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Blooming time for hydrangeas


When Are Hydrangeas In Season? (Essential Guide)

Everything You Need to Know About the Hydrangea Flowering Season

One of the most popular cut flowers and garden plants worldwide, everyone looks forward to the Hydrangea season with great excitement. With a variety in blooming times between the species, we can enjoy these symbolic flowers from spring to summer and even into fall. This article breaks down the specifics of the Hydrangea blooming season, so you know what to expect when growing these plants.

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When Are Hydrangeas In Season? – The Essentials

Hydrangeas are typically considered summer flowers, with most blooming in early to mid-summer. Seasons differ depending on the species and cultivar chosen, with some starting in spring and others extending into fall. Other external factors like climate, planting, pruning, and care can also influence the timing and length of the Hydrangea season.

Botanical Overview

With more than 75 species in the genus Hydrangea, there is plenty of variety and tons of beauty to look forward to. This genus is also known by its previous name Hortensia commonly, but most stick with the general term Hydrangea to cover the many different species of these plants widely grown in home gardens. Their prizes for their symbolic value and host of uses and benefits.

Most species are considered short shrubs, growing to a couple of feet tall once they mature. But, some species are closer in growth habits to small trees, and others feature climbing vines that envelop structures and nearby trees. Most hydrangeas are relatively straightforward to propagate as well. 

The name Hydrangea literally translates to ‘water vessel,’ while their previous genus name was given after astronomer Nicole-Reine Hortense Lepaute. They are one of the most popular ornamental garden plants around the world and are also grown as cut flowers, popular in wedding bouquets and décor. Hydrangeas are also available in several beautiful colors.

Native Region

Hydrangeas are native to the Americas and Asia, depending on the species. Most come from Asia, found growing natively in China, Korea, and Japan. But, many of the commonly grown Hydrangea species like the Smooth Hydrangea and Oakleaf Hydrangea are native to North America.

Hydrangea Species

The word Hydrangea does not describe one plant but a large group of plants, each with its own characteristics and blooming times. While there are plenty of species to choose from, these are the ones commonly found in home gardens:

When Are Hydrangeas in Season?

Hydrangeas are generally considered summer flowers, at their best during the warmer months when they are most often available as cut flowers. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Different Hydrangea species have slightly different seasons, ranging from mid-spring all the way through to mid-fall, depending on your climate. Most benefit from fertilizing a couple of times each season.

There are also other factors that can influence the season, such as planting time, climate, and correct pruning technique. But you can be sure that no matter the species, most blooming times will peak during the summer seasons, varying in length.

How Long Does The Hydrangea Season Last?

The length of the Hydrangea season is again largely dependent on type. Some bloom later than others, shortening their season, while others that start in spring have a more extended season. Sudden cold weather may also cut your flowering season short, depending on your climate. Pruning can also push back the initial blooming time, making the season shorter even in species with long-blooming times.

Generally, you can expect your Hydrangeas to bloom for about three months, with most of that occurring during summer. Some may be shorter, others longer, so make sure you consider the external factors involved to plan ahead.

Factors Influencing The Hydrangea Season

Species

The biggest influence on the start and duration of your Hydrangea’s blooming season is species. Each species has a slightly different season, with most overlapping during the months of spring. Not only does the start time differ for each species, but the length of the season also changes. Take a look at the specifics below to find out the exact season for each species.

Climate

The second biggest influence on the Hydrangea season is climate. Each species has a different level of tolerance to cold and heat, and this will affect when and for how long they bloom. Areas with warmer climates will generally see blooms pop up earlier in the season. But, excessive heat can also limit the blooming period, shortening the season later on. 

In areas where the temperatures only increase around late spring and dip down again soon after summer is over, the growing season will generally be limited to that period, depending on your chosen type and its tolerance for the cold.

Planting Time

Hydrangeas need a bit of time to settle into the soil after planting before they will begin blooming prolifically. The plant you bought may already have flowers as it sits in the pot, but once it is moved to the ground, it will face a bit of stress and focus on root growth at the expense of the flowers. Once the plant has become settled, it will kick off its true blooming season.

Pruning Time

Pruning Hydrangeas is a tricky task and varies depending on your chosen species. If you prune at the wrong time, you may delay the start of the blooming season, shortening its timespan overall. 

This isn’t always a bad thing, though, as pruning away flowers can cause the plant to grow larger over the season, meaning you’ll have even more flowers the following year. 

Incorrect pruning according to your Hydrangea type can also stop the blooming season from happening altogether. For Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood, cutting off those buds at the end of the season will stop any new blooms from emerging. However, with some patience, you can see the flowers pop up again the following year. Late Autumn is also a good time to consider moving or transplanting your hydrangeas if needed.

It’s worth noting that hydrangeas are considered toxic, so it’s prudent to wear a pair of gardening gloves throughout the process.

Care

The proper care is essential in making your Hydrangea blooming season last as long as possible. Underwatering, overwatering, lack of nutrients, or lack of sunlight can drastically shorten the blooming season or end it entirely if the problems are not resolved. 

Make sure you keep your plants happy and healthy throughout the season – and even when they are not in flower – to allow them to bloom to their full potential.

Flowering Season By Type

The most significant determinant of flowering season is species. Take a look at these popular Hydrangea types and their blooming seasons to decide which one best suits your needs:

Keep in mind that the specific cultivar within each species can also have an impact on blooming time. Check your chosen cultivar before purchasing so you know what to expect come summertime.

Hydrangea Flowering Season – The Final Word 

Hydrangea blooms are something all gardeners look forward to, whether out in the garden or brought indoors to use as cut flowers. As there is no predefined Hydrangea season, it’s important to understand your particular species and the potential influences on the season to get the most out of these wonderful plants.

To enjoy the fruits of your labor for longer, see our essential guide to drying and preserving hydrangea flowers at home.

How to Plant, Grow & Care for Hydrangeas

Hydrangea Care: How to Plant, Grow & Care for Hydrangeas

Tips & Techniques

Betterdays in Full Swing

Gardening

If you’re looking for a garden flower with show appeal, hydrangea flowers are truly stunning. Large globes of flowers cover this shrub in summer and spring. Although their appearance may seem high maintenance, with the right conditions and care, hydrangeas are actually fairly easy to grow. So grab your garden gloves, because our growing hydrangeas guide will have you ready to plant in no time.

What Are Hydrangeas?

Blooming in spring and summer, the hydrangea is considered a shrub. But despite their ability to be rather large showstoppers in your yard, how to grow hydrangeas isn’t a question even the novice gardener will need to ask – these beauties all but grow themselves. Reaching up to 15 feet in height, the hydrangea grows quickly and often fills in a space in just one summer. You’ll find hydrangeas growing in hardiness Zones 3 to 7 as perennials. With flowers starting in spring and often last throughout summer into early fall, hydrangea flowers can be the foundation plant of your landscape.

Planting Hydrangeas

As with most things in your garden, learning the basics of how to plant hydrangeas can save you time and money. By choosing the proper location, getting the soil just right and planting correctly, you’ll increase your chances of enjoying large, colorful hydrangea blooms for years to come.

  1. Best time to plant hydrangeas

    Fall is the best season to plant hydrangeas, followed by early spring. The idea is to give the shrub plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before blooming. The best time of day to plant is early morning or late afternoon. The cooler parts of the day offer protection against heat stress. Keep new plants well-watered until established.

  2. Where to plant hydrangeas

    Knowing where to plant hydrangea shrubs is an important first step. Many people plant hydrangeas in beds next to their homes or fences. 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. Avoid planting directly underneath trees, which can lead to competition for water and nutrients. High winds can rip and damage leaves and destroy the flowers.

  3. Best soil for hydrangeas

    Hydrangeas grow well in soil containing an abundance of organic material. Good drainage is vital. While hydrangeas like moist soil, they cannot tolerate being waterlogged. Soggy, poor draining soils can cause root rot. In just a few weeks, your hydrangeas can quickly die. If you have heavy soil, consider mixing in plenty of compost prior to planting to improve soil quality.

  4. How to plant hydrangeas

    To plant hydrangeas, simply dig the planting holes 2 feet wider than the root ball. Keep the depth of the hole consistent with the size of the root ball so your plant sits level with or just higher than the surrounding soil. By creating a slight mound, you help increase water drainage away from the base of the plant.

  5. How to propagate hydrangeas

    One hydrangea can turn into many through simple propagation techniques. Bigleaf and panicle hydrangeas are best propagated through layering in early to mid-summer. All you have to do is:

    • Dig a small trench near your hydrangea plant.
    • Bend a branch down to the trench so it touches the soil in the middle of the branch (six to 12 inches of branch should extend past the trench).
    • Make scratches in the bark where the branch touches the trench soil.
    • Fill in the trench and place a paver, brick or stone on top.
    • With time, the branch will form its own root system and may be transplanted to a new location.

Smooth and oakleaf hydrangeas put out new shoots through underground stems. Just dig up the young plant and separate it away from the main plant. It can then be transplanted to a new location.

Hydrangea Care Tips

Although the hydrangea’s leaves and flowers appear delicate, they actually don’t require a lot of tender care. These tips provide all you need to know about how to care for hydrangeas.

Types of Hydrangeas

There are four different types of hydrangeas grown in the United States:

Consider planting these popular hydrangeas in your garden landscape:

Common Questions About Growing Hydrangeas

When do hydrangeas bloom?

