Gardening Ideas Outdoor Plants Perennial Plants 26 Ways to Grow Hydrangeas in Containers By Southern Living Editors Updated on May 2, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Southerners love hydrangeas. The only thing better? Hydrangeas in containers. These gorgeous blooming shrubs are Southern garden staples, and we have plenty of ideas for your hydrangea container gardens this year. Whether you are planting French (a.k.a bigleaf) hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens), oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata), or mountain hydrangea (H. serrata), we'll help you get your containers in top-notch shape and keep them looking good for the long haul. Also, check out our planting tips and hydrangea care advice to ensure your hydrangeas are healthy and happy. We'll even tell you how to root your hydrangeas, as well as how to change the pH of the soil and the color of their blooms. Pink or blue? It's up to you! The only exceptions are white French and Mountain hydrangeas—they stay the same color no matter the pH of the soil. Take your hydrangeas for a spin in your favorite containers this year—and happy planting! 01 of 26 Lacecap Combination Southern Livng This container combines 'Shooting Star' lacecap hydrangea, parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans), pineapple lily (Eucomis 'Aloha Lily Leia'), 'Kent Beauty' ornamental hybrid oregano, and Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) for a pretty blue-green-purple palette that looks gorgeous anywhere. 02 of 26 Front Porch Blooms Laurey W. Glenn Tailor your hydrangeas to your decor. Blue hydrangeas look gorgeous beneath a porch ceiling painted in a clear, classic blue. 03 of 26 Sweet Springtime Southern Living This delicate container mixes bright hues and cheery textures. This container recipe includes 'Orange Star' star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum dubium), hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), 'Lemon Buttons' fern (Nephrolepis sp.), echeveria, and variegated ivy (Hedera helix). 04 of 26 Fern Fan Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Kimberly Queen Ferns pair perfectly with French hydrangeas and 'Margarita' sweet potato vine. Flanking the front door on a shady porch, nothing is more welcoming. 05 of 26 White and Green Southern Living These complementary hues add an elegant touch to an indoor container. To re-create this container, include kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), blue crisp fern (Polypodium aureum), and 'Kent Beauty' ornamental hybrid oregano. 06 of 26 Hydrangea Accent Southern Living This dramatic evergreen container has just a touch of blue. To re-create this look, you'll need 'Shooting Star' hydrangea, silver lace fern (Pteris ensiformis), silver dollar maidenhair fern (Adiantum peruvianum), and creeping fig (Ficus pumila). 07 of 26 Front Door Blues Laurey W. Glenn Line your front steps with pots of bright blue hydrangeas for a cheery welcome. Hydrangeas turn blue in acid soil and pink in alkaline soil. To change your hydrangea's color to blue, add half a cup of garden sulfur to the soil. To turn them pink, add garden lime. 08 of 26 Autumn Botanicals Hector Manuel Sanchez Pair 'Vintage Harvest' hydrangea blooms with ferns and Rex begonia for an autumnal container in gorgeous, moody hues. Turn to oakleaf hydrangea for pretty autumn foliage, because it turns deep crimson in the fall. Panicle hydrangea foliage also fades to light yellow when the weather turns crisp in autumn. 09 of 26 Big Impact Windows Ralph Anderson Traditional windows get an even more classic addition with a window box filled with greens and a pop of pink hydrangeas. 'Aaron' white caladium, 'Key Lime Pie' heuchera, 'White Nancy' spotted dead nettle, holly fern, ivy, and light pink periwinkle come together beautifully. 10 of 26 Smooth Hydrangeas Roger Folley 'Invincibelle Spirit' smooth hydrangea blooms reliably, with loads of pink flowers from early summer to frost. They can be kept fully in the sun or in partial sunlight, and need evenly moist,well-drained soil. Prune them back in late winter to encourage new growth. 11 of 26 Up a Tree Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller This panicle hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight', makes for a stunning container when planted in its single-stem, tree-shrub form. 12 of 26 Coastal Vibes Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Barbara Schmidt This home's white exterior with a rich blue door and blooming containers takes on a feeling of Nantucket thanks to the picture-perfect hydrangeas. 13 of 26 Bring it Indoors Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Kathleen Varner While nothing could replace the excitement of seeing the first hydrangea blooming in the yard, it's nice that we can add the Southern favorite to any space at any time of the year. Keep these greenhouse-grown flowers healthy by watering only when the soil feels dry. If brown spots appear on their leaves and petals, they've had too much. Come springtime, you can replant them outside as shrubs. 14 of 26 Keep It Simple Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: Meg Lonergan A classic white container filled with bright blue French hydrangeas makes a statement without too much effort at the front of the porch. 15 of 26 Complementary Containers Robbie Caponetto; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Container Arrangements: Tom Ericson/The Transplanted Garden Opposites on the color wheel, blue and yellow make a great pair. French hydrangeas pop with an abundance of complementary yellow flowers. 16 of 26 Charleston Classic Hector Manuel Sanchez Our three-word formula for perfect window boxes? Fill, thrill, and spill. Colorful mixes of purple, blue, and pink make for a colorful addition to this home's curb appeal. 17 of 26 The More the Merrier Hector Manuel Sanchez; Design: Julia Berolzheimer Potted hydrangeas make a statement among this avid gardener's plant collection. A variety of containers and a vintage plant stand deliver just the right amount of patina. 18 of 26 Potted Perfection Getty Images A row of potted blue and white hydrangeas paired with a trellis wall make for a party-perfect backdrop. When the evening is over, the homeowners can move the pots to the front porch or spread them around the garden. 19 of 26 A Pop of Pink John O’Hagan Nothing livens up a green landscape quite like the bold shades of pink hydrangeas in vintage vessels. 20 of 26 Hydrangeas with Grace Ralph Anderson Small hydrangeas deliver a dose of lacey softness to this cascading outdoor container garden. 21 of 26 A Rose-Colored Dream Getty Images Soft pink hydrangeas thrive in a rustic container, adding a dose of softness to a rocky outdoor backdrop. 22 of 26 Make It French Robbie Caponetto; Produced: Mark Thompson; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Pile French hydrangeas into a beautiful, neutral, earthenware container reminiscent of the ones found in all the Parisian gardens. 23 of 26 Among the Ivy Robbie Caponetto; Produced: Mark Thompson; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Nestle big, bountiful blooms of pink French hydrangeas into a rectangular pot with English Ivy as an elegant, draping filler plant. Make sure to allow it to cascade down the sides of the pot for maximum effect. 24 of 26 Woven Wonder ftd.com The texture and color of the woven container are simple touches that will contrast nicely with a soft, flowy spray of hydrangeas. 25 of 26 Easy Pass-Alongs Jean Allsopp Delight your fellow gardener friends with propagated stems of your favorite hydrangeas. Handing the blooms off in little terracotta pots or tin pails just makes it a little more thoughtful and fun. 26 of 26 Tasteful Terracotta Steve Bender You can never go wrong with a terracotta pot, indoors or out. It will always lend a simple, rustic touch that aims to please. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit