20 Varieties of Hydrangeas To Grow in Full Sun

• Hydrangea Type: Arborescens 
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Late-Spring to Mid-Summer

This hydrangea stem adorns impressively giant, white or pink, ball-shaped flowers that bloom from the spring to the middle of the summer. The stem of this species is upright and strong so it won't result in drooping from the weight of the blooms.

It grows high to around four to five feet (1.2-1.4 m) high and wide, so it would make a fantastic addition to your garden. This species only blooms following a spring growth so it won't bloom and wither during winter.

• Hydrangea Type: Arborescens 
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Late-Autumn

New and improved, this pink version of "Annabelle", Hydrangea "Invincibelle" is covered with deep pink flowers. These flowers rebloom constantly for almost 4 years and will continue through autumn until they finally hit the first frost, making 100 times blooms per plant.

It will grow four feet (1.2 m) high and four feet (1.2 m) wide. Its mother hydrangea, "Annabelle" would do well mixed in with your "Invincibelle". This one does well in the chilly hardiness zone 3 and the heat of the later zone 8.

• Hydrangea Type: Arborescens 
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Early-Summer to Early-Autumn

Having large, disc-like blooms, this one starts as light green during early June and will quickly age to darker green accented raspberry-colored flowers with pink pollen come fall. "Lime Rickey" translating to limed strong-ruler, has robust stems that can withstand and stay upright even after summer storms with no flowers.

Growing four to five feet (1.2-1.5 m) tall and wide, these compact flowers will make a stunning addition to your garden arrangement. Starting as green, they pair well with any other companion hydrangeas.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Late-Autumn

Aptly named for its looks, this "Candelabra", has big beautiful reddish blooms and grows quite tall as four to six feet (1.4-1.8 m) high. "Candelabra" flowers change colors as they mature, starting as white and changing to red. Their red stems contrast with their pretty green leaves making them still look during winter.

Blooming from mid-summer and lasting through fall, these flowers are loved by pollinators. Being hardier than other species listed so far, they can go one hardiness zone higher to 9.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Early-Summer to Early-Autumn

"Bobo" is shorter compared to the rest of its brethren shorting out at three feet (0.9 m) in height. However, don't let this dwarf panicle fool you, they have superbly large white flowers that turn a pink hue as they age until they finally wither in Autumn.

This compact plant is suitable for containers and small gardens with little space. These little dwarfs as they grow a little slower than what you would normally expect for hydrangeas, taking almost two years to reach their full height.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Late-Summer to Late-Autumn

"Limelight" is a true sun lover growing six to eight feet high and wide when provided over 6 hours of full sunlight. It has large and open green blooms that age to pink, red, beige, or burgundy depending on the soil pH and lasts through the frost. The height of this plant makes it a great option for a hedge or privacy screen in the summer months.

It will make a great hedge or privacy screen for your yard. Consider doing companion planting with sweet low low-growing roses or catmint for create a cottage feel or blue fescue for a more modern vibe. 

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 4-8
• Bloom Time: Late-Summer to Early-Autumn

"Candy Apple", strikingly similar to "Limelight" can grow up to five feet (1.5 m) tall. Their flowers bloom in late summer, initially starting as green and slowly fading to white but end up getting a second life as they transform into red during fall. Despite being a truly mesmerizing sight, they have a relatively shorter bloom lifespan.

Its dark green leaves provide an amazing backdrop for the white flowers, making them truly stand out. This cold-tolerant hardy hydrangea can also be used as a mid-level hedging specimen.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Early-Autumn

If you were wondering if "Little Lime" is related to the "Limelight" then you'd be right. This is the dwarf variety of "Limelight" that is only four feet (1.2 m) feet tall. Sprouting green blooms that turn pink in Autumn like "Limelight".

While they bloom best in the full sun, a combination of a harsh sun and afternoon shade is preferred. While rated for zones 3-9 you can also get away with zone 10 given proper care.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-9
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Early-Winter

"Pinky Winky" is a unique hydrangea wherein, not only do their flower blooms last till the first frost, but the flowers will take on an ombre look and turn pink starting from the base as the summer progresses.

The growing tip produces new white flowers giving you a gorgeous two-toned look and grows up to 16 inches (40 cm) tall reminiscent of the "Candelabra".  Easily growing up to 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) tall and drought tolerant, these plants make a fantastic companion pair with "Limelight".

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Early-Autumn

Being the smallest and most delicate flower petals of any hydrangea, this "Little Lamb" is unique with many tiny flowers on each flower head being held tightly. Thus, creating the illusion of the fleece of a small lamb peeking over the leaves, hence its namesake.

It blooms white mid-summer and can turn pink later in the fall depending on soil pH. This hardy ‘Little lamb’ can grow up to four to six feet (1.2-1.8 m) high and wide depending on the care and use of fertilizers and suitable to zones 3-8.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Late-Autumn

One of the most popular hydrangea species, "Grandliflora" also known as Pee Gee Hydrangea is as unique as it is. The most intriguing point is that it can be grown as a shrub or a tree. Whatever you decide, your garden or yard will be covered with large red blush-colored blooms.

