Hydrangeas are timeless, beloved for their huge flower heads that bloom in shades of lavender, blue, pink, and red, exuding an air of vintage charm.
Although they are not completely trouble-free, hydrangeas are also said to be resistant to pests and diseases. Your favourite purple hydrangea cultivars are listed in this article!
1. ‘Let’s Dance Moonlight’
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Robert’
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 2-3 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
This shrub has beautiful purple mophead flowers that bloom all summer long. In addition, “Let’s Dance Moonlight” features gorgeous reddish-brown or bronze fall foliage. In extremely acidic soils, the purple of this hydrangea is blue; in less acidic soils, it can range from lilac to pink.
“Let’s dance moonlight” is an additional reblooming type that is excellent for gardens since it will give you flowers all summer long with little work on your side.
2.’Bluebird’ Hydrangea
Scientific Name: Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 4-6 feet
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ is a beautiful lacecap cultivar with serrated leaves. It features blue-core fertile flowers surrounded by blue-to-purple sterile florets. The tiny, deep blue sepals resemble bright blue confetti as they drop to the ground.
3. Deep Purple
Scientific Name: Lavandula Bandera
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 3-4 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-8
“Deep Purple” is a gorgeous shrub with gorgeous purple blossoms. It produces long-lasting, deeply purple mophead flowers in the early summer.
4. Endless Summer Bloom Struck
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
Bloom Time: Midsummer to fall
Plant Size: 3-4 feet tall
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Endless Summer Bloom Struck Hydrangea is incredibly heat- and cold-tolerant, and it consistently blooms on both young and old growth, much like Summer Crush.
From early summer until fall, it will produce lovely blooms. Bloom Struck has extremely robust red stems and a modest growth habit. Its deep blue-purple or deep pink blossoms depend on the pH of the soil.
5. Bigleaf Hydrangeas
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Plant Size: 2-6 feet
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
These are among the most well-known hydrangea cultivars. Typically coloured in shades of purple, pink, or blue, their huge, spherical flower heads are a striking feature in any landscape. The pH of the soil can be changed to produce a multi-coloured or colour-changing effect, exactly like with other hydrangea varieties.
Bigleaf hydrangeas can have lacecap or mophead heads. According to Kristina Aguilar, associate director of plant information and mapping at Longwood Gardens, “the term mophead is traditionally used for the large, all-sterile florets in round heads.”
6. Tiny Tuff Stuff
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 2 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
It’s difficult to characterize this beauty’s delicate blossoms as tough, yet they are! This Hydrangea serrata has abundant lace-cap flowers with sepals that are doubled.
Although the plant tends to produce blue flowers, it can also produce pink or white flowers; all of these colours are soft and delicate, ideal for elegant gardens. The blossoms turn a lovely pink as they mature and fall in a characteristic arching pattern.
7. Cityline Mars
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ramars’
Bloom Time: Mid Summer
Plant Size: 3 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
This is a lovely, petite hydrangea that you can use to add a bold pop of colour to your perennial gardens or in containers. These purple blooms with a white border are a stunning choice for a shady spot.
Depending on the pH of the soil, each shrub may even have multi-coloured florets. “Cityline Mars” is compact, so it’s easy to add to containers, foundation gardens, or perennial gardens, among other areas of your garden.
8. Blauer Prinz
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blauer Prinz
Bloom Time: Summer into autumn
Plant Size: 4-6 feet
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
The vivid violet-blue blooms on these German purple hydrangea cultivars mature to a rich purple colour. Acidic soil helps it grow and intensifies its blue-purple hue.
9. Blue Cassel
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blue Cassell
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 4-5 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
The violet-blue lacecap flowers of “Blue Cassel” are quite lovely. These blooms are reblooming and will bloom on both new and old wood.
These shrubs can be planted anywhere in your garden that receives partial shade, either as an understory plant or as a lovely hedge or border. If the soil is very alkaline, this cultivar will exhibit blush tones. The “blue cassel” leaves are a consistent, vivid green throughout the entire season, with little to no fall color variation.
10. Mountain Hydrangea
Scientific Name: Hydrangea serrata
Bloom Time: Early to late Summer
Plant Size: 3-5 feet
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
Mountain hydrangeas, also known as Hydrangea serrata, are versatile plants that can thrive in various light conditions, including full sun to partial shade. However, they generally prefer partial shade, especially in hotter climates, as too much direct sunlight can scorch their leaves and flowers.
If you’re growing mountain hydrangeas in full sun, it’s essential to provide them with adequate moisture and protection during the hottest part of the day. This can include regular watering, mulching to retain soil moisture, and possibly providing some afternoon shade during peak summer months.
11. Nikko Blue
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nikko Blue’
Bloom Time: Early Summer
Plant Size: 4-6 feet
Hardiness Zone: 6-9
“Nikko Blue” is a cultivar of the Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). Like many hydrangea varieties, Nikko Blue generally prefers partial shade to filtered sunlight, especially in hotter climates. While it can tolerate some morning sun, it may struggle in full sun, particularly in the afternoon when temperatures are highest.
In areas with cooler climates or where summers are mild, Nikko Blue may tolerate more sun exposure, but it’s still essential to monitor for signs of stress such as wilting or scorched leaves. Providing adequate moisture, mulching, and planting in well-draining soil can help mitigate the effects of full sun.
Overall, while Nikko Blue hydrangeas can handle some sun, it’s generally recommended to plant them in locations with partial shade to ensure optimal growth and health.
12. Rock ‘n Roll
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Rock ‘n Roll’
Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Plant Size: 4-5 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-8
The vivid purple blossoms of “Rock ‘n Roll” begin as tiny white buds that eventually blossom into either blue or purple flowers. The luscious green leaves are topped with these lovely flowers.
13. Wee Bit Grumpy
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Wee Bit Grumpy’
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 2 feet
Hardiness Zone: 5-9
The purple petals of “Wee bit grumpy” may be the most vivid on this list. The purpose of the hybridization of this hydrangea is to produce petals with intense color saturation. The shrub is a lovely mounded plant that looks good in most parts of your garden.
It would look particularly lovely, in my opinion, spread over your perennial beds, bringing not only wonderful foliage in the spring, but also rich colour as you wait for the arrival of the purple blossoms.
14. Endless Summer Twist n Shout
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Endless Summer Twist n Shout’
Bloom Time: Summer
Plant Size: 5 feet
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
These purple hydrangea types have a lacy appearance due to the enormous, spectacular sterile blossoms surrounding the petite, fertile blooms.
15. Double Delights Expression
Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Double Delights Expression’
Bloom Time: Spring- Fall
Plant Size: 3-4 feet
Plant Zones: 5-9
This cultivar has an exquisite purple colour. “Double Delights Expression” features stunning, huge double blossoms with a soft lavender tint. Among the big blooms, there might be hints of blush pink or lime green flowers, depending on the time of year.
You won’t want to put this gorgeous hydrangea away, so plant it in a container or right in the middle of your foundation beds. It truly is that lovely.