17 Red Hydrangea Varieties For Vibrant Garden Displays

Bold blooms that shift with soil pH bring effortless color and contrast to borders.

By Srija Burman

Created on Aug 28, 2025

Bold blooms that shift with soil pH bring effortless color and contrast to borders.

17 Red Hydrangea Varieties With Striking Blooms

Red hydrangeas are a dramatic and eye-catching addition to any garden, standing out with their bold hues and lush blossoms. Gardeners often seek red hydrangeas to bring vibrant color, dynamic contrast, and long-lasting beauty to borders, containers, and perennial beds. This guide introduces 17 of the most spectacular red hydrangea varieties, highlighting their features, bloom times, garden uses, and care essentials required for optimal growth and display.

Why Grow Red Hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas are renowned for their spectacular floral displays, and among the blues, pinks, and whites, red varieties provide a unique visual statement. They can be dramatic focal points, work beautifully in containers, and serve as exceptional cut flowers. Many red hydrangeas are also pH sensitive: their flower color can change depending on soil conditions, often yielding the most intense reds in alkaline soils and sometimes purples or pinks in more acidic environments.

Factors Affecting Hydrangea Color

Soil pH: Red hydrangeas typically display their most vivid color in alkaline or neutral soils. Acidic soils may shift their hues toward purple or blue.
Plant Genetics: Some varieties are bred specifically for red tones and hold their color more consistently.
Sun Exposure: Most red hydrangeas thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade, which helps maintain their best coloration and health.

Best Red Hydrangea Varieties

Below are 17 of the top red hydrangea cultivars, each noted for their vibrant color, garden adaptability, and ornamental appeal.

1. Endless SummerÂ® Summer CrushÂ®

Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 2â3 feet
USDA Zones: 4â9
Garden Uses: Border, container, perennial garden

This reblooming hydrangea delivers raspberry-red blooms on both old and new wood, producing vibrant color all summer long. Note: In acidic soils, flowers may appear more purple, while alkaline soils yield intense reds.

2. Magical Ruby Red

Bloom Time: Late spring to late summer
Height: 3 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9
Garden Uses: Border, container, perennial or cutting garden

Compact with deep ruby blooms that transition to wine-red, often speckled with lime-green as they age. The lush, deep green foliage provides a vivid backdrop for the flowers, ideal for partial shade areas.

3. CitylineÂ® Paris

Bloom Time: Early to late summer
Height: 1â3 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9
Garden Uses: Container, border, small gardens

Known for its exceptionally vivid, almost hot pink to red mophead flowers, CitylineÂ® Paris remains compact, making it perfect for urban gardens or container displays.

4. Miss Saori

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
Height: 3â4 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

This award-winning hydrangea features double red-pink blossoms edged in white, creating a striking, lace-like effect that persists throughout the blooming season.

5. Red Sensation (also known as ‘Red Star’)

Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 4â5 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

Large, rounded mopheads show off true red to crimson blooms, intensifying as the season progresses, especially in alkaline soils.

6. Love Hydrangea

Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
Height: 3â4 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

‘Love’ produces multi-layered blooms in shades of deep pink to red, making it a garden favorite for romantic borders or accent plantings.

7. Magical Candle

Bloom Time: Summer to fall
Height: 3â5 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

Blossoms emerge white then deepen into rich red, presenting a magical color transformation in late summer.

8. Red Beauty

Bloom Time: Early to late summer
Height: 2â4 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

With its compact size and bright red flowers, Red Beauty is suitable for borders, containers, and small spaces.

9. Royal Red

Bloom Time: Late spring to summer
Height: 4â6 feet
USDA Zones: 6â9

This robust hydrangea presents classic red mophead flowers, perfect for more spacious beds and bold garden statements.

10. Alpengluhen âGlowing Embersâ

Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 3â4 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

âGlowing Embersâ features large, rounded clusters of deep red blooms, admired for their long-lasting color and suitability in foundation plantings.

11. Lady in Red

Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Height: 3â4 feet
USDA Zones: 6â9
Special: Lacecap style flowers, red stems and veins

This lacecap variety stands out for its red stems, vivid red-tinged leaves, and delicate blooms that deepen in color as they mature. It is notably durable and a favorite among pollinator-friendly gardens.

12. Fireworks Red

Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 3â5 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

Produces panicles of red-pink flowers resembling a burst of summer fireworks.

13. Red Dragon

Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
Height: 2â3 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

Compact and decorative, with deeply colored red flowers and foliage with hints of burgundy in fall.

14. Kolbalt

Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
Height: 3â4 feet
USDA Zones: 6â9

Offers red tinged blooms with attractive, dark green leaves and strong, upright stems.

15. Red Baron

Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 3â5 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

Known for its rounded clusters of deep red flowers, this variety maintains its color longer into the season, ideal for cut flower arrangements.

