Mia’s Plant Addicts Favorites
Spring Sizzle® Panicle Hydrangea Zones 3–8
One of the first panicle hydrangeas to open — white blooms arrive around mid-June, weeks ahead of the rest, then turn deep red quickly instead of waiting on cool nights, so the colour still comes through in a warm summer. It grows upright and vase-shaped, four to six feet tall and nearly as wide, on stems sturdy enough to hold the big panicles up without staking. The flowers cut well fresh and dry nicely for fall. It blooms on new wood, so prune in late winter or early spring, and give it afternoon shade where summers run hot.
- Part shade to full sun
- 4–6 ft tall, 4–5 ft wide
- Blooms June–September
October Magic® Ivory Camellia Zones 7–9
Full ivory-white blooms that look more like carnations than camellias, and they open in fall just as the rest of the garden is winding down. It holds a compact, upright shape at 6 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide, which makes it one of the easier camellias to use as a hedge or a privacy screen, and the foliage is evergreen so the structure stays through winter. It is happy in part shade on as little as three hours of direct sun. Plant it in organically rich, well-drained soil and water it moderately.
- Part shade to full sun
- 6–8 ft tall, 5–7 ft wide
- Blooms in fall · evergreen
Autumn Rocket Camellia Zones 7–10
A columnar sasanqua for narrow spots — it reaches 8 to 10 feet tall while staying only 3 to 4 feet wide, so it suits a corner, a gateway, or a slim side yard where an ordinary camellia would sprawl. Pink buds open in fall to double white flowers with creamy yellow centers, set against glossy dark evergreen leaves that keep the screen in place all winter. Give it acidic, well-drained soil and afternoon shade, and because it blooms in fall, keep the soil evenly moist through late summer while the buds are sizing up. Prune right after it finishes flowering.
- Part sun to full sun
- 8–10 ft tall, 3–4 ft wide
- Blooms in fall · evergreen
Groundbreaker® Greeny™ Hydrangea Zones 5–8
The green sister to Blush, and the densest bloomer of the Groundbreaker series — lime-green panicles open in midsummer and soften to creamy white, often showing both shades at once, and they can hold for up to 100 days. It stays about sixteen inches tall and spreads to nearly three feet, so it suits the front of a border, a foundation planting, or the edge of a path. Like the rest of the series it blooms on new wood, so prune in late winter before growth starts.
- Full sun to part shade
- 16 in tall, 32 in wide
- Blooms July–September
Groundbreaker® Blush™ Hydrangea Zones 5–8
A panicle hydrangea that behaves like a groundcover — a foot tall, spreading to two feet, made for the front of a border or spilling over the edge of a container. White panicles open in midsummer and blush pink as they age, often showing both colors at once, and can hold up to 100 days. It blooms on new wood, so prune in late winter before growth starts.
- Full sun to part shade
- 12 in tall, 24 in wide
- Blooms July–September
Bottlebrush Buckeye Zones 5–9
A Southeastern US native that more than earns its space. Tall white spikes arrive July through August, late in the season, and it draws butterflies and songbirds. Deer and rabbits leave the thick, coarse leaves alone, and the fall foliage turns a bright yellow. Give it room — it grows much wider than it is tall — and keep the soil moist, as it will not take dry ground.
- Part sun to full sun
- 8–12 ft tall, 12–16 ft wide
- Blooms July–August · deer resistant
DreamScape™ Hydrangea Zones 3–8
Enormous 8–10″ mopheads that open a rich ruby pink and gradually age to a softer parchment pink, so the color shifts across the flowering season. It produces two to three times more flowers than other smooth hydrangeas, and the sturdy stems help keep the blooms from flopping after wind or rain.
- Full sun to part shade
- 3–4 ft tall, 4–5 ft wide
- Blooms in summer
I earn a small commission if you use the links on this page to purchase a plant — at no extra cost to you!