabelle. A dependable performer, this hydrangea cultivar raises the bar with snowy white flowers up to a foot wide, starting in June and lasting until winter. Dark green foliage complements the massive round flowers held on sturdy stems above the leaves. Annabelle is a favorite with bees and butterflies.

  • Name: Annabelle (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 3-9
  • Type: Smooth mophead
  • Light: Full sun to part dappled shade
  • Soil: Adaptable, well-draining
  • Mature Size: 4 to 5 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide

 

2. Seaside Serenade® ‘Glacier Bay’ Bigleaf Hydrangea

 

Glacier Bay is the 2023 addition to the Seaside Serenade® collection. Black stems and dark green leaves contrast with crisp white flowers for a dramatic effect. Lacy flowers bloom from summer to autumn. Glacier Bay benefits from afternoon shade and adds interest planted in groupings. This compact shrub also works well in containers.

  • Name: Seaside Serenade® ‘Glacier Bay’ (Hydrangea macrophylla‘CAMCHO45’ PPAF)
  • Hardiness Zone: 4-9
  • Type: Big leaf lacecap
  • Light: Part sun, part shade
  • Soil: Fertile, well drained
  • Mature Size: 3 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide

 

3. Fairytrail Bride® Lacecap Hydrangea

 

Considered a new class of trailing hydrangea, Fairytrail Bride® is the first of its type in North America. This summer-long bloomer grows almost horizontally with lacy white flowers at every dark green leaf node. The trailing habit offers plenty of versatility including hanging baskets and retaining walls. Fairytrail Bride® attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

  • Name: Fairytrail Bride® (Hydrangea x ‘USHYD0405’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 6-9
  • Type: Trailing lacecap
  • Light: Full sun, part shade
  • Soil: Moist, well draining
  • Mature Size: 4 ft. tall, 2 ft. wide

 

4. Chantilly Lace Panicle Hydrangea

 

Chantilly Lace is a compact but larger sized panicle hydrangea with pointed, white, cone-shaped flowers to match. The 10-inch tall blooms grow up to 6 inches wide and develop a light pink hue as they age. Chantilly Lace is a late bloomer with flowers appearing first in July that often last until first frost.

  • Name: Chantilly Lace (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Chantilly Lace’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 3-8
  • Type: Panicle
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil: Rich, medium moisture, well draining
  • Mature Size: 5 to 6 ft. tall, 5 to 6 ft. wide

 

5. Grin and Tonic™ Bigleaf Hydrangea

Ready for a little garden magic? The 2023 debut of the reblooming hydrangea Grin and Tonic™ offers a changeling with showy mopheads that emerge lime green and morph into a fresh white before your very eyes. Try this cultivar in a patio pot where you can enjoy the show all summer long.

  • Name: Grin and Tonic™ (Hydrangea macrophylla‘Hokomaburlac’ PPAF)
  • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
  • Type: Big leaf mophead
  • Light: Part shade
  • Soil: Average, moist, well drained
  • Mature Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide

 

6. Tiny Quick Fire® Panicle Hydrangea

 

Tiny Quick Fire® is the new sun-loving mini in the popular Quick Fire® hydrangea series. Drought-tolerate, this dwarf variety offers plenty of versatility in the border or planted in drifts with a bit of afternoon shade. Big, dome-shaped white flowers cover dark green leaves starting in early summer. By late summer, its flowers take on a pinkish-red hue. Tiny Quick Fire® draws bees and butterflies to the garden.

  • Name: Tiny Quick Fire® (Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPLQF’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 3-8
  • Type: Panicle
  • Light: Full sun
  • Soil: Fertile, well draining
  • Mature Size: 18 in. to 3 ft. tall, 2 to 3 ft. wide

 

7. Hayes Starburst Smooth Hydrangea

 

Hayes Starburst grows naturally in woodlands and is a good choice for shady areas and rain gardens. Give this hydrangea moist, well-draining soil and part shade to bring on large 6- to 8-inch white to light green flowers from June to September. The dark green leaves are lighter on the undersides and turn yellow in autumn. This hydrangea is noteworthy because it tolerates black walnut.

  • Name: Hayes Starburst (Hydrangea arborescense ‘Hayes Starburst’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 4-8
  • Type: Smooth, mophead
  • Light: Part shade
  • Soil: Fertile, well draining
  • Mature Size: 2 to 4 ft. tall, 2 to 4 ft. wide

 

8. Shirofuji Lacecap Hydrangea

 

Shirofuji is a rare mountain hydrangea quickly gaining notice for its white, star-shaped flowers and small leaves. Lacy clusters of double flowers appear in June amid foliage that flushes crimson red when young and again in autumn. Shirofuji is a recipient of the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.

