ShrubsBlue Mophead Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Blue Mophead Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is a fast-growing shrub, hardy in USDA zones 6-9, that matures to about 3-6 ft × 3-6 ft. It does best in part shade with medium water needs in well-drained and occasionally-wet soil. Expect blue, pink and purple blooms in summer. It stands up well to salt, grows happily in containers.
- USDA zones
- 6-9
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Medium
- Mature size
- 3-6 ft × 3-6 ft
- Spacing
- 3 feet-6 feet
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Maintenance
- Medium
- Soil
- Well-drained, Occasionally-wet
- Foliage
- Yellow, Green
- Bloom color
- Blue, Pink, Purple, White
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Tough against
- Salt
- Watch out for
- Poisonous to humans, Problem for cats, Problem for dogs, Problem for horses
- Native to
- China, Japan, Central and South America, Mexico
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Blue Mophead Hydrangea is hardy to about -10°F (estimated from USDA zone 6), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
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