Making Sense out of Hydrangeas

(Updated: July 24, 2026, 1:53 p.m.)
limelight hydrangea

Limelight hydrangeas can get 8' tall in maturity.

Keeping hydrangeas straight can be a confusing business. There are six main species of hydrangeas that we need to know. However there are a dizzying number of cultivars in the marketplace. So how do we keep up with it all?

Well, if you are like me and need to recall and identify lots of kinds of plants, you just learn the genus and species nomenclature of plants generally. Maybe the most popular cultivar. I cannot keep up with all of the new cultivars or cultivated varieties that are created annually. There are up to one thousand active cultivars for sale in the US. and the number increases every year.

H. arborescens 'Invincibelle Spirit' by NC Hort Thomas Ranney

Hydrangea arborescens 'Invincibelle Spirit' by NC Horticulture Professor and Plant Breeder Thomas Ranney. Developed in Mills River at the NC State Research Center. It is a pink mophead with stiffer stems.

Hydrangea Type Size Flower Type Most Common Cultivars
Hydrangea macrophylla, Bigleaf hydrangea 3-6' high and wide mophead or lacecap 'Endless Summer'
Hydrangea paniculata, Panicled hydrangea 8-25' high, 6-10' wide cone-shape 'Limelight'
Hydrangea arborescens, Smooth hydrangea 3-5' high and wide mophead 'Annabelle', 'Invicebelle'
Hydrangea serrata, Mountain hydrangea 2-4' high and wide lacecap 'Annie's Blue'
Hydrangea anomala, Climbing hydrangea climbing vine lacecap N/A
Hydrangea quercifolia, Oakleaf hydrangea 8-10' high and wide cone-shape 'Alice'
Annabelle hydrangea

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' is a mophead form of the plant. --Dale-McNeil--cc-by-nc-2-0

Mountain hydrangea - Hydrangea serrata straight species

Mountain hydrangea Hydrangea serrata is our locally native hydrangea. It can be found in the woods all over Henderson County. The straight species form has a lacecap flower.

oakleaf hydrangea

The oakleaf hydrangea is native to the piedmont of the southeast. Hydrangea quercifolia

Hydrangea macrophylla

Hydrangea macrophylla or the bigleaf hydrangea can be found growing in most gardens in the country. Hydrangea macrophylla Ilouque CC BY 4.0

climbing hydrangea on a wall

Hydrangea petiolaris var. anamola is a vining hydrangea. It needs deep shade but will do a good job covering walls.

hydrangea serrata shrub

Hydrangea serrata is a small hydrangea with lacecap flowers.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight'

Hydrangea paniculata is one of the most popular types of hydrangeas sold. 'Limelight' is shown above and the shrub can be quite large.

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Steve Pettis