Zone 3-4 Gardening For Hydrangeas

Question

Good morning! I am looking to plant hydrangeas in my front gardening area. I am so happy to have found your Information that I CAN in fact grow hydrangeas here as it get so cold in winter and dry and hot in the summer, with 8 hours of direct sunlight. I want hydrangeas that won’t need ground covering and will ‘weep’ and cover its base with its flowers and leaves. Please provide help if you would be so kind, thank you!!

Answer 1

Since it gets so cold there, and hot in summer, mulching under the shrub would help it thrive.

Panicle hydrangeas and smooth hydrangeas can survive in zones 3 and 4. Eight hours of direct sun hopefully won't be too much. If so, you may need to water more often. (mulch would help here, too) Look for hydrangeas with the second part of the name as "paniculata" or "arborescens."

For example Hydrangea arborescens 'Hills of Snow' or Hydrangea paniculata 'Bobo.'

I've included an article that shows several photos. I think you would like the Annabelle hydrangeas.

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/garden_detail/hydrangeas-in-the-garden/

https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/hydrangea-arborescens/

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/pruning-hydrangeas-best-bloom