How to Prune Your Hydrangea

Hydrangea Paniculata 'Silver Dollar'

Determine the Type of Hydrangea you Have

For the information in this article we will concentrate on 4 types of hydrangea.  These 4 types grow very well in in Indiana.  With a little knowledge about the 4 types you will be an expert and have beautiful flowers every year.

4 Types of Hydrangea

Oakleaf Hydrangea known as Hydrangea quercifolia.  This variety has a large leaf about the size of your hand.  The leaves resemble an oak leaf.  They also get a beautiful shade of red in the fall.  

Oakleaf Hydrangea Fall Color

Hydrangea aborescens is another variety.  A common name for one type is Annabelle.  This gets a large, 6 inch round flower in the spring.  The flower is white and then changes to a lime green.

Hydrangea aborescens spring flower

Hydrangea paniculata is a hydrangea that produces flowers in the middle of summer.  The flowers are easy to identify because they are cone shaped, usually about 6-8 inches long.  Also most of the flowers begin white but fade to various shades of red to pink.

Hydrangea Paniculata Phantom Flower

Hydrangea macrophylla are another type of hydrangea we grow in Indiana.  These usually have pink flowers in the early summer.  Sometimes people can adjust the soil to cause the flower to be blue, but here in Indiana the flowers are usually pink.

Hydrangea macorphylla 'Oak Hill' Flower

When to Prune

Hopefully you have an idea of the type of hydrangea you have.  Listed below are the ways to prune them.
​Hydrangea quercifolia- Blooms on wood that grew last year.  Only prune this right after it blooms in the summer, no later than August.  So don't prune this in the spring or you'll cut the flowers buds off.
​Hydrangea aborescens - Blooms on new wood, meaning wood that begins to grow in the spring.  Prune this in the early spring before the leaves come out.
Hydrangea paniculata - Blooms on the new wood, meaning the stems that begin to grow in the spring.  Prune it in the spring before the leaves begin to grow.
Hydrangea macrophylla - Blooms on old wood but new types of this hydrangea bloom on new wood.  It's a good idea not to prune these at all.  They can be a little challenging to grow so I suggest not pruning until after they bloom in the summer.  Don't prune after August and don't prune this one in the spring or you risk cutting flower buds off.
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