I’ve had a love affair with bigleaf hydrangeas for as long as I can remember. Every summer, I’d admire the huge blue mops during Cape Cod family vacations. This is what I expected I’d grow when I planted my first Nikko blue hydrangeas. Of course, I now know that these old-time hydrangeas can be a challenge.

First of all, the Cape and other coastal areas in my region are zone 7a on the plant hardiness map, so winters there are generally milder and more temperate than my 5a zone. Second, I’m fairly certain our hillside home places us in a colder microclimate.

Replaced with Endless Summer in Front Yard

I started out with high hopes with my Nikko blues in my front flower garden about 20 years ago. They gave me some pleasure over the years, but mostly, they disappointed me. Mind you, I’d come across hydrangeas growing nearby loaded with mops, so I assumed it wasn’t impossible. On average, I would maybe get two of three blooms in a season over several plants. Seriously, how sad! I’d wrap them for the winter, but it really didn’t help. Nor did fertilizers or other enhancements.

Finally, three years ago, I dug the Nikko blues up in front of the house and replaced them with hardier, more winter-friendly and slightly smaller Endless Summer varieties. Once again, I had high hopes.

The Endless Summer are doing wonderfully well compared to the Nikko blues, but they’re not bursting with mops like those I see in seaside areas. In addition, while I get that soil pH determines the color of bigleaf hydrangeas, seeing my Endless Summer BloomStruck shrubs produce pink, blue and purple flowers on one shrub is truly special. Meanwhile, the blooms on my Original varietal are a lighter blue, sometimes with a tinge of purple.    

Better Luck with Panicle Hydrangeas

Following the advice of my local nursery, I added a panicle variety called Vanilla Strawberry which is quite prolific. Cold-hardy panicle hydrangeas thrive in my zone and while the blooms are cone-shaped instead of mops, my plant is loaded with lovely white blooms that turn dusty rose as the summer wears on. These flowers are quite easy to vase dry and worth the effort; learn how.

I also have a well-established panicle called Chantilly Lace large shrub that thrives in the corner of my front yard. Its blooms are delicate in an old-fashioned doily-style charm.

Uprooted Hydrangeas in Back Yard 

Years ago, my mother picked up a collection of hydrangeas for me from a Cape Cod nursery where the shrubs had a spectacular showing. No so for my back yard. This spring, after finding homes for these hydrangeas, I decided to transform the beds around my shed into a shade garden. Our once-sunny backyard has changed over the years as the trees filled out.

So, after a visit with a bonus family member (learn more in my Mother’s Day post), we divided some of her shade perennials that I transplanted from her yard to mine. I’m patiently anticipating how they’ll fill out the space next year.

The transplant garden, consisting of several hosta varieties, astilbe, phlox and ferns, will acclimate as it takes root this summer. To add in a little color while this garden gets established, I planted zinnias and inpatiens in the bed and coleus with dusty miller in the window box.

Learn more about what I grow in my yard by checking out all my gardening posts!