How cold hardy are hydrangeas?

Always above 0 degrees F – No protection of any species needed through the winter. Once established, all commonly grown hydrangea species are cold hardy in this temperature range. Always above -10 degrees F – Protect Hydrangea aspera and certain selections of Hydrangea macrophylla.

Similarly one may ask, what temperature is too cold for hydrangeas?

Temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the day and just below 60 F at night are ideal. During the fall bud development stage, hydrangeas need six weeks of temperatures below 65 F for the buds to set. After this period, the hydrangeas should go dormant in temperatures between 35 and 45 F for six weeks.

Also, what are the hardiest hydrangeas? Panicle Forming Zone 4 Hydrangea Varieties

Grandiflora – Creamy white blooms, often called Pee Gee.
Limelight – Startling lime green flowers.
Compacta – Great for smaller spaces or containers.
Pink Diamond – Antique blush blooms.
Tardiva – Late blooming variety.
Pinky Winky – Lovely rose pink flowers.

Then, do hydrangeas need to be covered for frost?

Keep Them Cozy. Whether or not hydrangeas need protection depends on how cold the winter temperatures drop. If the air temperature doesn't go below 0 degrees (zone 7) there is no need for winter protection. In colder climates, wrap or completely cover marginally hardy hydrangeas.

Can hydrangea survive winter?

Winter Kill on Hydrangeas The low winter temperatures can kill the plant, or they might die because of drying out caused by winds. Because hydrangeas go dormant during the winter, you may not notice winter kill on hydrangeas until spring.

32 Related Question Answers Found

Do you prune hydrangeas in the fall?

Fall Blooming

Prune in late winter and early spring. Prune as far back as you want right above the first leaf joints. It will grow from that point onward, getting larger each year. Read more about pruning hydrangeas, and learn whether your shrub blooms on old or new growth in “Pruning Hydrangeas” by Janet Carson.

Do you cut down hydrangeas in the fall?

If you prune old wooded hydrangeas in fall, you are cutting off next seasons blooms. Summer blooming hydrangeas, or those that bloom on new wood, are pruned in the fall, after they stop blooming. Hydrangeas are colorful and vibrant in the early season, but are hard to preserve after being cut.

Should I deadhead hydrangeas?

Since hydrangea blossoms are so big, deadheading a hydrangea makes a real difference in diverting energy to more important parts of the plant's growth. You should carry out this practice all through the blooming season to encourage new blossoms and keep your plant looking fresh.

Should hydrangeas be cut down before winter?

In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger blooms if pruned hard like this each year, but many gardeners opt for smaller blooms on sturdier stems.

How do you winterize peonies?

Remove the peony hoops if you used them to support your peony shrubs. Store them away over the winter for use next spring. Cut back all the stems so that they extend approximately 2 inches above the crown of the plant. The crown is the point where stems and roots meet.

Will hydrangeas come back after a freeze?

Identifying Frost and Freeze Damage

Water inside the plant freezes, causing cells to burst inside the plant. Plants with minor cold damage or chilling, turn reddish. Hydrangeas that haven't put on any new growth are likely to be fine, even after a frost or freeze.

What do you do with hydrangeas before winter?

How to Prepare Hydrangea for Winter

Prune away the dead branches. It's important that you only cut away the dead branches and leave the healthy ones, or you will have pruned its buds.
Build a frame around your hydrangea plant with stakes of wood.
Wrap chicken wire around the frame that you built.
Fill the cage with mulch, pine needles or leaves.

How do you cover hydrangeas for winter?

Wrap Hydrangeas for Insulation

The idea is to make your plants think they live in a warmer growing zone. You can use a tomato cage or build a cage with chicken wire/garden fleece/burlap and fill it loosely with leaves. You can even bubble wrap the exterior of this cage, adding even more insulation.

Will hydrangeas come back every year?

When and how to prune:

Finally, if the plant has large, conical flowers, which are often white but may also be green or pink, you can treat it as new wood blooming Hydrangea. These shrubs form next year's flower buds in late summer or early fall.

How do hydrangeas look in winter?

Hydrangeas require a chilling period for dormancy. Like other plants, this period comes naturally during winter, even in many mild climates. Throughout the dormancy, hydrangeas drop all of their leaves and look dead. Depending on the species, you'll likely see several old canes, some of which weep or twist.

Should hydrangeas be mulched?

Shredded wood bark or compost are good choices for mulch around hydrangeas. Pine needles are good for acid-loving plants, such as hydrangeas. Bigleaf hydrangeas especially like 3 to 5 inches of an organic mulch like pine bark, pinestraw or fall leaves to both conserve moisture and control weeds.

Do you cut off dead hydrangea blooms?

Prune this Hydrangea in late winter to keep the plants from becoming overgrown and encourage more new growth, more flower buds, and larger blooms. You can remove dead flowers, as soon as they become unattractive and clean up the overall shape of the plant.

What should I plant next to my hydrangea?

It is also effective to pick plants with very different foliage for companions for hydrangea, such as lacy, delicate ferns. Or consider the delicate evergreen 'Soft Caress' mahonia for hydrangea companion plants. The feathery texture of the foliage contrasts nicely with the wide hydrangea leaves.

Where is the best place to plant hydrangeas?

Planting

Most hydrangeas thrive in rich, porous, somewhat moist soils.
They prefer full sun in the morning, with some afternoon shade; however, many will grow and bloom in partial shade.
Plant in spring or fall.
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide.

Do deer eat hydrangeas?

According to Rutgers University, most hydrangeas are “occasionally severely damaged”. Which means that deer prefer other plants more, but when hungry deer will eat hydrangeas. Making hydrangeas that bloom on old wood especially susceptible to deer damage, as it could ruin the following year's blooms.

Is Hydrangea a hardy plant?

Hardy hydrangea - Hydrangea paniculata may just be the plant everyone's been looking for. It's a very hardy plant (USDA zone 4) and forms its buds in early summer just before it blooms in mid-summer. Plant it in full sun and watch it grow. It's adaptable to a wide range of soils and has no serious pests.

Are hydrangeas fast growing?

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.