The hydrangea blooming season depends upon the type and cultivar as well as your planting zone. Most new growth hydrangeas put on buds in early summer to bloom in the following spring, summer and early fall seasons. In hot climates, hydrangeas may stop blooming in the heat of summer, but will rebloom in the fall.

How do you cut back hydrangeas?

When hydrangea plants are given plenty of growing space in the garden, they don’t need pruning. All that is required is the occasional removal of dead wood.

Do you need to deadhead hydrangeas?

Deadheading hydrangeas will keep your plants blooming into fall. You don’t have to wait until the flower wilts – hydrangeas make excellent cut flowers. Leave those early fall blooms in place to fade on their own. You don’t want to encourage new growth close to your freeze date.

How do you control hydrangea color?

Hydrangeas are unique in that you can control their color. But keep in mind, not all hydrangea types are capable of color adjustments. Bigleaf hydrangeas, H. macrophylla, react to changes in soil pH. A low soil pH allows hydrangeas to absorb aluminum, which turns the flowers a beautiful blue color. To increase blue hydrangea flowers, lower your soil pH by adding sulfur or peat moss to the soil. You can also add additional aluminum sulfate to your soil throughout the growing season. Pink and red flowers shine when you add ground limestone to increase the pH.

A soil pH test can help you accurately adjust your hydrangea color. Avoid pH levels above 7.5 to prevent damage to the plant. No matter what adjustments you’ve made, all hydrangeas will naturally fade in the fall. Don’t worry – the plant will showcase fresh, colorful blooms again in the spring.

Can hydrangeas grow in shade?

Hydrangeas like dappled or occasional shade, but they will not bloom in heavy shade. It isn’t so much a question of do they prefer sun or shade, but rather more of a question of how much sun do hydrangeas need? The further north your garden is located, the more sunlight your hydrangeas need. An average rule of thumb is six hours of sunlight per day. However, hydrangeas growing in the south can perform on only three hours of sunlight.

Can hydrangeas grow in full sun?

Hydrangeas like morning sun, but do not do well if they’re in direct, hot afternoon sun. Partial shade in the later parts of the day is ideal for these beauties.

Can you grow hydrangeas in pots?

Even if you lack the space in your garden to grow hydrangeas, knowing how to grow hydrangea in a pot means you can still enjoy these beautiful blooms. The process is relatively simple, as long as you follow the basics of hydrangea care. Choose a large enough pot for the mature size of your specific hydrangea – at least 18 inches in diameter. Look for non-porous containers to help hold the consistent moisture level require by hydrangeas. Drainage holes will allow excess water to drain properly. Consider planting dwarf hydrangeas, such as Little Lime, Mini Penny and Buttons ‘n Bows.

How do you keep hydrangeas from wilting?

Regular watering in the mornings can help prevent wilting. Some varieties of hydrangeas simply can’t handle the heat. It won’t matter how much water you give them – they’ll wilt a bit in the heat of afternoon. A thick layer of mulch can help retain moisture and keep soil cool. If your hydrangeas perk back up once the day begins to cool, you don’t need to worry. It’s better to have a little mid-day wilting than to overwater and drown your hydrangeas.

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everything about the timing of the flowering of a flower

Author Anna Rudova To read 9 min Published

Hydrangeas have firmly entered gardens and parks, like long-blooming shrubs. The duration of flowering of each garden hydrangea bush depends on the variety, pruning method, weather conditions.

Breeding research in the field of developing new decorative flowering varieties of hydrangea lasts for about a hundred years. This explains such a wide variety of garden hydrangea varieties. Initially, lush flowering was observed for only two or three summer months. Gradually, this period expanded to three or four months. Although, there are varieties that bloom only one and a half to two months.

Short-blooming hydrangeas differ from most varieties in unusual decorative features.

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Hydrangea Flowering Calendar

Most home gardeners want to keep their garden blooming continuously. The lack of reliable information about the timing of flowering causes unfortunate misunderstandings. At certain periods, the garden is full of colors, and at other times there is a lack of flowering plants.

A properly selected variety of garden hydrangea will help smooth out such differences in the abundance of colors. Lovers of aromas should take into account that hydrangea flowers do not smell, do not attract bees. Therefore, they are often planted in the entrance area or next to the windows.

Knowing when the garden hydrangea blooms, you can compensate for the lack of flowering in the garden, create a continuous series of colors.

The earliest flowering of hydrangeas occurs in early or mid-June. Most varieties complete flowering in September. Some varieties bloom until October. It should be noted that the milder the climate, the longer flowering continues. In temperate climates, plants get more time to prepare for winter and are not in a hurry to complete flowering until the first frost.

Most of the known 80 varieties bloom from the beginning of summer to the end of September. There are exceptions, which are listed in the table.

