Hydrangeas – Green Blooms

Q: I enjoyed your article about pruning hydrangeas but I have a different situation. My hydrangeas look great but their flowers are green – almost as green as the leaves. Can you suggest how to make them turn back to blue or pink?

A: There are several members of the hydrangea family that grow wonderfully well in Atlanta. The “French” hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla produces the blue, pink or purple blooms you want.

I suspect, however, that you have a Hydrangea arborescens, the most common of which is the ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea. This bush bears big white blooms in June, which fade to bright green in July and then to light brown in August. It is a great plant but it will never provide the blossom colors you prefer. It is true that I sometimes see French hydrangea blooms with a hint of green in them but never as “leaf-green” as you describe on yours.