17 Best Varieties of Reblooming Hydrangeas You Can Plant Now

Hydrangeas are hallmarks of summer, with voluminous mophead, lacecap, and pyramidal blooms. Versatile in the garden as focal points, mass plantings, hedges, and container specimens, long-blooming varieties bring all-season interest.

With reblooming types, we can rely on hydrangeas for abundant color, full flowers, and lasting appeal. From cool blue to magenta to chartreuse, often with color transitions across the season, continuous flowering ensures something exciting is always happening. The long bloom season extends into early fall, and the color-fading and drying blooms persist for extended interest in the cool season and floral arrangements.

Fall is prime hydrangea planting time, ripe for getting the bloomers in the ground before winter. Look for repeat-flowering varieties – hardy stock with good bud set on old and new growth – for a long-lasting bloom display.

Reblooming Hydrangea Characteristics

Hydrangeas are durable, woody shrubs that grow and bloom across a wide range of climates and conditions. Species factors, like blooming on old or new wood – or both – determine overall flowering times. For a long and prolific season, opt for varieties with repeat-flowering and those that set buds on both old and new wood.

Old wood refers to the previous year’s stems, while new wood is the current year’s growth. Shrubs that set buds on both old and new growth give the most coverage of viable buds.

Knowing if a hydrangea blooms on old or new wood is helpful for growing hydrangeas in cold climates. Species that bloom solely on old wood set their buds in late summer for blooming the following year. In frigid winters, these old wood buds are susceptible to freezing and dropping, meaning there won’t be a showy bloom display come summer.

Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood set their buds in the spring for summer blooming. This late set means buds don’t need to endure cold winter temperatures or risk freezing. They’ll emerge closer to bloom time.

It’s also helpful to know if your hydrangea is an old wood or new wood bloomer (or both) when it comes to pruning. An old wood hydrangea pruned in the fall means a lack of flowering the following year. A new wood hydrangea takes pruning in fall and late winter and still sets buds and blooms that summer.

‘Endless SummerⓇ’

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmer’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Endless SummerⓇ’ tops our list as the first hydrangea bred to bloom on both old and new wood with improved cold hardiness. It features big, bold blooms in rich blues and pinks with classic mophead flower clusters. H. macrophylla ‘Bailmer’ (also called ‘Endless SummerⓇ The Original’) is the first to offer extended bloom time, increased flowering, and reblooming from early summer to frost.

The bigleaf has large, glossy foliage, which turns burgundy red in fall and provides a lush backdrop to the prolific blooms. Small fruit capsules emerge after flowering, and flowers left on the plant persist in dried form into winter.

The large, rounded flowers are rich, cool blue, or delicate pink, depending on the soil pH. Acidic soils produce bluer flowers, while alkaline soils yield pinker blooms. You can adjust your soil pH to get either blue or pink blooms by adding aluminum sulfate for blue or garden lime for pink.

‘Incrediball™ Blush’

	botanical name Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA4’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

This smooth hydrangea variety is a pretty-in-pink showstopper with enormous soft blush blooms. The delicate silvery-pink petals mature to deep rose and green in autumn. Sturdy stems support the massive blooms on vigorous plants.

‘Incrediball™ Blush’ is easy-care and produces flowers from early summer until frost for late-season color. It arose from a collaboration between Dr. Thomas Ranney of North Carolina State University’s breeding program and Spring Meadow Nursery in Michigan. It’s sold under Proven WinnersⓇ.

‘Big Daddy’ Hydrangea

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Big Daddy’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 5-6’
	hardiness zones 6-9

‘Big Daddy’ is a whopper in the heat of summer with gorgeous mophead blooms in blue or pink depending on soil acidity (blue) and alkalinity (pink). As a bigleaf reblooming hydrangea, glossy, large leaves complement the impressive blooms.

‘Big Daddy’ blooms on old and new wood, so there’s an early season flush from last year’s stems and continued flowering from buds set on fresh growth. This vigorous producer reblooms until fall for a long-lasting display.

Bigleaf hydrangeas thrive in partial shade and need protection from direct afternoon sun. ‘Big Daddy’ tolerates more sun exposure in cool climates. The easy-care shrub grows best in rich, medium-moist soils with good drainage.

