Who doesn’t love a hydrangea? They’re excellent for borders as well as being great for patios and small spaces. They add bold, impactful colour and volume, and are easy to grow.
Container life comes easily to this cheerful shrub, and as such, we’re going to look into what hydrangea varieties you can buy to pot up and create a splash of colour in your space, whatever its size.
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1. Paniculata confetti
The paniculata hydrangea variety is sun-loving and has cone-shaped blooms that change colour. They’re ideal for smaller spaces and easy to grow.
Caroline Bates, founder and creative director of Hayloft Floral says, ‘Hydrangea paniculata confetti is my favourite variety to grow in a pot as it is compact in form but has beautifully delicate and airy flower heads. It grows well in sunny or part shaded spaces and even has a lovely scent too!’
You can buy a two-litre hydrangea paniculata Confetti pot for £24.99 from Crocus. The reason they’re so good for pots is that they are quite compact and will flower for a long time. For some spectacular colour-changing, check out J Parker’s Vanilla Fraise, £7.99 for a 9cm pot – it will mature from white to raspberry pink and then red in autumn.
According to Liam Cleary, gardening expert at the Old Railway Line Garden Centre the paniculata variety is a great option if you want something a bit more structured. ‘It grows in a more upright way, so it doesn’t spill out of the pot too much, and it tends to be more resilient if conditions change. The cone-shaped flowers also give a slightly different look compared to the traditional mopheads.’
2. Macrophylla
This variety is perhaps what comes to mind when we think of hydrangeas – called the macrophylla or ‘mophead’, it’s the most common.
‘This is the most popular choice for a reason,’ says Liam. ‘It stays relatively compact, which makes it ideal for pots, and it produces those classic big flower heads people associate with hydrangeas. It also responds well to container growing, so you can get a really full display without needing a large garden.’
Known for its colour being dictated by the soil pH (you can change your hydrangea’s colour), you’ll find shades of blue, lilac, pink and red in this variety range. Introduce ice cream pink into your garden with Crocus’s Love mophead hydrangea, you can buy a two litre pot for £24.99. Or, if you can’t decide on a shade Amazon’s Gardeners Dream Store have three mixed hydrangea macrophylla plants in pots for £18.99 – buy now for a colourful spring and summer!
Shopping essentials for hydrangeas in pots
Habitat
Scalloped 28.5cm Clay Planter, Large
This is a great sized pot to start your hydrangeas in. The pretty scalloped shape is unusual and ideal for showing off your blooms. Made from clay, it’s frost resistant and has drainage holes.
Westland
John Innes No.3 Peat-Free Compost, 28L
It’s important to support your hydrangeas once you’ve bought them and this John Innes No.3 peat-free compost will give them the nourishment they need to nurture and sustain them as they grow.
WORKPRO
Garden Hand Trowel Wooden Handle, Stainless Steel
This heavy duty garden trowel is perfect for planting hydrangeas in pots. The side edge helps to separate roots and scrapes off soil. It’s built for long-term use and has a hardwood handle for easy use.
3. Serrata
Also known as the mountain hydrangea, this is a hardy variety native to Japan and Korea. It has ‘lacecap’ heads, which are umbrella-shaped and mostly come in blues and pinks. It’s a finer-looking hydrangea and is slightly smaller than the others; the leaves are more serrated, hence the name.
They are very cold-tolerant, which makes them a good choice for the UK, and they don’t mind shade either. A popular variety in this type is ‘Bluebird’, which you can buy from Crocus for £23.99 in a two-litre pot. To add depth to your scheme consider Dare Devil which has dark foliage and rich pink flowers, £17.97 for a 2-3 litre container, Gardening Express.
4. Arborescens
Perhaps known more as ‘Annabelle’, this beautiful variety is best grown in large pots or a big container. The heads are large, spherical and mostly come in white, which gives them a striking look when they’re in full summer bloom.
Sam Dawson, founder and lead florist at Fields & Flowers says this variety is perfect for pots. ‘This is an abundant-looking hydrangea that I adore – the name ‘Annabelle’ represents grace and emotion, and that certainly sums up this show-stopping shrub. It can be a great cut flower too.’
Thompson & Morgan has several-sized options available, starting with a 9cm Annabelle pot for £12.99, up to a 12 litre pot which is currently on offer for £89.99. If you prefer a pink version check out Dobies Pink Annabelle, you can buy a single three litre pot for a current price of £29.99.
5. Double Dutch Edam
Some stunning varieties are slightly different to the classic hydrangea we know and love.
‘One of the most stunning hydrangeas I’ve found is Hydrangea ‘Double Dutch Edam’, which blooms from July through to September,’ says gardening and greenhouse expert Lucie Bradley from Easy Garden Irrigation. ‘It thrives when grown in a pot as well as producing simply masses of mophead clusters of double, star-shaped, gorgeous pink flowers with creamy-white edges.’
You can buy this unusual pot-loving variety from Thompson & Morgan, as a 14cm pot for £24.99, or a pair for a currently reduced price of £34.99.
Lucie adds, ‘Although classed as frost hardy, young buds and new spring growth can be damaged if there is an unexpected frost so I’ve got some garden fleece on hand in case it needs a bit of extra protection.’ B&Q’s garden plant cover sheets, £6.95 for 1.5 x 15m will do the trick nicely, cut it down to suit your needs.
6. Compact paniculata varieties
‘These are useful if you like the look of paniculata but want something a bit smaller. They hold their shape well in pots and still give height and structure without becoming too large or top-heavy,’ advises Liam.
Compact varieties to look out for, according to gardening expert Sarah Raven are Little Lime, from Crocus and Little Fresco, from £14.99 at Suttons, who is a big fan of the smaller options. ‘They grow well in pots and benefit from a soil-based compost, regular watering and occasional feeding during the summer.’
There are some fabulous hydrangea varieties you can buy to plant up in pots. For extra impact, why not pick a few – they will create an impactful display whether you have a small or large garden this spring and summer. They would even work as a high-impact, low-maintenance potted plant at your front door.
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