What Side of Your House Should You Plant Hydrangeas? (2024)

Hydrangeas are easy-to-grow plants, just as long as you have them planted in the right spot. So what is the right spot to plant your hydrangea? These popular shrubs make beautiful foundation plants as well as hedges, privacy screens, and bed plants.

For some reason, hydrangeas have earned the reputation of being finicky plants. Their flowers are incomparable, and when they are lacking in a garden, it can be disappointing. This causes people to question which side of their home they should be planting their hydrangeas.

Planting them in the wrong area can cause lackluster bloom production, amongst other common issues. Let’s take a deeper look at which side of your home your hydrangeas belong before you start putting them in the ground.

The Long Answer

It is easy to say, “Plant your hydrangea on the east side of your house”. However, more important than the side of the home is the amount of sun and shade each side gets. Every single home is different.

Walk around the perimeter of your home a few times a day to look at sun exposure to help determine the best plant placement. Or, if you have one particular space in mind, keep track of how much sun the space gets throughout the day and at what time. Once you have that data, you can choose the right species for your yard.

Equally as important as the amount of sun they receive is the soil that they will be growing in. Hydrangeas do not like having wet feet. Too much moisture can lead to root rot as well as other issues. Therefore, you will want your soil to be moist but well-draining.

Sun Requirements

There are a lot of terms that are frequently used when we are talking about sun requirements for plants. Let’s break that down so you can make the best decision about what to plant in your garden spaces.

Keep Species In Mind

Hydrangea Paniculata loves full sun and can take 6 hours or more of sun per day. This species is always a beautiful addition to any garden. They typically grow up to 6 feet in height or more, although there are dwarf varieties available.

They bloom on new wood and produce beautiful football-shaped flowers that are usually white, fading to shades of pink or red as the season goes on. However, if you are planting any other hydrangea species, you will need a bit more protection from the sun.

All other species grow best in partial shade, getting about 4 hours of sun per day. This sun should be in the morning. Spending the afternoons in the shade will give them time to recover from the morning sun and perk up a bit.

Looking at Each Planting Location

No two yards are the same, so what makes each side good or bad for growing hydrangeas? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of planting them on every side of your home landscape.

North Side

I would consider the north side the second best place to plant hydrangeas. The north side gets good morning sunlight.

This is not always the case, of course. The north side of my home is where my driveway sits. The driveway generates a lot of heat. I have one hydrangea planted near my driveway in the shade of a lilac bush, and it needs a bit more water than the rest of them planted in my yard.

South Side

Aside from the west side of the house, the south side will typically get too much sun for many types of hydrangeas to grow happily.

This being said, if you have deciduous trees creating dappled shade on the south side of your home, they will grow happily there underneath the area shaded by the tree.

Another option for the south side is to plant panicles. They will enjoy the sun but might need to be watered a bit more frequently for them to thrive.

East Side

This is the best side of the house for your hydrangeas, traditionally. The east side of your home will likely get wonderful morning sun and afternoon, providing them with ideal conditions for growing strong plants and beautiful flowers.

West Side

This is historically the worst side for planting. This is because the west side will get the most afternoon sun. The afternoon sun can really fry your hydrangeas, leaving them with little time to recover before nightfall.

If you are dying to plant on the west side of your home, I would opt for panicles just like other sunny areas. As mentioned earlier, these are the only hydrangea variety suited for mostly sunny conditions. You may still struggle with keeping them from drying out.

Try placing a soaker hose or a drip irrigation line around the base of the shrub to ensure that they get enough water to combat the heat of the afternoon sun.

What About Containers?

Containers are wonderful options if you don’t have the perfect growing conditions in your garden. Potted hydrangeas could be placed on a patio, porch or deck. These potted beauties can easily be overwintered in your shed or garage so you can enjoy them year after year.

When you are selecting a container, be sure to pick a container that is large enough to give the roots to grow. It is recommended that the container is about twice the size of the existing root ball of the plant.

These potted plants still require the same dappled sunlight as the shrubs planted in the garden. Keep your eye on container-growing hydrangeas. They may need to be watered more frequently. This is because there is less soil and available water in containers.