‘Pop Star®’

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla ‘BAILMACSIX’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 18-36”
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Pop Star®’ is a small but mighty plant with bold color. This bigleaf dwarf hybrid grows only a few feet tall and wide but produces loads of flower clusters in vivid blue or bright pink, depending on soil pH. The rich flower pigments pop against the dense, dark green foliage. 

‘Pop Star®’ makes a showy, low-growing grouped planting or singular container specimen. It’s an excellent option for continual seasonal color in small spaces. As part of the Endless SummerⓇ series, it brings recurrent lacecap blooms.

‘Bluebird’

	botanical name Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 6-9

‘Bluebird’ is a reblooming mountain hydrangea with lovely lacecaps that scaffold among big, glossy leaves. Depending on soil pH, light blue florets surround deeper blue flowers. Outer florets gently droop and bend to reveal pink backing and a multi-toned coloration. 

‘Bluebird’ blooms until frost for a long flowering season. A striking characteristic is brilliant red fall foliage. The crimson leaves and late-season flowering create a stunning autumnal display.

Mountain hydrangeas resemble bigleaf types in bloom, foliage, and care, but they have a more compact form. ‘Bluebird’ is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit for its floriferous qualities and durable growth. 

‘PeeGee’

	botanical name Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 8-25’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘PeeGee’ showcases bundles of tightly packed pyramidal blooms that emerge mid-summer to early fall. Usually appearing in July through October, the conical panicles start out as pinkish-red buds. They open to lime green florets and star-shaped flowers in creamy white. As the season progresses, the flowers transition to vintage pinks.

The showy panicles measure six to eight inches long but can grow up to 18 inches. They last well into fall and eventually turn buff tan with age and cold weather. Showy autumn foliage turns tones of yellow and purple-red before dropping.

‘Grandiflora’ is exceptionally cold-hardy and thrives in summer heat and humidity. The large plants are robust growers in various conditions, making them one of the most adaptable selections.

‘Quick Fire®’

	botanical name Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bulk’ QUICK FIRE
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-8’
	hardiness zones 3-8

The color-changing panicles of ‘Quick Fire®’ are a showman’s magic trick. Flowers emerge bright white and become pink in summer, eventually aging to deep rose and red autumnal tones. 

The foliage turns gold and purple-red to highlight the end of the season before dropping for winter. This color-twisting panicle hydrangea is one of the earliest varieties to bloom, meaning a long season of color in flower and foliage. 

‘Quick Fire®’ is low-maintenance and grows in varying sunlight exposures. They bloom on new wood, so cold winters won’t impact developing buds. Prune plants back by one-third in late winter to rejuvenate growth and promote flowering on sturdy stems.

‘Twist-n-Shout®’

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla ‘PIIHM-I’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Twist-n-Shout’ entertains with lacecap blooms in rosy pinks or violet blues, depending on the soil pH. They bloom profusely from head to toe and continuously throughout the season. 

Sturdy, rich red stems hold the blooms upright and add visual interest through contrast. Ample foliage in lush, deep green is attractive behind the blooms.

The cold-hardy growers are reliable performers. Like others in the Endless SummerⓇ hydrangea series, they rebloom reliably and prefer afternoon shade protection.

‘Invincibelle® Spirit II’

	botanical name Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA2’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Invincibelle® Spirit II’ is an improved version of ‘Spirit.’ ‘Spirit’ is an original pink, mophead twist on ‘Annabelle,’ the favorite white snowball smooth hydrangea. Deep foliage gives a handsome backdrop to large, rose-pink blooms that age to green. Stems are solid and strong to keep the large flower heads upright.

A unique feature of ‘Spirit II’ is that it repeat-flowers from early summer through fall for an extended bloom season. The blooms support pollinators with a combination of fertile florets and sterile flowers, another special feature not all mopheads offer. 

While hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains, graduate student Richard Olson discovered the parent plant of ‘Spirit II.’ The hybrid is out of North Carolina State University’s breeding program and sold under Proven WinnersⓇ;  portions of the proceeds support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

‘Candy Apple™’

	botanical name Hydrangea paniculata ‘SMHPMWMH’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

‘Candy Apple™’ has rounded bloom clusters in creamy lime that become blushed in pink for a candy apple look. ‘Candy Apple™’ boasts the same panicle clusters as favorite ‘‘Limelight’ but on more compact plants. 

