Blue hydrangea: best varieties

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue'

Hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’ offers, from early summer until the first frosts, large, flattened spherical inflorescences, measuring up to 15 cm in diameter. They are a lovely light blue, fairly bright in acidic soil, and tend to become pink in calcareous soil. The inflorescences are composed of sterile florets, each comprising four bracts, often paler in the centre. It is a bush reaching up to 1.20 m in height and is very hardy.

Spherical inflorescences of Hydrangea ‘Nikko Blue’

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer The Original'

Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer The Original’ is prized for its generous flowering, which lasts from July to October. It bears large spherical inflorescences, light blue in acidic soil and pink on limestone soil. It is a perpetual variety, flowering from June–July through to October. This hydrangea forms a broad shrub reaching up to 1.5 m tall, and is completely hardy.

Abundant flowering of Hydrangea ‘Endless Summer The Original’

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Zorro'

Hydrangea ‘Zorro’ stands out for its erect, black stems, which bear flattened, blue inflorescences from July to September. They consist of small fertile flowers in the centre and sterile outer flowers made up of well-developed bracts. This hydrangea grows up to 1.80 m tall and bears large dark green leaves. The contrast between its dark stems and blue flowering is striking! Its qualities earned it the Award of Garden Merit, an award granted by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

The blue inflorescences of Hydrangea ‘Zorro’, borne by dark stems

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nachtigall'

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nachtigall’ flowers between July and October, and bears flat inflorescences, which in acidic soil are dark blue, slightly purplish. Its intense, deep colour is much admired. In neutral soil, flower colour tends towards dark pink–purplish. Inflorescences measure up to 15 cm in diameter and consist of tiny fertile florets surrounded by large sterile florets bearing four broad bracts. This hydrangea forms a medium-sized shrub, reaching up to 1.5 m in height.

Hydrangea ‘Nachtigall’ is among hydrangeas with the bluest flowers, of a truly intense colour

Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Deckle'

Hydrangea ‘Blue Deckle’ offers a beautiful, soft tender blue flowering, in the form of flat inflorescences. Sterile florets comprise four slender, very delicate bracts. Its flowering is perpetual, as it flowers first in June–July, then flowers again later in summer in August–September. At ripeness, this hydrangea reaches 2 metres in height and spread. Its foliage is also appreciated, turning purplish in autumn. Its delicate flowering makes it one of the best hydrangeas to include in a cottage or romantic garden!

Tender blue flowers of Hydrangea ‘Blue Deckle’

Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Bird'

Hydrangea ‘Blue Bird’ flowers from June–July through to September. The inflorescences are composed of small fertile flowers in the centre, dark blue in colour, and fertile florets on the outside, white – pale blue. Its colour variations are much appreciated! However, flowers take on a rather mauve-pink tinge if soil is neutral or calcareous. It is a bush reaching up to 1.20 m in height and whose leaves take on beautiful red tones in autumn. It favours cool, shaded positions and rich, humus-bearing soil. It has been awarded the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

Blue and white inflorescences of Hydrangea ‘Blue Bird’

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blaumeise'

‘Blaumeise’ is a Hydrangea macrophylla that produces inflorescences in summer up to 15 cm wide and made up of small fertile flowers at the centre, surrounded by sterile florets on the outside. Flowers have a beautiful soft blue hue, slightly paler at the centre. It is a robust, very hardy Hydrangea macrophylla that reaches up to 1.50 m tall and has ovate, dentate leaves.

Delicate blue flowering of Hydrangea ‘Blaumeise’

Bonus: Hydrangea involucrata

Also discover Hydrangea involucrata!

Native to Asia, Hydrangea involucrata is a small hydrangea producing flattened inflorescences with hues ranging from pale blue to mauve and white. Its inflorescences are made up of small fertile flowers, often very pale blue–mauve, and larger sterile flowers, almost white. It also bears attractive crinkled, velvety leaves. It tolerates slightly calcareous soils and favours cool, shaded spots.

Hydrangea involucrata ‘Late Love’