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best blue hydrangea

Searching for the best blue hydrangea in New Zealand gardens? You’re not alone. The stunning blue blooms of hydrangeas add a dreamy touch to any landscape, catching the eye with their vibrant colour and lush petals. Whether you want a statement shrub for your front yard, a border for shaded areas, or a classic cottage garden staple, blue hydrangeas are a fantastic choice. With so many varieties available, it can be hard to decide which one suits your garden best. This guide will help you discover top blue hydrangea varieties, how to keep your blooms their brightest blue, and tips for creating a thriving hydrangea haven.

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Dichroa 'Blue Stars' (Evergreen Hydrangea)

5 from 4 customers

Dichroa 'Blue Stars' is a striking evergreen shrub admired for its clusters of intense blue star shaped flowers followed by brilliant metallic blue berries. The combination of vivid blooms and glossy fruit creates outstanding seasonal interest from summer into autumn.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 1.25 m
Spread: 1.25 m
Flowering time: Spring, Summer
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Living areas, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock
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Hydrangea 'Blue Wave'

Hydrangea 'Blue Wave' is a stunning lacecap hydrangea known for its vibrant blue flower centres surrounded by delicate outer florets. Flowering through summer, it adds texture and colour to NZ gardens while its lush foliage provides structure.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 1.25 m
Spread: 1.25 m
Flowering time: Summer, Autumn
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock
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Hydrangea 'Blue Deckle'

Hydrangea 'Blue Deckle' is a refined lacecap hydrangea valued for its delicate blue flower centres surrounded by pale outer florets. Flowering...

From$27.95
Gorgeous Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ayesha' pink flowers.
Hydrangea 'Ayesha'

Hydrangea 'Ayesha' is a distinctive variety prized for its lilac-like flower clusters and subtle fragrance. The waxy, spoon-shaped petals and glossy...

From$27.95
Hydrangea 'Blueberries and Cream' blue flower with cream-coloured florets.
Hydrangea 'Blueberries and Cream'

Hydrangea 'Blueberries and Cream' is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its beautiful lacecap flowers featuring creamy white outer florets...

From$27.95
A purple-blue Hydrangea 'Renate Steiniger' flower.
Hydrangea 'Renate Steiniger'

Hydrangea 'Renate Steiniger' is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its vibrant rounded flower heads and lush green foliage. Flowering abundantly...

From$27.95
Podocarpus 'Matapouri Blue' hedge.
Podocarpus 'Matapouri Blue' (Blue Tōtara)

Podocarpus 'Matapouri Blue', also known as Blue Totara, is a stunning New Zealand native tree prized for its striking blue-green foliage and tidy...

From$30.29
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter' plants with fine and elegant, blue foliage.
Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter'

Pimelea prostrata 'Blue Peter', commonly known as Pinatoro or the NZ Daphne plant, is a mat-forming, NZ native, ground cover plant. It has small...

From$19.95
Hydrangea 'Libelle' lacecap white and blue flowers.
Hydrangea 'Libelle'

Hydrangea 'Libelle' is a graceful lacecap hydrangea renowned for its pure white sterile florets that elegantly frame a centre of tiny fertile...

From$27.95
Salvia 'Aztec Blue' plants with elegant blue flowers above green foliage.
Salvia 'Aztec Blue'

Salvia 'Aztec Blue' is an eye catching perennial admired for its bold cobalt blue flower spikes that bloom heavily from late spring through autumn in...

From$27.53
Large Jacaranda mimosifolia tree with blue flowers.
Jacaranda mimosifolia (Blue Jacaranda)

Jacaranda mimosifolia, commonly known as the Blue Jacaranda tree, is a tropical-looking tree that is widely planted because of its beautiful and...

From$37.19
A Picea pungens 'Glauca' (Colorado Blue Spruce) tree.
Picea pungens 'Glauca'

Picea pungens 'Glauca', commonly known as the Colorado Blue Spruce, is a blue coloured conifer that grows with a broad and open, pyramidal shape. The...

From$515.35
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' (Blue Atlas Cedar) large specimen tree in a park.
Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca'

Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', also known as Blue Atlas Cedar, is a striking evergreen conifer ideal for New Zealand gardens. Its silvery-blue needles...

From$340.69
juncus-blue-dart-
Juncus 'Blue Dart' (Blue Rush)

Juncus 'Blue Dart' is a striking ornamental rush prized for its upright blue green foliage and strong architectural form. This hardy evergreen plant...

From$18.29
Westringia 'Blue Gem' low hedge with elegant mauve coloured flowers.
Westringia 'Blue Gem'

Westringia 'Blue Gem' is a hardy evergreen shrub admired for its fine grey green foliage, naturally dense rounded habit, and masses of soft blue...

From$18.95
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Cupressus 'Blue Ice' (Blue Arizona Cypress)

Cupressus 'Blue Ice' is a striking evergreen conifer admired for its vibrant icy blue foliage and strong upright growth habit. This hardy tree...

From$270.40
Thuja orientalis 'Blue Cone' shrubs with green foliage in pots.
Thuja orientalis 'Blue Cone'

Thuja orientalis 'Blue Cone' is a dwarf conifer that features dense and erect sprays of green foliage. It gets its name from the blue cones produced...

From$289.95
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Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears'

Hosta 'Blue Mouse Ears' is a compact perennial prized for its rounded blue green foliage and tidy growth habit. It is an excellent choice for adding...

