Hydrangea is a perennial flower that grows best in full sun. As a result, you need to be careful about how much sun your hydrangea receives, or it could suffer from sunburn. Here’s everything you need to know about how much sunlight your hydrangea needs, plus tips for protecting it from too much sun exposure.
How Much Sun Does Hydrangea Need?
Hydrangeas are shade-tolerant and, if you plant them in a spot that gets too much sunlight, they can still grow and bloom. However, you’ll get more flowers if you give your hydrangea plenty of light.
Hydrangea grows best in full sun exposure (6 or more hours per day). If you have an open area that has lots of direct sunlight without any shade from trees or other buildings nearby, this is ideal for planting your hydrangea shrub because it will thrive there.
If your yard doesn’t receive enough direct sunlight, try placing your hydrangeas near windows that face east or west so they receive some natural light during the morning hours when it’s not too hot outside yet.
Does Hydrangea Prefer Full Sun?
If you are looking to grow a hydrangea, then the first thing you should know is that they prefer full sun. Hydrangeas can tolerate partial shade, but they won’t be as happy or bloom as much if they’re sitting in it all day long. If you have tall trees near your hydrangea plants, then that is probably enough shade for them to stay healthy and grow properly.
If your plant doesn’t have enough light coming through the leaves of its host tree (like an oak), then consider planting it somewhere else where there are no shade issues at all—such as a clearing in your yard or even on the other side of your house!
Can Hydrangea Grow in Shade?
Yes, hydrangea can grow in shade. There are a few different types of shade that hydrangeas will thrive under:
- Buildings and structures – You can grow your hydrangea directly under a building or structure if you have the right conditions. Make sure the building’s shadow doesn’t cast too much shade on your plant, or it won’t get enough sunlight to grow properly.
- Trees – If you have a tree on your property that provides shade for a large area, consider planting hydrangeas underneath it! The roots of this flowering shrub will appreciate having some extra moisture from time to time, so don’t be afraid to let them hang out near trees with deep root systems like maples and ash trees (but not redwoods!). Just make sure there are no tall branches brushing against any part of your plants—you wouldn’t want those leaves getting torn up prematurely!
Where Does Hydrangea Grow Best?
Hydrangea grows best in zones 3 through 8. It thrives in areas that have moist, well-drained soil and full sun to partial shade.
The plant is drought tolerant when established, but it needs plenty of water during its first year. Once established, it will tolerate periods of drought without damage.
Can Hydrangea Get Too Much Sun?
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of growing hydrangea, then you know that it’s a shade-loving plant. It will grow tall and thin, but once it gets enough sun, it will start to die back at the edges. The leaves on the outermost branches get leggy and develop chlorosis (yellowing).
When this happens to your hydrangea, you can still remove individual dead branches as needed to keep your plant healthy, but over time your bushes will start looking like lollipops: short at one end and long at the other.
Happily though! If you’re willing to take care of them in their new homes under full sunlight—by watering deeply every two days during hot summer months—your plants will live for years longer than if they were indoors or in the partial shade outdoors.
But even with this extra attention from their caretakers (that’s us), some varieties may still burn or wilt in direct sunlight; others might not be able to stand up against too much heat after all; some may develop powdery mildew as a result of being exposed directly without enough air circulation; while yet another variety might just get sunburned when temperatures rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit without any humidity whatsoever!
Signs Your Hydrangea Isn’t Getting Enough Sunlight
If your hydrangea is in the shade, it might not be getting enough sun. The best way to determine if your plant is getting enough sunlight is to look at its leaves. If they’re green and healthy, then you’re doing great! But if they’re yellow or brown, it could be a sign that your plant isn’t getting enough sunlight. Other signs include:
1) Your hydrangea doesn’t bloom during the summer months.
2) Your hydrangea has dark spots on its leaves. These spots are caused by excessive heat and lack of sun exposure, which can lead to leaf drops or even death in extreme cases.
3) Your hydrangea has yellowed leaves and flowers that look wilted. This happens because the plant is lacking nutrients from photosynthesis due to lack of light exposure, which affects flower production as well as the overall health of the plant.
Conclusion
In short, a hydrangea needs moderate sunlight. If your plant is getting too much sunlight, it can lead to leaf scorch and flower loss. If the plant doesn’t get enough light, its flowers may not open up fully. Remember that these are general guidelines for how much sun a hydrangea needs; individual plants may have different needs if they’re in an area with different amounts of sun throughout the year or if they’re being grown indoors as houseplants!
