Hydrangeas are not the first choice for locations in full sun or in dry partial shade. Various varieties of hydrangea have been criticized as bee pastures. Reason enough for hobby gardeners to look here for a perfect alternative to hydrangeas.
Which plants are good alternatives to hydrangeas?
As an alternative to hydrangeas, blue rue, sackflower and buddleia are ideal for sunny locations. Yolk barberry, sky bamboo, mother-of-pearl bush and magnificent spar are suitable for dry partial shade. Bee-friendly alternatives include beardflower, raspberry, potato rose and magnificent sedum.
What alternative to hydrangeas is there for sunny locations?
You can count the types of hydrangeas for full sun locations on one hand. The 600 cm tall climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) or the 300 cm tall panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) do not fit into every garden concept. AlternativeSunbathers is a dime a dozen. These are three top candidates:
- Blue rue (Perovskia atriplicifolia) with lavender-blue flower candles.
- Sankflower (Ceanothus pallidus) with white or pink flowers.
- Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) with large, fragrant flower spikes.
What hydrangea alternative is there for dry partial shade?
If hydrangeas thrive in dry partial shade, hobby gardeners get their feet sore in the summer to meet the high watering needs of hydrangea water sippers. These hydrangea alternatives tolerate well-natured in partially shaded locationsshort-term drought:
- Yelk barberry (Berberis stenophylla), shiny evergreen, yellow-orange flowers, black fruits.
- Sky bamboo (Nandina domestica), evergreen, white summer flowers, magnificent autumn color.
- Mother of pearl bush (Kolkwitzia amabilis), abundant, pink-white bell flowers, fragrant bee pasture.
- Spiraea vanhouttei, white flower fairytale, yellow autumn color.
Is there a bee-friendly alternative to hydrangeas?
Farmer hydrangeas are a bitter disappointment for bees, bumblebees and butterflies. The mostlybarren flowers contain no pollen or nectar. These bee-friendly alternatives to hydrangeas invite insects to the table:
- Beardflower (Caryopteris clandonensis), blue flowers with a pollen and nectar value of 4.
- Raspberry (Rubus ideaus), white cupped flowers as a nectar buffet for 12 species of bees and 74 species of butterflies.
- Potato rose (Rosa rugosa), pink cupped flowers invite you to harvest pollen and nectar in summer.
- Magnificent stonecrop (Sedum), perennial hydrangea alternative with carmine-red star flowers, full of pollen and nectar.
Tip
Hortensia flower fairytale for the north side
Hydrangeas compensate for the long list of exclusion criteria with a special location preference. Hydrangeas bloom most beautifully in humid, wind-protected locations that are only occasionally exposed to sunlight. The ball hydrangeas 'Everbloom' and 'Schloss Wackerbarth' (Hydrangea macrophylla) are a prime example of a summer flower fairytale in the front garden on the north side. The legendary Hydrangea arborescens shines impressively in the light shade with football-sized, white flower balls.
