multicolor hydrangea

Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

A multicolor hydrangea is the crown jewel of any New Zealand garden, delighting with its ever-changing palette of vibrant blooms. Whether you’re searching for a standout feature for your landscape or an eye-catching cut flower for the vase, multicolor hydrangeas bring a sense of wonder with their kaleidoscope of pink, blue, lavender, and cream shades. These stunning plants respond to both soil conditions and seasonal temperature shifts—meaning that every year, your hydrangea display can be a unique masterpiece.

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' shrubs with lime-green flowers and lush, green foliage.

Hydrangea 'Limelight'

5

The 'Limelight' Hydrangea is a showstopping variety celebrated for its large, conical lime-green flower heads that gradually soften to cream, blush pink, and burgundy with age. Blooming from late summer into autumn, this hardy and upright shrub brings structure, colour, and long-lasting appeal to New Zealand gardens. ‘Limelight’ thrives in full sun to part-shade and performs well in a range of soil types, provided they are moist and well-drained. It’s an ideal choice for hedging, feature planting, or mass displays with dramatic seasonal flair.

Buy Hydrangea 'Limelight'

From $77.94

Suited to regions: All regions

Plant type: Shrubs

Height: 1.50 m

Spread: 1.50 m

Flowering time: Summer, Autumn

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Containers, Hedging, Living areas

Garden styles: Alpine, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Formal, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Rock

Hydrangea 'Strawberries and Cream'

Hydrangea 'Strawberries and Cream' is a stunning deciduous shrub admired for its beautiful flower heads featuring soft pink and creamy white tones. Flowering abundantly through summer, this elegant hydrangea creates a charming display of seasonal colour that brightens New Zealand gardens and outdoor spaces. Its compact growth habit and reliable flowering make it ideal for cottage gardens, borders, feature planting, and shaded landscapes. Hydrangea 'Strawberries and Cream' thrives in moist fertile conditions and provides softness, texture, and long lasting beauty throughout the warmer months.

Buy Hydrangea 'Strawberries and Cream'

From $37.19

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

Did you find what you are looking for?

You might be interested in exploring related Latin Names - Hydrangea, or related Categories - Deciduous Shrubs.

Search multicolor hydrangea

What Is a Multicolor Hydrangea?

A multicolor hydrangea is any hydrangea variety renowned for producing blooms in multiple shades on the same bush. Unlike traditional hydrangeas that display a single color, these varieties can present blushes of pink merging into blue or streaks of deep purple beside brilliant white. Soil pH is the real magic behind this phenomenon: acidic soils encourage blues and purples, while alkaline soils typically result in pinks and reds. Multicolor forms harness this natural variation, creating a tapestry of hues that never fails to impress.

Best Multicolor Hydrangeas for New Zealand Gardens

Choosing the right variety is essential if you want reliable multicolor blooms amid New Zealand’s unique climate. For those seeking that extraordinary colour blend, try the enchanting Hydrangea 'Harlequin', famous for its creamy white petals edged with cherry red, sometimes revealing a striking pink or deep purple accent as the season advances.

Other standout options include:

Hydrangea 'Zaunkonig', offering deep magenta and purple shades that shift in intensity as the blooms mature.
Hydrangea Madame Plumecoq, beloved for its snow-white petals brushed with blush pink—a showstopper from early summer to late autumn.
Hydrangea You Me Emotion, which produces double, bicoloured flowers that can lean towards blue, lavender, or pink.

Although not strictly multicolour, Hydrangea Limelight is popular for its lime-green flowers that soften to cream and blush pink—the subtle progression of shades brings delicate dimension to any planting scheme.

Growing and Caring for Multicolor Hydrangeas

To bring out your hydrangea’s full spectrum, position it in morning sun and afternoon shade, sheltered from harsh winds. Hydrangeas thrive in rich, well-drained soils, so improve your planting site with compost. If you’re keen on intensifying the blue and purple tones, add aluminium sulphate or garden sulphur to your soil. For pinks and reds, lime your soil once a year. Remember to water them in dry spells, and prune spent flowers to encourage future growth.

Mulching around the base suppresses weeds and protects roots, while feeding in early spring with a hydrangea-friendly fertiliser ensures robust flowering.

Design Ideas Using Multicolor Hydrangea

Multicolor hydrangeas make show-stopping borders, cottage garden anchors, or feature shrubs beside entryways. Their palette shifts throughout the season, providing ongoing interest with minimal effort. Plant with companion shrubs like rhododendrons or azaleas, or combine with ornamental grasses for a breezy, modern look. Because these plants are so versatile, they’re equally at home in a formal bed or as a statement in a large container on your deck.

Ready to add a splash of living colour? Browse our range including Hydrangea 'Harlequin', Hydrangea 'Zaunkonig', Hydrangea Limelight, Hydrangea Madame Plumecoq, and Hydrangea You Me Emotion to find your perfect multicolor hydrangea. Let your garden embrace the magic of changing hues this season.

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.