NEW HYDRANGEAS FOR 2025

Despite the warmer temps we are having, my Connecticut garden is still snow- and ice-covered: way too early to start any spring chores. But it’s not too early to dream about what’s to come. And the breeders and growers are obliging us with many new hydrangeas for 2025 to drool over.

BIG LEAF (MACROPHYLLA) HYDRANGEAS

Leading the parade of new big leaf hydrangeas for 2025 is Hydrangea macrophylla Soul Mate™. It’s a Zone 5 compact rebloomer (2-3 feet high and wide) with frilly edged pH sensitive mophead flowers. I like the fact that it is a rebloomer so you can be assured of flowers even after a harsh winter.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Soul Mate’ is a stunner

If you have seen Fairytrail^® cascading mophead hydrangeas, be prepared for yet another entry this year. Keep your eyes open for Fairytrail^® Green Cascade with lime-colored flowers that have brushstrokes of dark green. This is yet another in the family of cascade Fairytrail^® options that are well suited for containers, hanging baskets, and areas where it can drape dramatically, like at the top of a retaining wall. They are unique in that they flower all along the stem. Keep in mind that they flower on last year’s growth (old wood) and are not rebloomers. If you garden in a zone colder than 6, you’ll need to bring it in for the winter. Or treat it as an annual and kiss it goodbye when winter comes.

Cascade Hydrangea macrophylla Fairytrail Green starts out this color

A third Fairytrail introduction is Fairytrail Fresco™ Cascade Hydrangea, the newest and most colorful cascade hydrangea. This award-winning hydrangea boasts gorgeous blue or pink mophead blooms in late spring/summer. Come fall, the foliage transitions to a stunning, rich red color, adding an additional pop of color to the garden. Like other Fairytrail hydrangeas, its cascading habit is perfect for containers, hanging baskets, or mixed beds. The flower color will be dependent on soil chemistry.

Cascade hydrangea macrohylla Fairytrail Fresco can produce blue flowers

As long as we’re talking containers, you may want to seek out Hydrangea Haba℗, a new double flowered mophead hydrangea. Its growth habit lends itself beautifully to hanging baskets as its flowering stems trail over the edges of the container it’s in. It’s meant to be grown as an annual, not unlike the pot plants we see at Easter and Mother’s Day. There are several options you might see: HABA Pink℗, HABA Soft Pink℗, HABA Purple℗, and HABA Soft Blue℗.

Hydrangea macrophylla Haba Pink is one of 4 Haba options you may see.

Eclipse^® Bigleaf Hydrangea is being widely promoted. It is a recent mophead hydrangea introduction with dark purple, almost black leaves. Like other Hydrangea macrophylla, the color of the flowers depends on the soil pH. In general, Eclipse^® hydrangeas grown in alkaline soils will have cranberry colored flowers. Those grown in acidic soils will lean toward amethyst colored flowers. You can expect this plant to grow to 3-5 feet high and wide in zones 5-9.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Eclipse’ has very dark foliage

I was very excited last year to get a trial plant of Hydrangea macrophylla Game Changer®. The supply is finally built up enough to offer it for sale at retail so look for it. There are 3 versions: ‘Game Changer® Blue’, ‘Game Changer® Picotee’ and ‘Game Changer® White’. What makes Game Changer® special is that it needs no winter cold set period to produce flowers. In view of the winter we are about to conclude, that should indeed be a game changer. New for 2025 is Giant Pink, with huge light pink blooms. They are hardy down to zone 5 and will stay small at about 2-3 feet high and wide.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Game Changer’ will generate pink flowers in alkalilne soil

Wee Bit Innocent^™  is a new hydrangea with lush double mophead blooms. The flowers can be pastel pink, blue, or shades of purple depending on the pH of your soil. Plus, it will rebloom a bit in the fall. Wee Bit Innocent™ is compact, coming in at only 2-3 feet high and wide. It is hardy down to zone 5.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Wee Bit Innocent’

WOODLAND/SMOOTH HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS

FlowerFull™ Smooth Hydrangea boasts superior genetics that produce significantly bolder blooms and sturdier upright stems. With two-to-three times more blooms per season than other Hydrangea arborescens, FlowerFull™ is a major improvement. That proliferation of blooms is held high on strong stems that don’t flop in the wind and rain. Reaching heights of three to four feet, FlowerFull™ is hardy down to zone 4.

Hydrangea arborescens ‘FlowerFull’

American Lace™ White Hydrangea arborescens and American Lace™ Dark Pink Hydrangea arborescens should be around this year. They are floriferous and have strong stems, the bane of most woodland/smooth hydrangeas. You can count on them being hardy to Zone 3 and growing to 4-5 feet high and wide. Like all hydrangea arborescens, they are natives which might be an important criteria for you.

Hydrangea arborescens American Lace Dark Pink

PANICLE HYDRANGEA (PANICULATA)

Not to be outdone by its cousins, panicle hydrangeas also have some new playmates in the sandbox. Look for Hydrangea paniculata Early Evolution in your garden center travels. The name stems from the color changes you will see on this plant as the flowers start lime-white before turning pure white. They blush as they age, ending up dark pink in September. Like all panicle hydrangeas, you get many months of blooms. It’s a nice, compact size coming in at 2 feet high and wide. Containers are just one use for it. It’s hardy down to zone 4.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Early Evolution’

Hot Sauce™ panicle hydrangea is another diminutive option in that it only grows 1-3 feet tall and 2-4 feet wide. It’s a little less hardy – only to Zone 5. Like many panicle hydrangeas, the flowers start lime green and then transform to white. The cooler temps of late summer and fall cause the flowers to evolve into shades of pink and red on a low and wide compact plant.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Hot Sauce’

Hydrangea paniculata Bouncy™ is a hardy hydrangea with large 12-to-15-inch white panicles that transition to rose-pink in late summer. Bouncy™ boasts super strong stems, is hardy down to zone 3 and will grow 4-5 feet high and wide. I liked the dark red stems against the large white panicle flowers.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bouncy’

Powerball^™ panicle hydrangea features large, nearly round blooms with densely packed florets. Flowers emerge lime green, transition to white, and mature to soft pinks in fall. Like all panicle hydrangeas it is disease resistant and long blooming. Deadheading isn’t necessary. In fact, those aged flowers can add interest to an otherwise dull winter landscape. You can keep it small at 3 feet or let it go to 6 feet. It is hardy to zone 3 and can tolerate as much sun as you can give it.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Powerball’

HYDRANGEA QUERCIFOLIA

Autumn Reprise™ Oakleaf Hydrangea seems to be one of the most exciting Hydrangea quercifolia to come down the pike. Yes, it has those fabulous flowers that start white and age to shades of pink. Yes, it is hardy to Zone 5 and yes, its foliage turns burgundy in the fall. But its best feature is that it is touted as a rebloomer. YAY!!! Although oakleaf hydrangeas are fairly dependable, there have been occasional seasons when those old wood buds have been frozen off (or eaten by deer). This one should save the day.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Autumn Reprise’

UPCOMING PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS/TALKS

I am continuing to book talks, both virtual and live. If you are interested in having me speak to your group, just click HERE. You will be taken to the “Contact Me” page of my site to begin our dialogue. I cover lots of other topics besides hydrangeas, as you will see when you click on “Speaking Topics.” All my talks are 5-star rated, so you won’t be disappointed.

Here are my upcoming March public dates:

March 9, New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NY. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pruning Big Leaf and Mountain Hydrangeas. Fee based.

March 26, Greenwich Botanical Center (GBC) 10 a.m. Safe Solutions to Gardens and Landscapes. Fee based.

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