Growing Florist Type Hydrangea Outdoors

Q: I’ve had a florist hydrangea in a pot for a year. Should I keep it on the deck or can it join the other “ladies” in the garden?

A: Hydrangeas grown for the florist trade are different from those grown in most landscapes. They are selected for short, stout stems that support big blooms. ‘Mathilda Gutges’, ‘Enziandom’, and ‘Leuchtfeuer’ are florist favorites.

I don’t know how cold hardy your bloom buds are in Atlanta. I planted one that was given in memory of my Dad and it has survived outdoors just fine for eight years….but it rarely has flowers because the bloom buds get frozen.