The fast-growing bloomers have an upright to mounding habit that makes them excellent as focal points or container specimens with colorful interest. Flowers are gorgeous cut or dried. Autumnal foliage burnished in red, purple, and orange hues creates a standout color.

‘Candy Apple™’ blooms on new wood for extended flowering. They benefit from late winter pruning to encourage dense growth, large panicles, and stout stems.

‘Invincibelle Sublime™’

	botanical name Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHRL’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3.5-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Invincibelle Sublime™’ is a reblooming cultivar of the native North American smooth hydrangea. It has dark foliage and rich, mossy green, cream, and lime flowers. Each little ivory-lime floret has a delicate pink center. 

Smooth hydrangeas are cold-hardy and sun-tolerant species. They set buds on new wood, making them reliable even after cold winters. They show color into fall.

‘Invincibelle Sublime™’ has sturdy stems and an upright form. Among the most lime in the arborescens lineup, it creates a striking backdrop for other colorful landscape selections. It lends a refreshing neutral zest among leafy greens. 

‘BloomStruck®’

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla ‘PIIHM-II’
	sun requirements Partial to full shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 4-9

‘Bloomstruck®’ is part of the Endless SummerⓇ series with large mophead blooms in blue or violet-pink among glossy leaves. Flowering begins in late spring and early summer and continues throughout the warm season. 

These are exceptionally cold-hardy selections for bigleaf hydrangeas, bred from two strong parents in the series because of their hardiness. ‘Bloomstruck®’ withstands winters down to zone 4.

Even hardy performers benefit from a thick layer of mulch of pine bark, compost, straw, or leaf litter in zones 6 and lower. For added insulation, pile straw or leaf litter up to 12 inches high around stems. Remove the material after the final frost in late winter or early spring. 

‘Invincibelle Mini Mauvette®’

	botanical name Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA7’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

‘Invincibelle Mini Mauvette®’ boasts big blooms on a tidy, dwarf form. Easily tuck this one into small spaces and containers. The rebloomers flower continuously through frost on a compact, rounded habit.

‘Mini Mauvette®’ features deep rose-purple flowerheads. As the blooms develop and age, shades of light to dark pink and mauve coincide. Stout stems support the inflorescences.

The domed mopheads reach five to six inches across. They contain both fertile (pollinator resources) and sterile florets. As cultivars of the native species, the woodies boast superior cold hardiness.

‘Blushing Bride’

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 3-6’
	hardiness zones 5-9

‘Blushing Bride’ brings pure white double blooms to the Endless SummerⓇ collection. As they age, the petals transition to blush pink. The large mopheads are beautiful on the stem and in floral arrangements. 

The white blooms of ‘Blushing Bride’ aren’t affected by soil pH levels for coloration. The vigorous performer sets buds both on old and new wood. 

‘Let’s Dance® Sky View’

	botanical name Hydrangea macrophylla × serrata ‘SMNHSME’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 4-9

The Let’s DanceⓇ series features improved colors and attractive foliage in addition to its consistent blooming across climate zones. In acidic soils, ‘Let’s Dance® Sky View’ emerges sky blue with a pale green eye, becoming fully blue as it matures.

Densely packed, overlapping petals comprise each rounded cluster. Buds form on both previous seasons’ and fresh stems.

‘Sky View’ has a dwarf, rounded form. The compact habit makes it ideal for pots, courtyards, and front-of-the-border locations.

‘Tiny Tuff Stuff™’

	botanical name Hydrangea serrata ‘MAKD’
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 18-24”
	hardiness zones 5-9

Good things come in small packages. ‘Tiny Tuff Stuff™’ is a gem box of color. The reblooming mountain hydrangea produces a profusion of lacecaps in pastel purple shades and blue to pink to white, depending on soil pH.

The delicate-looking flowers are double-petaled. They age to pink and arch in a downward tip as they mature.

‘Tiny Tuff Stuf™f’ is reliably winter hardy in its growing zones with good bud set.