Michael reveals some gorgeous new twists on this traditional favourite
I know you love hydrangeas. We all do! Over the past few years, the popularity of varieties such as ‘Annabelle’ has increased immensely, and these days you can’t open Instagram without seeing their beautiful fluffy heads.
But, these might not be the hydrangeas you remember from your childhood, those blue and pink ones where the flowers change colour depending on soil type. Hydrangeas such as ‘Annabelle’ are quite different and can be easier to grow in the garden, since they are more hardy and not as thirsty. The pruning is also super-simple, and it’s very hard to get it wrong.
In the heart of Boskoop, the horticultural heartland of the Netherlands, the Schoemaker family has been perfecting Hydrangea paniculata cultivars for many generations. They have been selecting plants with lovely strong stems that can support the oversized flowerheads (something ‘Annabelle’ doesn’t do so well), on well-branched plants that are super-hardy and can flower for 100 days non-stop.
There is something for everyone; whether you’re looking for a giant show-off for a border or classy patio specimen. Here’s my pick of cultivars from their Living Creations series.
Living Pink & Rose
This is one of my favourite varieties, and I think it looks like a big yummy ice cream. Pointed flowerheads start off creamy white and, as the season progresses, turn fully to pink. A robust border specimen with super-strong stems, it can withstand all weather conditions.
Living Little Rosy
If you’re short of space, this might be the hydrangea for you. It provides amazing flower power on super-short plants and is ideal for borders, but also very at home in a patio container. At their peak, the flowers are a rustic ruby red, and cover the plants like confetti.
Living Infinity
Something a little bit different, this is a favourite with pollinators. The flowers first appear in the most glorious white, soon changing to the vibrant red that you see here. A long-lasting shrub for the border, the stems are upright, and those flowerheads are incredibly weatherproof. It’s something unusual for flower arrangers to use, perhaps.
Groundbreaker Blush
This is the hydrangea that broke all the rules for the Schoemaker family! Rather than being an upright plant, it was actually billowing outwards, with delicate colour-changing flowerheads. Set to be in good supply during 2025, Groundbreaker Blush is expected to enjoy a bright future as the world’s first groundcover hydrangea.
Living Milk & Honey
This is a mid-height cultivar with gorgeous fluffy flowers that go through a beautiful seasonal colour change. Don’t be too keen to cut off the flowerheads at the end of the season though, as the autumn colours are not to be missed. Even into the winter, as the blooms dry on the plant and are covered in snow and ice, they give some beautiful visual theatre.
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