Hydrangeas remain one of the most beloved plants in modern gardens. While it seems like their popularity is here to stay, planting trends and preferences continue to change. What can we expect to see from hydrangeas in the gardening world going forward?
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Increased Hybridization
If what our nursery industry has done to most plants in contemporary American horticulture is any clue as to where the future of hydrangeas is going, many will soon be dwarfed and lumpy enough to fit easily on nursery carts. I hope that is not the case. There is good reason to believe that we will begin to see a much greater degree of hybridization work between the more common garden hydrangeas and those that, until more recently, were obscure. Plant breeders have already begun creating novel hybrids between hydrangeas and former Dichroa species (× Didrangea, pictured), while more recent work by Ed Bowen of Issima Nursery in Rhode Island has resulted in successful and comely hybrids between hydrangeas and former Platycrater species.
Read more: What You Need to Know About Genetically Modified Plants
Newer, More Commercially Appealing Traits
More hybridization creates the possibility of developing plants with more interesting and desirable traits, such as fragrance, as well as a broader range of colors and forms. It is my hope that in the process, the pollinator-attracting attributes found with the genus are not bred away. Hydrangeas with mophead flowers, particularly those that blossom on new wood, are all the rage at the moment; however, they offer virtually zero nectar and pollen for pollinating insects. Lacecap hydrangea blossoms (pictured), on the other hand, are pollinator magnets. While more gardeners are focused on adding native plants to their beds and borders, increasing lacecap hydrangeas in our gardens, even over native hydrangeas, is important for enhancing biodiversity.
Daniel J. Hinkley is a plant explorer, nurseryman, lecturer, and author. His most recent book, Windcliff: A Story of People, Plants, and Gardens, chronicles the evolution of his home landscape.
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