The name of the variety July July August September October

Arborescens Invincibelle Spirit + +

Hydrangea Macrophylla Fasan + +

Forever and Ever Pepperint + +

HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA Hornly++

HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA LIBELLE++

HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA+++

Messalina++

Pinky Winky+

Taube + +

Candlelight + + +

Mega Mindy + +

Phantom + + + + +

Green Racer + +

Hydrangea Anomala Subsp Petiolaris + +

Knowing how much a specific hydrangea variety blooms, it is easy to decorate the garden with one or two bushes, providing continuous flowering from the beginning of summer to mid-autumn.

When indoor hydrangea blooms

Garden hydrangea adapts perfectly to being grown indoors. This is used by gardeners of northern latitudes, where frosts often occur in May and early June. For indoor floriculture, low-growing varieties are chosen. In the description of each variety indicate how much is the height of an adult plant. Pots and tubs with plants are taken out into the open air when steady heat sets in.

The flowering period of indoor hydrangeas depends only on varietal characteristics. An excess of alkaline salts negatively affects the development of indoor shrubs. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly transplant plants into a fresh substrate.

It is recommended to apply home soil “oxidizers” to the soil:

When the acquired seedling of garden hydrangea blooms

Recently purchased hydrangea seedlings have many flowering problems. The problem is the intensive farming practices used to grow seedlings for sale. Although most varieties are able to bloom in the same season, this happens infrequently. Flowering caused by stimulants is very debilitating for the plant. Gardeners are faced with the difficult adaptation of seedlings at home.

The more intensively flowering seedling growth stimulants were used, the more difficult and longer adaptation takes. Independent flowering can be delayed for one to two years.

These plants have a "lazy" root system, accustomed to receiving nutrients from drip irrigation. Avoid sudden changes in the composition of the soil when planting a hydrangea seedling in the garden. It is not recommended to immediately place the plant in a permanent place. It is better to create more gentle conditions for him. Much attention is paid to the composition of the soil, the amount of nutrients. Frequent watering and partial shade will help the plant adapt faster.

It is forbidden to destroy an earthen clod in which a garden hydrangea seedling was sold. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers begins immediately after planting.

The planting hole is filled with a substrate similar in composition to the commercial one to encourage the roots to grow. Over time, the root system adapts to self-feeding and the hydrangea will please with abundant flowering.

Experienced gardeners use a root feeding technique that initiates the growth of the root system. To do this, dig a shallow trench at a distance of 20-25 centimeters from the roots. The recess is filled with rotted manure. The plant quickly reacts to nearby top dressing, grows into it with roots. This technique is useful when digging a bush for transplanting.

Why the hydrangea did not bloom in due time

Most varieties please with abundant flowering throughout the summer, capturing the first month of autumn. In certain circumstances, the flowering schedule goes astray, the plant blooms a couple of months later, or does not form flower stalks at all.

This may be due to:

When purchasing a new variety of garden hydrangea, it is necessary to clarify on the shoots of what year the flower stalks are formed. Many profusely flowering varieties lay flowering buds on the shoots of the first and second year. Some varieties throw out a peduncle only on the shoots of the second year. It is the latter that are most often upset by late or absent flowering.

Hydrangeas that form flower buds on second-year shoots should be pruned with particular care. Removing a large number of young shoots leads to a loss, a delay in flowering in the next season.

Ornamental flowering shrub may be late in flowering after a harsh winter due to frostbite on most of the young twigs. Some gardeners recommend not removing the last inflorescences in the fall, believing that they can protect an adult bush from the cold. So far, no objective evidence has been found in favor of this method.

When choosing a permanent location for hydrangeas, consider the availability of sunlight.

The lack of lighting, as well as its excess, have a great influence on the vegetation of garden shrubs:

Improper or insufficient nutrition of the root system will necessarily affect the development of the aerial part. Garden hydrangea is not able to extract nutrients from the deep layers of the soil, because it has a superficial root system. For the same reason, it should be watered regularly and be sure to mulch the topsoil.

Most complex fertilizers are known to contain a high proportion of nitrogen. This substance promotes plant growth. Ornamental flowering crops that receive nitrogen fertilization intensively grow shoots and are in no hurry to lay flower buds. It is allowed to introduce such mineral complexes only at the beginning of the growing season, when the shrub "starts" to grow after winter.

From the beginning-mid-May to the end of August, only potash-phosphorus fertilizers are applied, which support and prolong the flowering of garden hydrangea.

Shrubs are known to prefer acidic soils and react negatively to low pH levels. All nutrient substrates and organic fertilizers are characterized by a high pH level. Gradually, the root system absorbs nutrients from the soil, quickly causing its alkalization.

It is recommended to periodically check the acidity of the soil in order to make corrective additions in a timely manner.

For this purpose, apply:

When hydrangea blooms is a flowering period, how much time it blooms

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