Hydrangeas are delicate-looking shrubs that produce gorgeous flowers of stunning pastel colors. If that sounds like a plant you might struggle to grow, you should reconsider yourself! Indeed, hydrangeas are relatively easy to grow and require little to no maintenance once established.
Before you go to your favorite gardening store to purchase them, check if you can provide these plants with what they need to thrive. Indeed, being low-maintenance doesn’t mean you won’t have to do anything to make your garden’s conditions optimal for its growth.
Plus, check if your USDA hardiness zone is suitable for their development. If you live in zone 6, you enjoy this “Best Hydrangea for Shade Zone 6” guide. It will help you choose the hydrangea varieties that will grow in your yard without you getting headaches or worrying about their survival.
Best Hydrangea for Shade Zone 6
Keep reading to match your growing conditions with suitable hydrangeas! This list will help you get some inspiration about which plants you should add to your garden. If you need to fill a shady area in your yard, don’t worry: we are here to help and give you some ideas to do it gracefully and elegantly!
Smooth Hydrangea
Smooth Hydrangea is an ideal option for zone 6, especially if you don’t have much time to care for your garden. This hardy plant does well in various conditions and thrives in hardiness zones between 3 and 9. You won’t have to worry about cold winters or the hottest summers.
With the proper care, this plant won’t struggle. Smooth hydrangea is easy to grow and suitable for beginners too. However, it doesn’t like to be dry: make sure you regularly water it to prevent it from turning brown. You might not be able to bring it back to its original color!
Place it under partial shade for best results. Add some mulch around it to increase water retention and maintain ideal soil temperatures. You will love its clusters of white flowers that will enrich your garden from midsummer through autumn!
The best varieties of Smooth Hydrangea for zone 6 include Annabelle and White Dome. Plant them somewhere they can grow up to six feet tall without being disturbed.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Oakleaf hydrangea is one of the best types of hydrangea plants to grow in your garden. It is elegant and performs well under full or partial shade. Despite that, it produces showy clusters of white flowers contrasting with the plant’s dense foliage that becomes purple to red in fall.
This plant can grow up to eight feet tall: if you are looking for something to add more privacy around your property, consider planting oakleaf hydrangea as a hedge. Unlike other varieties, this one doesn’t mind dry soils. However, it prefers moist conditions. Add mulch to improve water retention and keep it under optimal conditions for longer.
If you don’t have much space in your garden, consider getting Little Honey: it only grows about four feet tall. Otherwise, for extra-large blooms, plant the Alice species. But you will have to make space for it: it can grow up to ten feet high!
Climbing Hydrangea
Climbing hydrangea is different from any other variety of this plant. It is a slow-growing vine that thrives in full shade in hardiness zones between 4 and 6. Provided it with adequate support to aid its growth. You won’t have to give this plant much care: only ensure you water it regularly to keep it healthy and prevent its leaves from wilting.
Reblooming Hydrangea
Reblooming hydrangea will provide you with color all year round. These species produce flowers every few weeks in summer and fall. They will survive through winters in zone 6, provided that you place them under partial shade.
Pick a location that receives sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon. Also, keep the soil moist and increase watering frequency during the hottest months of the year. These plants don’t like to be dry!
Best Hydrangea for Shade Zone 6: Conclusion
You might not know about this, but how acid your soil is will affect the color of your blue and pink hydrangea varieties. For intense colors, amend your soil to make it more acidic. Add some sulfur or aluminum sulfate for best results! Choose Endless Summer for pink or blue flowers or Dance Moonlight for deep blue blooms.