Hydrangea Chaos
Not sure how we got here. But alas, we're in Hydrangea chaos, yet again. Lately, it seems like every hydrangea has an evil stepbrother trying to knock him off. I must tell you that we carry way too many and there are thousands more to choose from. (That may be a slight exaggeration.) Oh, where to start! (I am only listing what you should expect Christensen’s to carry)
Let’s start with arborescens (Smooth Hydrangea). Arborescens flower on new wood. So, prune if needed and they will re-flush.
‘Annabelles' remain a staple and Christensen’s sells hundreds.
Incrediball® is considered an improved ‘Annabelle’ with bigger flowers and stronger stems. They are tolerant of both clay and alkaline soils as well as salt and shade.
The Incrediball® Series includes:
Invincibelle® comes next. The original Invincibelle® was considered the “Pink Annabelle”. It disappeared fast and was replaced by Invincibelle® Spirit II, which is still pink but with stronger stems to hold up the large flowers.
P.S. For every Invincibelle® series Hydrangea sold, Proven Winners donates $1.00 to Breast Cancer research.
The newest arborescens is Flowerfull®. Size-wise, it’s in the middle reaching 3-4’ x 4-5’ with strong stems and large white flowers (ageing green). It is listed as having great disease resistance.
Let’s move on to the “Big Leaf Hydrangea” (macrophylla).
Over the past few years, there has been a slew of new varieties added to the reblooming Endless Summer® Collection. Some have been around for a couple of years but are just now getting their 15 minutes of fame.
The collection includes:
Making it’s Christensen’s debut in 2026 is Dream Cloud® with their white, mop-head flowers and on a 3-4 x 3-4’ plant.
Before we head into the paniculatas, I would like to highlight a few other lacecaps from the Tuff Stuff® series. Christensen’s has carried these for a few years now and they have held up very well in the nursery. The original Tuff Stuff® is a 2-3’ tall rebloomer with blue or pink flowers. Christensen’s will also carry:
OK, now we can discuss paniculatas.
Hydrangea paniculata Bobo® are The O.G. panicle hydrangea, no evil stepbrothers in sight. Bobo® are 24-30 x 36-48”, with strong stems, a rounded habit, white flowers and look like they belong on a macrophylla (big round ball flowers) and not a paniculata (usually more of cone shape). The flowers are also sterile, so they just bloom and bloom.
Hopefully your coffee cup is full - here comes the mess.
‘Limelight’ has been around forever. Reaching 8x8 with green flowers that age pink, red, burgundy. For now, these are still available.
However, Limelight Prime® is looking to knock off ‘Limelight’. Primes® still have the green flowers that age to red and pink tones. But Limelight Prime® are a little shorter at 6’ x 5’ with stronger stems and bloom earlier, giving you a longer season of color.
Little Lime Punch® is the middle brother, reaching 5’ x 5’ but I think it holds its shape better with very strong stems. Little Lime Punch® flowers emerge green but age to a rich red with pinks and whites mixed in. Also, the flowers start the color change at the bottom and work up the flower stalk giving an array of colors before autumn.
At 3-5' x 3-5', ‘Limelight’s baby brother can be found in its dwarf version, Little Lime®.
Little Lime® has the same green flowers but age more red.
‘Quick Fire’ Hydrangea and all its children bloom about 1 month earlier than other paniculatas, providing a little longer show. They come in at 8’ x 8’, start flowering white then age pink with great fall color.
Little Quick Fire® is one of my favorites and a dwarf of ‘Quick Fire’, at only 3-5’ x 3-5’. The flowers are white, age pink and the red stems stand out on the plant.
I don’t know why. But with a name like “Fab” I thought Quick Fire Fab® was small – it is not. It is around 7’ x 6’. Unlike their parent, Quick Fire Fab® flowers are pink mopheads then age to red than white. Their stems were also bred to be stronger.
Moving on to another standard - Pinky Winky®. “Pinkys” come in at 6-8’ x 6-8’ with white flowers that age pink. The flowers can also be up to 12” long making for a very showy plant
Now there is also Pinky Winky Prime®. It is touted as having much stronger stems than its parent. Otherwise, it’s similar to the original.
Phew, almost to the end. (You thought I was joking!)
Puffer Fish® Hydrangea’s claim to fame is it has so many flowers you cannot see the plant! According to Proven Winner, "Puffers" are a Bobo® but puffier on a compact 3-5’ x 3-5’. The flowers are white and age green on strong stems.
Powerball® is one of the newest from Proven Winners. Powerball® has mop head flowers on strong stems, starting lime, aging white and pink. It is also a solid rebloomer with a size of 3-6’ x 3-6’.
Believe it or not, there are still more. We didn't even discuss "Oakleafs". I'll cover those later this summer.
I’m always on the look-out for new varieties that will grow well in Michigan. But they tell me, in order to get a new variety through the gate I have to remove one.