  • Name: Shirofuji (Hydrangea serrata ‘Shirofuji’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
  • Type: Mountain lacecap
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil: Adaptable, moist, well-draining
  • Mature Size: 3 ft. tall, 3 ft. wide

9. Brussels Lace Panicle Hydrangea

 

The show starts in July for this late bloomer but creamy white blooms stretching to 8 inches tall attract notice through October. Dark green foliage sets off cone-shaped flowers which age to light pink in autumn. A little more compact that other panicle hydgrangeas, Brussels Lace is ideal for smaller gardens. This shrub attracts butterflies but may need protection from rabbits.

  • Name: Brussels Lace (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Brussels Lace’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 4-9
  • Type: Panicle
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil: Moist, well draining
  • Mature Size: 6 ft. tall, 5 ft. wide

 

10. Madame Emile Mouillere Bigleaf Hydrangea

 

Clusters of white mophead flowers cover this classic hydrangea cultivar starting in summer and taking on a spotty, pink tinge by autumn. Glossy green leaves turn from orange to red adding late season interest. Mme. E. Mouillere is easy to care for with disease and insect resistance. A little shade and a sheltered location provide the best growing environment.

  • Name: Madame Emile Mouillere (Hydrangea macrophylla‘Madame Emile Mouillere’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
  • Type: Bigleaf lacecap
  • Light: Part sun, part shade
  • Soil: Adaptable, moist, well draining
  • Mature Size: 5 to 6 ft. tall, 6 to 8 ft. wide

 

11. Veitchii Bigleaf Hydrangea

 

Veitchi is a large, bigleaf hydrangea with intriguing color contrast. The large outer flowers are pristine white while smaller center flowers take on a blue or pink tinge depending on soil acidity. Large, showy flowers cover this impressive shrub in May and June for a standout specimen in the woodland garden.

  • Name: Veitchii (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Veitchii’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 6-9
  • Type: Bigleaf lacecap
  • Light: Full sun to part shade
  • Soil: Rich, well draining
  • Mature Size: 5 ft. tall, 5 to 10 ft. wide

 

12. Munchkin Oakleaf Hydrangea

 

If you love the look of an oakleaf hydrangea but don’t have the garden space, Munchkin is a good choice. Deeply lobed foliage turns brilliant mahogany in autumn. Tall, white, cone-shaped blooms grow to 6 1/2 inches in height and appear in summer on branches that shed, adding winter interest. Flowers turn pink as they age.

  • Name: Munchkin (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Munchkin’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
  • Type: Oakleaf panicle
  • Light: Filtered sun, part sun to part shade
  • Soil: Organically rich, well draining
  • Mature Size: 3 to 4 ft. tall, 3 to 4 ft. wide

 

13. Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea

 

Snow Queen is an oakleaf type hydrangea with large dense cone-shaped flowers that bloom in mid-summer. Its moderate size makes it work well in a flowering hedge or as specimen plant. Creamy white blooms turn pink as they age above foliage with brilliant red-bronze autumn color. The shedding bark adds year-round interest to the garden.

  • Name: Snow Queen (Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’)
  • Hardiness Zone: 4-9
  • Type: Oakleaf panicle
  • Light: Part sun to part shade
  • Soil: Average, well draining
  • Mature Size: 4 to 5 ft. tall, 5 to 6 ft. wide

 

14. Puffer Fish™ Panicle Hydrangea

 

Puffer Fish™ is a 2023 debut hydrangea with a surprise finish. Masses of dome-shaped flowers almost hide the dark green foliage. Bright white flowers open in early summer on sturdy stems and last through early autumn, acquiring a lime green hue with age. At the final curtain, this medium size shrub sends up a fresh sprig of bright white flowers at the tip of the panicle.

  • Name: Puffer Fish™ (Hydrangea paniculata ‘NCHP1’ PPAF)
  • Hardiness Zone: 3-8
  • Type: Panicle
  • Light: Full sun, up to 4 hours shade
  • Soil: Moderately moist loam
  • Mature Size: 3 to 5 ft. tall, 3 to 5 ft. wide

 

15. Double Delights™ ‘Wedding Gown’ Bigleaf Hydrangea

Wedding Gown in the Double Delights™ collection, produces sprays of lacy, white, double flowers that look like small bridal bouquets. Blooms appear in June on dark green foliage, lasting through autumn if deadheaded. Winter protection is advised for growers in zone 5.

    • Name: Double Delights™ ‘Wedding Gown’ (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Dancing Snow’ PP21052)
    • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
    • Type: Big leaf lacecap
    • Light: Full sun, part shade
    • Soil: Adaptable, moist, well draining
    • Mature Size: 2 to 3 ft. tall, 3 to 5 ft. wide