What are the common varieties of hydrangea? A guide to the main types

The hydrangea is native to our country and Japan, and was introduced to the UK in 1736. In Europe, it is grown fairly widely in the Netherlands, Germany and France, and hydrangea varieties in colors such as red, blue and purple can be seen in flower shops. Common hydrangea varieties include Alpenglühen, Red Hat, Enziandom, Flamboyant and Snowball.

Alpenglühen: flowers deep red or rose red.

Red Hat: leaves small, dark green; flowers light rose red to magenta.

Enziandom: leaves dark green; flowers bright red, and if the soil pH is below 5, the flowers turn deep blue.

Flamboyant: leaves small; flowers large, magenta, with a flower diameter of 5 cm.

Snowball: leaves small, serrated; normally the flowers are rose red and can turn blue. Treatment with aluminum sulfate can turn them sky blue with a beige center.

French Hydrangea: flowers magenta or rose red, and can change to blue or light purple.

Otaksa: an old variety with a history of more than 100 years; it is a dwarf variety bred in Japan, with pink or blue flowers.

Regula: leaves small and compact; flowers pale greenish white; a variety selected and bred in Germany.

Pink Beauty: inflorescence large, magenta or rose red, with a flower diameter of 20-25 cm.

Stratford Hydrangea: leaves small, dark green; flowers rose red.

German Hydrangea: flowers pink, and can turn purple when treated with aluminum sulfate.

Big-leaf Hydrangea: one of the varieties of hydrangea, with large leaves reaching 7-4 cm; all flowers are sterile, initially white, later turning light blue or pink.

Purple-stem Hydrangea: stems dark purple; leaves oval; flowers rose-colored.

Serrated-petal Hydrangea: flowers white or rose red, with toothed edges on the petals.

Blue-edge Hydrangea: flowers deep blue, with the marginal flowers blue or white.

Silver-edge Hydrangea: leaf margins white.