The tree form can grow up to 15 feet (4.5 m) in height, we recommend trimming the shoots and limiting it to five or ten, thus allowing the flowers to reach 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) tall. 

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 4-9
• Bloom Time: Mid-Spring to Mid-Autumn

"Moon Dance" has majestic white cone-shaped panicles that bloom from summer through fall. While other hydrangeas may change their color, this stays white throughout the growing season.

Growing from six to eight feet (1.8-2.4 m) tall, and four to five feet (1.2-1.5 m) wide, it makes a great focal point in your garden. The "Moon dance" is tolerant of heat and humidity making it easy to care for.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Late-Spring to Early-Autumn

Blooming in the summer like a typical panicle, "Quick Fire" will quickly change your mind come fall. Distinguishing itself with a glimmering foliage of burgundy and gold, its once-white petals turn pink and darken to a deep red. Surprisingly, it blooms a full month before all hydrangeas in spring.

Easily capable of surviving harsh winters and re-blooming reliably in fall. It grows up to eight feet (2.4 m) tall, which can make it hard to pair it with others. Luckily, a dwarf variety of it, "Little Quick Fire" also exists.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 4-8
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Late-Autumn

"Strawberry Shake" to no one's surprise looks like a combination of bold conical white panicles aged to pink, giving you the look of a strawberry milkshake, rapidly growing four to five feet (1.2-1.5 m) tall. Its compact habit makes it well-suited to containers and foundations. 

Contrast its coarse texture with a softer texture in the landscape. Apply mulch near the root area during winter and perform pruning in deep winter once the worst chill has passed as it isn't a winter plant. 

• Hydrangea Type: Quercifolia
• Hardiness Zone: 5-9
• Bloom Time: Mid-Summer to Late-Autumn

Hydrangeas quercifolia prefers shade except for "Gatsby Gal" which is all sunshine. This is an oakleaf hydrangea growing five to six feet (1.5-1.8 m) tall and wide, is more compact than others in the oakleaf family making it suitable for use in a container.

The multitude of blossoms covering this plant will proceed to age to pink in the fall along with its foliage which will take on a red hue making it the perfect fall plant.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 4-7
• Bloom Time: Late-Spring to Late-Autumn

The "Sweet Summer" hydrangea is covered with sweet white dense flowers in the late summer that turn light pink into the fall. Its dense flower crown is a looker and the flower will turn pink in the cold. Growing up very quickly to four to five feet (1.2-1.5 m) tall.

Like the Pee Gee, this hydrangea is very versatile and can be grown as a multi-stemmed shrub or pruned into a single-trunk tree. Being less tolerant of the cold, suitable for zones of 4-7, and blooming multi-seasons long, it's no surprise that this preferred plant has been dubbed ''Sweet Summer".

• Hydrangea Type: Serrata
• Hardiness Zone: 5-9
• Bloom Time: Early-Summer to Early-Autumn

This micro hydrangea is a cute shrub that lives up to its name of "Tiny Tuff Stuff", only growing from 18 inches to two feet (0.5-0.6 m). Not only is it covered with dainty lace-cap flowers that tug at your heartstrings, these flowers initially bloom in early summer for 4 weeks.

Then they return to rebloom in late summer to early fall. Their flower colors range from blue to lavender, pink, and white depending on soil acidity. This can be manipulated by adding aluminum sulfate which encourages more blue blooms.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 4-9
• Bloom Time: Late-Spring to Early-Autumn

"White Wedding Hydrangea" is a brand new variety of hydrangea covered in luminously abundant white flowers. Its white petals are whiter than all other selections of white-flowered hydrangeas. They are easy to care for and are resistant to deer.

It grows four to six feet (1.2-1.6 m) high, and three to five feet (0.8-1.5 m) wide. Its blooming period is one of the lengthy ones, starting in the spring and lasting till fall. 

• Hydrangea Type: Macrophylla
• Hardiness Zone: 5-9
• Bloom Time: Early-Summer to Late-Summer

"Cityline Mars" macrophylla hydrangeas boasts incredible variegated mophead flower clusters of multi-colored florets that range from deep indigo-blue to magenta-pink. Blooming from very early to late summer, the long-lasting blooms age to an attractive green.

Like any other Cityline variants, this one also doesn't need pruning and blooms on deadwood, preferring sun to part sun or shade in the afternoon. It is mildew-resistant and grows up to 3 feet (0.9 m) tall. Add aluminum sulfate or lime for bluer or pinkier flowers respectively in late fall or early spring.

• Hydrangea Type: Paniculata
• Hardiness Zone: 3-8
• Bloom Time: Early-Summer to Late-Autumn

"Zinfin Dolls" looks a bit like the classy "Pinky Winky" hydrangeas but, consists of a creamy white mophead blooms that slowly turn into a pink flower bottom up. This results in the "Pinky Winky's" white-pink dual-toned look with the pink eventually aging into a deep red and maintaining their color for months.

Blooming early summer to late fall, the color of their blooms is not impacted by soil pH. Growing four to six feet (1.2-1.8 m) in height and width, it is a good choice for cold climates and prefers sun to partial shade.