Hydrangea shrubs survive in many soil conditions and are hardy, which is good for colder climates. They will maintain beautiful color with minimal spring pruning, and can be planted all season and into the fall! Hydrangea shrubs will give you stunning fall color with little maintenance, making them a customer favorite. Here are some of our top picks for fall color.
Cherry Explosion
We're proud of our McKay Nursery exclusive plant, the Cherry Explosion Hydrangea! A new selection of a very hardy macrophylla type of Hydrangea with cherry red florets arranged in a circle with a profusion of tiny star like light pink flowers in the center of this gorgeous bloom. A beautiful, rounded selection with flowers all around top to bottom. This new Hydrangea is working well in a wide range of conditions. The fall color of the foliage is burgundy when the cool weather comes on long and slow. Cherry Explosion likes protection from the hot afternoon sun. When grown in acid soils, the flower color is lavender. When this plant dies back over winter, it rebounds beautifully with each stem flowering beautifully on new wood. Mature growth is 3-4' high and wide, and a bit larger in warmer climates where it does not die back in the winter. Best to be planted in zones 4-9.
Cherry Explosion quick facts:
| Color: | Green, Pink, Purple, Red |
| Plant Size: | 3' – 4' |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Wet |
| Growing Zones: | 4 – 9 |
Endless Summer
The Endless Summer Hydrangea has beautiful pink (or blue flowers in acidic soils) all summer long making this Bailey Nursery introduction a hot item. Flowers are produced on both old wood and new wood. The blooms are up to 8" across. Removal of old flowers will encourage new blooms. A warm season plant, not coming out of dormancy until late. Overwinter like you would a rose bush by mounding up mulch over the stems later in November, once the plants have gone very dormant. In spring, pull the mulch back and trim back any winter-damage leaving good, viable wood. East exposure is best, in a rich, well-drained and cool soil. Water frequently when establishing these plants and during drought periods once established. Great for the shrub or perennial border. Grows to be 2-3' high.
Endless Summer quick facts:
| Color: | Blue, Green, Pink |
| Plant Size: | 2' – 3' tall |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Acidic |
| Growing Zones: | 4 – 9 |
Quick Fire
Quick Fire® Hydrangea is a great new selection of Hydrangea for the upper Midwest. White, cone-shaped blooms will emerge about a month earlier than other Hydrangeas and will literally cover the plant with 8-12" blooms in later May and early June. The real show begins as these blooms change color to a fine, dark pink and serve as a second season of bloom for the rest of the summer. Mature growth is around 6-8' tall and wide. Need a more compact version? Keep reading to hear about the marvelous Little Quick Fire® Hydrangea.
Quick Fire quick facts:
| Color: | Green, Pink, White |
| Plant Size: | 6 – 8' |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry |
| Growing Zones: | 3 – 8 |
Summer Crush
Our Summer Crush hydrangea is a dwarf size and has bright pink flower. It's quite small growing to around 2-3' tall and wide. This hydrangea shrub likes a heavier soil. This is resistant to Japanese beetles. Be sure to prune to a few inches above ground each spring.
Summer Crush Hydrangea quick facts:
| Color: | Pink, White |
| Plant Size: | 2' – 3' tall and wide |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry |
| Growing Zones: | 4 – 7 |
Little Quick Fire
Photo Credit: Proven Winners
A dwarf form of the popular Quick Fire Hydrangea®. Fresh, lime green flowers commence the summertime bloom extravaganza in the Little Quick Fire® Hydrangea. These flowers will change to white and then age to a nice pink into fall. These fall blooms work well in dried flower arrangements. This fine little plant only gets 3-5' tall and wide. Works excellently from the sunnier parts of your garden. Plant this as a single specimen or in gorgeous mass. This plant can also be planted in containers as well. An excellent plant that will fit into any garden. Best is planted in zone 3.
Little Quick Fire quick facts:
| Color: | Green, Pink, Red, White |
| Plant Size: | 3' – 5' |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry |
| Growing Zones: | 3 – 8 |
Little Lime
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Photo Credit: Proven Winners
A dwarf form of 'Limelight' Hydrangea. Fresh, lime green flowers commence the summertime bloom extravaganza of our Little Lime Hydrangea shrub. These flowers will change to white and then age to a nice pink into fall. These fall blooms work well in dried flower arrangements (Blooms July-September). This fine little plant only gets 3-5' tall and wide. This shrub works excellently from the sunnier parts of your garden into partial shade and as a single specimen or in gorgeous mass. Most woody Hydrangea bloom on new wood only so prune no later than early spring. You don't want to take a chance on cutting off any flower buds! An excellent plant that will fit into any garden. Looking for a little twist on the Little Lime? Also check out the Little Lime Hydrangea Punch®.
Little Lime quick facts:
| Color: | Green, Pink, Red, White |
| Plant Size: | 3' – 5' |
| Sunlight: | Full Sun to Partial Shade |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry |
| Growing Zones: | 3 – 8 |
Annabelle
Our Annabelle hydrangea has large snow-white globe flowers that will pop in your landscape. It is a lower-growing shrub when pruned to a few inches above the ground every spring. The rich, green foliage will stand out against the white flower heads.
Annabelle Hydrangea quick facts:
| Color: | White |
| Plant Size: | 3 - 5' tall x wide |
| Sunlight: | Partial Shade |
| Soil Conditions: | Normal, Sandy, Clay, Acidic, Dry |
| Growing Zones: | 3 – 9 |
