If you had to choose the best flowering shrub for a garden, most experienced gardeners would recommend choosing the hydrangea.
With their striking foliage, gorgeous blooms, and countless variations, hydrangeas can be grown in almost any garden.
Since you came across this article, you must be wondering whether hydrangeas can be grown in shade or not.
In general, hydrangeas do well in full sun to partial shade. A hydrangea that lives in the shade depends on the species, they can be in full sun or partial shade.
There is one exception and that is the climbing hydrangea. This particular variety can thrive even in full shade.
Several factors determine shade tolerance, and some types of hydrangeas can also survive in low light environments.
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Can a hydrangea grow in the shade??
The quantity of light received by plants in a garden varies. If there were a full, deep shadow, the sun’s rays would never reach the earth.
On the other hand, full shade indicates the absence of direct sunlight, but does not exclude a certain amount of filtered light.
Simply measure a specific area of your garden from sunrise to sunset every hour if you are unsure of how much sun your garden is getting.
From there, pay attention to whether the area is sunny or shady and how long the direct light is. Partial shade is generally when the sun shines on the location for less than 4 hours per day.
Garden centers now sell sunshine estimators, which are a great option and tell you exactly what kind of light is in your garden.
If your garden isn’t fully shaded, you can grow several plants, including some shade-loving types of hydrangeas.
Some hydrangeas like light shade and partial shade, which are the best living conditions for these plants.
Hydrangea Macrophylla and Hydrangea Serrata can do well in soft tones, but when it comes to dark, deep tones, they don’t do well.
In general, for all varieties, hydrangeas needing shade should be placed in partial shade. The only type of hydrangea that does well in shade is the climbing hydrangea, also known as the panicle hydrangea.
Which hydrangea grows best in the shade?
oak leaf hydrangea
The oakleaf hydrangea prefers shady locations, but can handle direct light if properly watered. Oakleaf is a hardy natural plant that requires minimal maintenance.
The oakleaf hydrangea likes sun exposure in cooler areas. However, this particular shade tolerance of the hydrangea is high in warmer regions.
Hydrangea arborescens “Annabelle”
One of the most famous hydrangeas is Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’.
In late summer and early fall, this particular species produces huge sponge-like flowers, and the plant itself has very soft green foliage.
This particular type of hydrangea does very well in soft shade and even prefers this type of environment. Thus, if you have a slightly shaded location, you can plant the Annabelle hydrangea there.
hydrangea serrata
A well-known variety of free-flowering Serrata hydrangea is called “Bluebird”. The small flowers are gentian blue in acid soil and mauve pink in alkaline soil.
From late summer the leaves turn plum-purple, also in the shade. So, the shade tolerance of this particular hydrangea seems to be quite high, but it benefits from soft shade, not full cover.
hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Madame Emile Moulliere’ is a white bulbous hydrangea, considered a shade plant.
This one in particular has a unique feature, when grown in the sun it has reddish tints around the edges of the florets. If, on the contrary, they are planted in the shade, the flowers will be completely white. Sounds good, right?
snow queen hydrangea
The hydrangea Quercifolia, also called the snow queen, is on the list of hydrangeas that tolerate shade well. These powdery pink flowers appear in mid-summer.
The leaves begin the season a very dark green, gradually changing to a dark reddish-bronze color and eventually ending this hue, adding a striking splash of color to your fall landscape.
Will hydrangeas bloom in the shade?
A hydrangea’s flowering, development rate, vigor and overall health are all affected by the amount of light it receives.
Your hydrangea in light or partial shade may struggle with insufficient lighting if it fails to bloom or suffers in other ways.
Despite this, your hydrangea should be fine as long as it receives only partial shade and the plant receives 5-7 hours of sunlight per day. However, if they don’t get enough sun, they may have fewer flowers and less showy colors.
The climbing hydrangea is like a climbing plant and has beautiful flowers. Although it prefers to be in the sun, the hydrangea also thrives in the shade.
Climbing hydrangeas are a great option for places that receive little. sunlight. This one can climb on a variety of surfaces with its aerial roots.
The climbing hydrangea initially has a bushy form, but once it begins to grow, it rises slowly. Climbing hydrangeas are annualunlike most hydrangea varieties.
The vine produces beautiful white Lacecap flowers throughout the growing season. The shade tolerance of the climbing hydrangea is very high, so it will also thrive in shade.
How to Care for Hydrangea in the Shade
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Although hydrangeas prefer rich, fertile soil, they can also tolerate poor soil, as long as it has good drainage. Hydrangeas like slightly acidic soil.
You can apply a variety of soil additives designed to give plants high acidity. Don’t be alarmed if you notice that some hydrangea flowers change color depending on the acidity of the soil.
The pink flowers of the hydrangea can turn blue in an alkaline environment. Getting hydrangeas to bloom in a very shady landscape can be difficult.
However, if the soil is well-drained, rich and fertile, it can increase the hydrangea’s shade tolerance.
fertilizer
One technique to meet the nutritional needs of the hydrangea plant is to add compost to the plant. Usually I. Another option is to add fertilizer several times to your hydrangea when the growing season arrives.
Look for fertilizers made specifically for hydrangeas. While liquid formulations may need to be applied every two weeks, slow-release fertilizers may only need two or three during the season.
Water
While hydrangeas need moist soil, hydrangeas don’t need that much. Water Like those that grow in full sun.
Unlike hydrangeas that grow in partial shade, your shade hydrangeas can survive on water provided by rain alone.
That said, no matter where your hydrangeas are, watch for signs of dehydration. Your hydrangea is telling you that it needs extra water when the leaves are falling.
final thoughts
It’s no surprise that hydrangeas have become so popular with gardeners, given their abundance of blooms and remarkable adaptability.
There is a hydrangea for almost every garden, as there are so many different types. The best light exposure for hydrangeas is definitely not full shade, with the exception of the climbing variety.
These beauties prefer light to partial shade, especially in hot areas.
Your hydrangeas’ ability to produce flowers and their rate of growth and development are affected by the amount of sun exposure.
So if you have them in extremely shady areas, they may not thrive and bloom as well as they would in a normal setting.