Reblooming Hydrangeas
One of the best plants to provide summer long color with a large flower is the reblooming Hydrangea. Each year more reblooming Hydrangeas are introduced to the market. This is a brief overview of the varieties available as of spring 2013. I will not go into great detail about most of them, but will hit the highlights of each variety as far as bloom color, size of plant, and their hardiness zone. You can use this as a quick reference for choosing a reblooming Hydrangea for your garden.
Endless Summer® Collection
Endless Summer® Hydrangea The Original (Hydrangea macrophylla Endless Summer) was the first reblooming hydrangea to hit the mass market. Endless Summer® is a mophead with either pink or blue flowers depending on the soil acidity. The flowers will be pink in an alkaline soil and blue in a more acidic soil. They bloom on both old and new wood. For
more flower production it is best to remove the spent flower heads. The plants get 3-5 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. In the Midwest most macrophylla type Hydrangeas perform best if they are located in morning sun and afternoon shade. The first year they will probably have to be watered often to help them get through the hottest part of the summer. I have found that newly planted macrophylla Hydrangeas need to be watered almost on a daily basis when it is very hot out. If they go through too many hot afternoons without water the health of the plant starts to decline. Once the plant has a more established root system it can make it through the hot summer days on it’s own, they may droop severely, but will perk up as the sun goes down.
I have had four Endless Summer Hydrangeas in my yard for at least five years now. They bloom all summer long, need very little care, and are the talk of the neighborhood when they are in full bloom.
Hydrangea macrophylla Blushing Bride
Hydrangea Blushing Bride is another variety in the Endless Summer series. It gets about the same size as the original Endless Summer, but has a white flower. The flower actually opens
white but as it ages it turns a pinkish blush color. The Blushing Bride flower is great as a cut flower.
Hydrangea macrophylla Twist-n-Shout®
Twist-n-Shout® is the only lacecap in the Endless Summer collection. It will bloom either pink or blue, but Twist & Shout has red stems and in the fall it will have red leaves too. It blooms from early summer all the way through fall. Hardy to zone 4.
Hydrangea arborescens Bella Anna®
Bella Anna® is the newest in the Endless Summer collection. It is a reblooming pink Annabelle Hydrangea. These will get about the same size as Endless Summer, but will be a little more upright in it’s habit. Another difference from the others in this series is that Bella Anna can grow in more sun. All the other varieties in this series need a morning sun and afternoon shade (in the Midwest), but Bella Anna can take an almost full sun exposure.
Forever & Ever® series
There are ten different macrophylla type Hydrangeas in this series. Most of these are smaller plants than the Endless Summer varieties and some have double flowers. I will just hit the highlights of all these varieties.
Forever & Ever® Blue Heaven – pink or blue double flower, blooms on old and new wood, mophead flower, flower size is very large – up to 12”, hardy in zones 5 – 9, gets 2 – 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide. (picture left)
Forever & Ever® White Out – or could be called ‘ White Ball’ – whiteflower, 2-3 feet tall and wide, hardy in zones 4 – 9 (picture right)
Forever & Ever®– or could be called ‘Early Sensation’ – varying shades of blue or pink flower color, 2 – 3 feet tall by 3 feet wide, hardy in zones 4 – 9. (picture left)
Forever & Ever® Peppermint – This one is really cool, it has a variegated flower,
it can be white and pink two toned or white and blue two toned depending on the soil acidity. It gets 2 – 3 feet tall and wide, hardy in zones 5 – 9.
Forever & Ever® Red – may also be called ‘ Maltisse’ – this flower is truly red in color, the plant gets 2 – 3 feet tall and wide and is hardy in zones 4 – 9.
Forever & Ever® Summer Lace – may be called ‘ Shugert’ – the plant gets 3 – 4 feet 
tall and wide, has either pink or blue flowers that are lacecap, is hardy in zones 4 – 9
Forever & Ever® Together – The flower on this one can be surprising, I have seen them be pink, blue, or a variety of purplish colors, and it is a double flower. It gets 3 feet tall and 3 – 5 feet wide and is hardy in zones 5 – 9.
Forever & Ever® Fantasia – the flower is lime green to yellowish and fades to 
a bluish pink, it gets 4 – 5 feet tall and wide, has large flowers up to 12”, is hardy in zones 5–9.
Forever & Ever® Peace – this has a double white flower that starts out as a pale green, it gets 2 – 3 feet tall and wide, is hardy in zones 5 – 9
Forever & Ever® Pistachio – also called ‘Horwack’ – This flower you have to
see to believe. It is a multi colored flower that has magenta/red and green florets with blue centers. The plant gets 2 – 3 feet tall and 3 – 5 feet wide and is hardy in zones 5 – 9.
Proven Winners Tuff Stuff™
Hydrangea serrata Tuff Stuff – This is a lacecap with large florets that can be either pink or blue. It gets about 3 feet tall and wide and is hardy in zones 5 – 9. Tuff Stuff is marketed as being tougher than many of the macrophylla type reblooming Hydrangeas.
Hydrangea, Double Delights ™ Perfection
If you want a unique looking flower this would be one to consider. The florets are star shaped and can range from pink to a bluish purple color. It is a large flower that is good for using as a cut flower too. The plants get about 3 feet tall and 3 – 5 feet wide. This Hydrangea is hardy in zones 5 – 8.
Hydrangea Series-Let's Dance®
The Let's Dance series is another group of macrophylla reblooming Hydrangeas. They all have either pink or blue flowers, get around 3 feet tall and wide, and are hardy in zones 5 – 9.
Moonlight – mophead flower (picture below)
Big Easy – mophead, green to pink or blue and then back to greenish, large flower head (picture right)
Starlight – lacecap flower with pink or blue color depending
on soil acidity.
Next Generation Series
(Ball Horticulture Introduction)
Pistachio – This one is similar to the Forever & Ever Pistachio except the color is a little different. The Next Generation Pistachio flower is light green with a dark pink center. The plant gets 2 – 3 feet tall and 3 – 5 feet wide and is hardy in zones 5 – 9.
Wedding Ring – This is another variegated flower Hydrangea. It can be pink and white or blue and white depending on the soil acidity. The flowers are larger than the Forever & Ever Peppermint which is also variegated. The plant size is about 3 feet tall and 3 – 5 feet wide. This one is also hardy in zones 5 – 9.
There it is, a quick guide to all the reblooming Hydrangeas on the market as of spring 2013. Keep in mind most all of these are in the macrophylla family, so they will perform best in the Midwest if they are in a morning sun and afternoon shade exposure. The summer color Hydrangeas provide is spectacular. If you have a shady spot in your yard I would encourage you to try at least one of these gorgeous reblooming beauties.