From$24.77
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Hydrangea 'Geoffrey Chadbund'

Hydrangea 'Geoffrey Chadbund' is a beautiful deciduous shrub admired for its large rounded flower heads and lush green foliage. Flowering through...

From$27.95
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Hydrangea 'Paris'

Hydrangea 'Paris' is a compact deciduous shrub admired for its vibrant flower heads and lush green foliage. Flowering abundantly through summer, this...

From$36.95
Hydrangea 'Nigra' shrub with blue flowers.
Hydrangea 'Nigra'

Hydrangea 'Nigra' is a distinctive deciduous shrub admired for its striking dark stems, lush green foliage, and elegant flower heads. Flowering...

From$27.95
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Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' (Blue Fescue Grass)

Festuca 'Banks Peninsula Blue' is a striking ornamental grass valued for its fine, steel blue foliage that forms neat, compact clumps. This hardy...

From$14.49
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Eucalyptus 'Baby Blue' (Silver Gum)

Eucalyptus 'Baby Blue' is a highly popular evergreen tree admired for its stunning silver blue foliage and strong ornamental appeal. The rounded...

From$408.85
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Leuchtfeuer' pink and cream-coloured flowers.
Hydrangea 'Leuchtfeuer'

Hydrangea 'Leuchtfeuer' is a vibrant mophead hydrangea celebrated for its large rounded blooms in intense deep red to crimson tones. This striking...

From$27.95
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Hydrangea 'Masja'

Hydrangea 'Masja' is a compact deciduous shrub admired for its vibrant rounded flower heads and lush dark green foliage. Flowering abundantly through...

From$36.95
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Hydrangea 'Alpen Gluten'

Hydrangea 'Alpen Gluten' is a striking deciduous shrub known for its large flower heads that bring bold colour and presence to NZ gardens. Flowering...

From$27.95
An upright Rosemary 'Tuscan Blue' shrub with blue flowers in a Mediterranean themed garden.
Rosmarinus 'Tuscan Blue'

The 'Tuscan Blue' Rosemary is a fast-growing and upright variety that features petite, sky-blue flowers borne amidst the dark green leaves through...

From$22.01
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' plant with blue flowers.
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)

Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' is a compact catmint with aromatic silvery green foliage and rich blue flower spikes through the warmer months. The rounded...

From$17.87
Festuca coxii (Blue Fescue) grass growing in a garden.
Festuca coxii (Blue Fescue)

Festuca coxii, commonly known as Blue Fescue, is a hardy NZ native, ornamental grass that features fine, blue foliage. Straw-coloured seed heads...

From$14.49
A colourful Hydrangea 'Raspberry Crush' flower.
Hydrangea 'Raspberry Crush'

Hydrangea 'Raspberry Crush' is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its vibrant raspberry pink flower heads and lush green foliage. Flowering...

From$36.95
Senecio serpens (Blue Chalk Sticks) plants growing as a dense ground cover.
Senecio serpens

Senecio serpens, commonly known as Blue Chalksticks, is a succulent grown for its foliage and creeping growth habit. It forms a carpet of pointed...

From$27.53
Orange 'Best Seedless' orange fruit with orange flesh.
Orange 'Best Seedless'

The 'Best Seedless' Orange is a superb variety prized for its deliciously sweet, seedless fruit and easy-to-peel skin. Perfect for New Zealand...

From$369.95
Dichroa 'Blue Stars' (Evergreen Hydrangea)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Dichroa, Hydrangea, and Pimelea, or related Categories - Groundcover Plants, Perennials, and Deciduous Shrubs.

Search best blue hydrangea

Top Blue Hydrangea Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

If your goal is to find the best blue hydrangea, start with proven performers. Some blue hydrangea varieties stand out for their reliable colour, robust growth, and gorgeous flower heads. Here are a few favourites:

How to Keep Your Hydrangeas Blue

The secret to achieving and maintaining blue hydrangea blooms is soil pH. Hydrangea flowers turn blue most intensely in acidic soils (pH below 6), while alkaline soils push blooms toward pink or mauve. For the best blue hydrangea colour, add soil acidifiers like aluminium sulphate or use pine needles and peat moss as mulch. Regular soil testing helps you adjust nutrients and pH to keep your hydrangeas their brightest blue.

Also, choose sheltered positions out of harsh afternoon sun, and keep your hydrangeas well-watered, especially during dry spells. These shrubs enjoy moist, well-drained soil and thrive in areas protected from strong winds.

Planting and Care Tips for Blue Hydrangeas

Plant blue hydrangeas in autumn or spring when soil is workable and temperatures are milder. Space shrubs to allow airflow, water deeply at planting, and apply a thick mulch to retain moisture. Prune after flowering to remove faded blooms and encourage bushier growth next season.

If you’re searching for the best blue hydrangea, explore our selection and bring a burst of colour to your garden. Whether you prefer the classic lacecap of Hydrangea Nightingale, mophead beauty of Hydrangea Mariesii Perfecta, or the unique evergreen form of Dichroa Blue Stars (Evergreen Hydrangea), you’ll find a blue hydrangea to suit every garden style and space.


Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.

Lomandra 'Tanika' and Lomandra 'Frosty Tops' are classic choices, but adventurous gardeners will enjoy Mandarin 'Silverhill', Cherry 'Lapins', and Olive 'J5'.
–The Plant Company

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