Back in Victorian times when gas lighting and postage stamps were new, the spectacular species of hydrangea was considered a symbol of pure vanity. The legend goes that anyone who would plant such a shrub was simply being boastful. This, of course, is on account of hydrangea’s spectacular, showy blooms.
Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find a landscape that doesn’t include at least one (or two) of these beautiful bloomers. There are simply hundreds of different hydrangea varieties gracing commercial landscapes and residential yards across the country. Advances in plant breeding and consumer demand have turned what was once thought of as a Victorian indulgence into a modern-day must-have.
At Loma Vista Nursery, we grow the following hydrangea varieties and ship them to landscape contractors and garden center clients throughout the Midwest. Consumers can find these varieties in their favorite local shop, or ask the plant retailer to order it for you.
Bigleaf Hydrangeas
Pop Star® Bigleaf Hydrangea — Hydrangea macrophylla
Pop Star® Bigleaf Hydrangea
Introduced to the retail marketplace in 2023, Pop Star is prized for both its size and propensity for rebloom, producing tough but delicate-appearing lacecap flowers on both old and new wood. Depending on soil pH, flowers are either electric blue or neon pink. At only 18 to 36 inches high and wide, Pop Star’s compact habit fits as nicely in containers as it does in landscape beds. Because it blooms early on old wood and then continuously on new wood, Pop Star repeats its blooms from summer well into fall. No worries on maintenance — none is needed to maintain the shrub’s mounded form. Plant Pop Star in partial sun, in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
DreamCloud™ Bigleaf Hydrangea — Hydrangea macrophylla — Bailey Nurseries Photo
DreamCloud™ Bigleaf Hydrangea
This hydrangea is also compact, yet it is blanketed by simply enormous, fluffy-white mophead flowers. The shrub’s not a one-and-done bloomer either. Its globe-sized mopheads persist from early summer through the fall, aging from white to green or pink depending on the climate. It’s a tough plant, too, with strong stems fit enough to hold such massive flowers. Plant DreamCloud where it can be seen and appreciated. At 3 to 4 feet tall and wide at maturity, it is perfect in the front of a border along a sidewalk or planted to greet visitors near an entryway. Resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spot, DreamCloud is happiest in morning sun and afternoon shade. Give it plenty of water in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
Smooth Hydrangea
FlowerFul® Smooth Hydrangea — Hydrangea arborescens —Bailey Nurseries Photo
FlowerFul® Smooth Hydrangea
The nod to massive mopheads continues with FlowerFul® Smooth Hydrangea. Offering exceptional structural integrity, the shrub produces huge, crisp-white flowers on upright stems that stay that way even during heavy summer rain and wind storms. Blooms begin green on new wood, then turn creamy white and age back to green. Dark green, heart-shaped foliage peeks through the blooms to provide a visually interesting contrast. Makes no difference to FlowerFul where it’s planted — full sun to partial shade does just fine. Camouflage a foundation or plant in groupings for extra “wow.” Enjoy the bold blooms indoors in cut flower arrangements. Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9.
Panicle Hydrangea
Pinky Winky Prime® Panicle Hydrangea — Hydrangea paniculata – Proven Winners Photo
Pinky Winky Prime® Hydrangea
Big blooms in bold color dance in the summer sun above stiff, red-toned stems and dark green foliage. Pinky Winky has an upright mounded habit and grows 6 to 9 feet tall and wide on new wood. Plant it where it can delight passersby and have plenty of room to spread out. In mid-summer, 12- to 16-inch long, cone-shaped panicles bloom white first. Florets at the panicle’s base then turn pink, and eventually raspberry, while new white florets continue to emerge at the tip. Resembling ice cream cones, raspberry-and-white panicles thrive in full sun to part shade, flowering from summer to fall. Low maintenance, this hydrangea isn’t fussy about soil environments, never minding clay or alkaline conditions. It does just fine in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 8.
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea — Hydrangea quercifolia
Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea
Named for its size, Pee Wee Oakleaf Hydrangea stays small, growing only to about 3- to 4-feet tall and wide. But don’t let its size fool you. Upright, cone-shaped panicles are 6 to 8 inches long, starting creamy white in early summer and aging to antique pink. Mature stems feature exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark with textured, oak-like foliage. This hydrangea blooms on old wood. It is perfect for smaller gardens because of its size. Plant Pee Wee in mixed borders and woodland gardens. It prefers shade, but tolerates full sun. This is a low-maintenance hydrangea with no major pests or diseases. Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 9.
Mountain Hydrangea
Tuff Stuff™ Top™ Fun Mountain Hydrangea Pink — Hydrangea serrata
Tuff Stuff™ Top™ Fun Mountain Hydrangea
Want color? Tuff Stuff Top Fun delivers all the “wows!” Smaller even than Pee Wee, this hydrangea only reaches 2 to 3 feet tall and wide. Yet it’s continuously covered in hot pink or purple (see cover photo) depending on soil pH. Lacecap flowers have round, bright-green centers. The hydrangea’s on-repeat flowers thanks to its ability to bloom on old and new wood. Burgundy-red stems hold the lacecap blooms aloft from summer through fall, with peek-a-boos from dark blue-green foliage. Heat and salt tolerant, Tuff Stuff Top Fun thrives in full to part sun, in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. This is a must-have for floral arrangements indoors. In the landscape, its mounded, tidy habit makes Tuff Stuff Top Fun an excellent choice for small-space designs, borders and containers.
About Loma Vista Nursery ‒ Midwest Wholesale Plant Grower
Celebrating 35 years in business in 2026, Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of hydrangeas, along with healthy trees, shrubs and perennial plants, for independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Review our plant catalog for detailed information and to order.
Visit our website to learn more about our nursery, including our processes, plant varieties and business values. For assistance with orders or plant-related questions, please call (785) 229-7200 or send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com. Our team of plant experts is happy to answer questions and provide information about the reliable varieties we grow.
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