16. AbracadabraÂ® Red

Bloom Time: Summer
Height: 3â4 feet
USDA Zones: 5â9

This compact plant features round, vibrant red blooms on strong stems and truly stands out as a garden centerpiece.

17. Lady in Red Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata)

Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
Height: 2â4 feet
USDA Zones: 6â9
Special: Compact lacecap, ideal for shade

A mountain variety with vibrant red lacecap blooms and decorative red-tinged foliage, perfect for shady or woodland borders.

Red Hydrangea Types: Mophead, Lacecap, and Mountain Hydrangeas

Red hydrangeas come in several forms, each bringing its own charm to the garden:

Mophead Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla): Large, rounded flower heads, most common type, and highly valued for intense red or raspberry blooms.
Lacecap Hydrangeas: Flat-topped clusters with a center of tiny fertile blossoms surrounded by showy, sterile florets. Often more delicate in appearance and favored for naturalistic or wildlife-friendly gardens.
Mountain Hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata): Typically more compact, with lacecap flowers and often selected for their shade tolerance and striking foliage color.

Best Garden Uses for Red Hydrangeas

Container Planting: Compact varieties thrive in pots, perfect for patios or small spaces.
Borders and Edges: Medium to large varieties add structure and color to beds and borders.
Cut Flower Arrangements: Long-lasting blooms make excellent fresh or dried arrangements.
Woodland or Part-Shade Gardens: Mountain and lacecap varieties add color to shaded spots.

How to Grow and Care for Red Hydrangeas

Getting the boldest reds from your hydrangeas depends on following these key care tips:

Soil Preparation: For the truest reds, aim for neutral to slightly alkaline soil. Amend with lime if your soil is very acidic. Use organic matter to improve fertility.
Watering: Hydrangeas love moisture but need well-draining soil to prevent root rot. Water deeply during dry spells.
Light: Provide morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in hot climates. Too much direct sun can fade flowers.
Fertilization: Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in spring. Avoid high-phosphorus fertilizers, which can affect color development.
Pruning: Red hybrid hydrangeas may bloom on old wood, new wood, or both (as with âEndless Summerâ types). Minimal pruning is needed: remove dead or weak stems after flowering. Check if your variety is a rebloomer for potential midsummer blooms.
Protection: Mulch roots in winter and shelter from cold winds to protect flower buds, which may be sensitive to frost.

Table: Comparison of Key Red Hydrangea Varieties

Variety	Bloom Time	Height	Zones	Form
Endless Summer Summer Crush	Summer	2â3 ft	4â9	Mophead
Magical Ruby Red	Late springâlate summer	3 ft	5â9	Mophead
Cityline Paris	Earlyâlate summer	1â3 ft	5â9	Mophead
Miss Saori	Late springâsummer	3â4 ft	5â9	Mophead
Lady in Red	Early summerâfall	3â4 ft	6â9	Lacecap
Red Sensation	Summer	4â5 ft	5â9	Mophead

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep my red hydrangeas from turning blue or purple?

Maintain soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline) by adding garden lime to prevent blooms from shifting toward purple or blue.

Are red hydrangeas challenging to grow?

Most red hydrangeas are hardy and adaptable. Provide partial shade, fertile soil, and consistent moisture, plus winter protection in colder zones, for best results.

Can I grow red hydrangeas in containers?

Yes, many compact varieties such as Endless Summer Summer Crush and Cityline Paris thrive in large containers or patio pots.

Which red hydrangea is best for shaded gardens?

Mountain hydrangeas like âLady in Redâ (Hydrangea serrata) are ideal for part-shade or woodland settings, with compact growth and lovely lacecap blooms.

Will red hydrangeas attract pollinators?

Yes, lacecap and mountain varieties in particular are attractive to bees and butterflies due to their open flower structures.

Red Hydrangea Planting and Placement Tips

Choose Your Site: Select well-drained, fertile soil with at least four hours of indirect sunlight daily.
Spacing: Leave adequate room between plants to ensure air flow and prevent disease.
Spring or Fall Planting: These are the best seasons for transplanting hydrangeas, avoiding heat stress.
Mulching: Apply a thick organic mulch layer to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Conclusion: Add Drama and Elegance With Red Hydrangeas

Red hydrangea varieties are unmatched for delivering garden drama, whether as statement specimens, border accents, or patio container delights. With their diverse forms, bloom times that extend from late spring through fall, and beautiful interplay with soil chemistry, there is a red hydrangea for every gardener. Choose the ideal variety for your space and enjoy months of rich, radiant beauty every year.

References

Author

Srija Burman

Srija holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Calcutta and a PG diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her interest in writing and editing ranges across niches, including academics, sports, and human psychology.

Read full bio of Srija Burman