Call us: 0800 843 752Free shipping for orders $150 or over
Gift Vouchers

dark blue hydrangea

If you’re searching for a vibrant and captivating addition to your garden, a dark blue hydrangea is the perfect choice to deliver stunning colour and year-round interest. With their rich, dramatic blooms, blue hydrangeas add a touch of elegance to garden beds, shaded corners, and even patio pots. Their striking flower heads bring a sense of calm and depth to your outdoor space, and they’re renowned for captivating as both feature plants and backdrop shrubs. Whether you’re new to hydrangeas or a lover of these old-fashioned favourites, growing a dark blue hydrangea in New Zealand is a rewarding experience—with a little know-how, you can enjoy that coveted, intensely blue colour.

dichroa-blue-stars--1

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: 1.50 m
Spread: 1.50 m
Flowering time: Spring, Summer
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Living areas, Pool areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock
A purple-blue Hydrangea 'Renate Steiniger' flower.

Hydrangea 'Renate Steiniger'

5 from 1 customers

Hydrangea 'Renate Steiniger' is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its vibrant rounded flower heads and lush green foliage. Flowering abundantly through summer, this eye catching hydrangea creates a brilliant display of seasonal colour that brightens New Zealand gardens and outdoor spaces.

Suited to regions: All regions
Plant type: Shrubs
Height: 1.20 m
Spread: 1.20 m
Flowering time: Summer, Autumn
Tolerances: Hardy
Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas
Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock
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
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
Aquilegia Blue Barlow cluster of blue flowers.
Aquilegia 'Blue Barlow' (Columbine)

Aquilegia 'Blue Barlow' is a classic perennial admired for its elegant double deep blue flowers that appear in late spring and early summer. This...

From$30.29
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
helleborus-dark-hybrid-1
Helleborus 'Dark Hybrid'

Helleborus 'Dark Hybrid' is a stunning winter flowering perennial valued for its deep coloured blooms and attractive evergreen foliage. The nodding...

From$19.95
Beautiful purple flowers on the Hydrangea Bloody Marvellous.
Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous'

Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' lives up to its name with spectacular deep red blooms that create a bold statement in any garden. This red-flowering...

From$27.95
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$494.05
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' plant with blue flowers.
Nepeta 'Blue Wonder' (Catmint)

Nepeta 'Walker's Low' is an award winning Catmint admired for its long flowering season and aromatic grey green foliage. From late spring through...

From$17.87
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
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
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
hosta-blue-mouse-ears--5
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
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
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
Thuja orientalis 'Blue Cone' shrubs with green foliage in pots.
Thuja orientalis 'Blue Cone'

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

From$289.95
cupressus-blue-ice-4
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
osmanthus-heterophyllus-
Osmanthus heterophyllus

Osmanthus heterophyllus, commonly known as False Holly, is an evergreen shrub grown for its attractive foliage and pretty flowers. It produces spiny...

From$37.19
hydrangea-macrophylla-geoffrey-chadbund-1
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
Pittosporum 'Wrinkled Blue' speciment tree.
Pittosporum 'Wrinkled Blue'

Pittosporum ‘Wrinkled Blue’ is an attractive, upright evergreen tree known for its distinctive blue-grey foliage and dense, columnar growth habit...

From$22.01
hydrangea-macrophylla-piamina--1
Hydrangea 'Piamina'

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

From$27.95
hydrangea-macrophylla-masja-
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$27.95
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
A 'Annabelle' Hydrangea informal hedge with masses of white flowers.
Hydrangea 'Annabelle'

The ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangea is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its large, snowball-like white flower heads that appear from summer into autumn...

From$27.95
hydrangea-macrophylla-alpen-gluten-
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
Agapanthus 'Blue Finn' blue flower.
Agapanthus 'Blue Finn'

Agapanthus 'Blue Finn' is a compact, evergreen variety prized for its deep blue blooms and tidy, clumping habit. This hardy perennial adds a burst of...

From$22.95
agapanthus-lapis-5
Agapanthus 'Lapis'

Agapanthus 'Lapis' is a compact and elegant perennial prized for its abundant clusters of rich blue flowers that appear above tidy clumps of lush...

From$13.95
Hydrangea 'Bridal Bouquet' elegant cream-white flowers.
Hydrangea 'Bridal Bouquet'

Hydrangea 'Bridal Bouquet' is a graceful and timeless variety featuring pure white mophead blooms that evoke elegance and charm. This classic shrub...

From$21.95
A Rosemary 'Blue Lagoon' shrub with blue flowers in a mixed planting.
Rosmarinus 'Blue Lagoon'

Rosmarinus ‘Blue Lagoon’ is a hardy, evergreen shrub prized for its aromatic foliage and vibrant deep blue flowers. Blooming from late winter through...

From$22.01
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
azalea-blue-danube--1
Azalea 'Blue Danube'

Azalea 'Blue Danube' is a striking evergreen azalea admired for its masses of rich purple blue flowers and lush green foliage. This compact shrub...

From$18.85
Dichroa Blue Stars (Evergreen Hydrangea)

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Aquilegia, Dichroa, and Helleborus, or related Categories - Perennials, Deciduous Shrubs, and Evergreen Shrubs.

Search dark blue hydrangea

What Makes a Hydrangea Bloom Dark Blue?

The secret behind a true dark blue hydrangea lies in both variety and soil chemistry. Most commonly, mophead or lacecap hydrangeas can display blue hues, but only when grown in acidic soil with ample aluminium. The more acidic your soil (ideally with a pH of 5 to 5.5), the richer the blue. Amend alkaline soils with garden sulphur or aluminium sulphate to intensify your flowers. For those who want a guaranteed shade, consider varieties bred for their impactful colour, such as Hydrangea Nightingale with its saturated violet-blue blooms, or the much-loved Hydrangea Mariesii Perfecta.

Top Dark Blue Hydrangea Varieties for New Zealand Gardens

Choosing the perfect dark blue hydrangea for your garden depends on flower form, growth habit, and how it fits with your landscape. Some favourites include:

For gardeners seeking something a little different, Dichroa Blue Stars (Evergreen Hydrangea) offers incredible blue berry-like fruit after flowering, along with stunning blue blooms, on an evergreen shrub.

Growing Tips for Intense Blue Colour

To achieve and maintain that sought-after dark blue hydrangea shade, plant in dappled shade with well-drained, moisture-retentive soil. Be sure to mulch with leaf mould or pine needles and water deeply during dry spells. Test your soil pH and adjust as needed with acidifying agents. Feed with a hydrangea-specific fertiliser low in phosphorus to avoid pinking. Prune after flowering to encourage robust new growth and more flower heads next season.

Hydrangea Companion Planting and Design Ideas

Dark blue hydrangeas make a dramatic statement paired with silver-leaved foliage, white-flowering perennials, and woodland natives. Their long-lasting blooms are ideal for cut flower arrangements, drying, and adding structure to informal borders. For extended seasonal interest, combine classic hydrangeas with Dichroa Blue Stars (Evergreen Hydrangea), which holds its evergreen leaves all year.

Bring the Richest Blue to Your Garden

A dark blue hydrangea brings unrivalled richness, charm, and easy-care beauty to Kiwi gardens. Explore your favourite varieties such as Hydrangea Mariesii Perfecta, Hydrangea Nightingale, Hydrangea Garten Baudirektor Kuhnert, and Hydrangea Renate Steiniger to find your perfect match and enjoy a garden awash in true, vivid blue.


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.

–The Plant Company

Explore Garden Inspiration

Sign up to receive a free $10 Voucher You won’t be bombarded with emails, just titbits of quality information from time to time Sign up
Free shipping on orders over $150!

Join our community of happy customers.

4.8

466 Google reviews