The Bloomerie

Are Hydrangeas Perennial Flowers? Your Guide to Lasting Blooms in Vancouver

August 18, 2025

For many Vancouver gardeners, the dream is a lush garden that returns with vibrant colour year after year. This means you don’t have to replant everything each spring. When it comes to big, beautiful blooms, one of the most common questions we hear at our Kitsilano flower shop is, “Are hydrangeas perennial flower plants?”

Best-Hydrangea-Varieties-for-Vancouver

The answer is a big, happy yes! Hydrangeas are strong, woody perennials. In this guide, we’ll show you why hydrangeas are a great choice, which types grow best in Vancouver, and how to care for them.

Understanding Perennials: A Gardener’s Best Friend

First, letโ€™s talk about what a perennial is. A perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. It comes back each spring from the same roots.

This is different from annuals, which only live for one season. Perennials like hydrangeas spend their energy building strong roots. This helps them come back bigger and better every single year.

The experts at the University of New Hampshire’s Agricultural Extension even confirm that this long life makes them a wonderful and rewarding choice for any garden.

Enjoy Hydrangeas Indoors and Out

The Best Hydrangea Varieties for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

Most hydrangeas are perennials, but itโ€™s smart to choose a type that likes our weather. We get a lot of rain, and our summers are mild. You can explore our stunning hydrangea arrangements and other seasonal bouquets at The Bloomerie.

Here are a few top choices that do really well here:

Bigleaf Hydrangeas

These are the classic hydrangeas with big, round flower heads that look like pom-poms. They love getting sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon, which is perfect for our area. Their lush and full blooms also make them a popular choice for romantic occasions like an anniversary.

A fun fact is that their colour can change with the soil! If your soil is acidic, you’ll get beautiful blue flowers. But if your soil is alkaline, you’ll get lovely pink ones.

Panicle Hydrangeas

These are some of the toughest hydrangeas you can find. Their flowers are shaped like cones. They can handle more sun than Bigleafs and are very reliable, giving you flowers year after year. 

Oakleaf Hydrangeas

These hydrangeas are special because their leaves are shaped like oak leaves. They also have amazing fall colours, so they look good in your garden almost all year round. We love using their unique texture in our arrangements, which you can see in our portfolio.

Pro Tip for Stunning Hydrangea Blooms

A Floral Designer’s Pro Tip for Stunning Hydrangea Blooms

Hereโ€™s what you need to know based on the type of hydrangea you have.

Pruning Bigleaf Hydrangeas (The big, round ones)

  • Blooms on “Old Wood”: These hydrangeas grow flower buds on the branches from the previous summer.
  • How to Prune: Only snip off the old, spent flowers after they fade.
  • What to Avoid: Do not cut the main branches back hard in the fall or spring. Otherwise, you will remove next year’s flower buds!

Pruning Panicle Hydrangeas (The cone-shaped ones)

  • Blooms on “New Wood”: These hydrangeas grow flowers on the new stems that sprout in the spring.
  • How to Prune: You can cut them back in late winter or very early spring before new growth starts.
  • The Result: This encourages the plant to grow strong new stems, which will be covered in lots of beautiful flowers.

If you have questions about creating a custom bouquet, you can always get in touch with us.

Caring for Your Perennial Hydrangeas

So, are hydrangeas perennial flower plants easy to take care of? Yes, they absolutely are. Follow these simple steps for happy, healthy plants.

Caring for Your Perennial Hydrangeas

Their easy-care nature is why a beautiful potted hydrangea makes a wonderful, long-lasting gift for Mother’s Day.

Enjoy Hydrangeas Indoors and Out

The amazing thing about hydrangeas is that you can enjoy them both outside in the garden and inside as cut flowers. Their big, beautiful blooms are perfect for bouquets.

Now that weโ€™ve answered the question,Are hydrangeas perennial flower plants?”, we hope youโ€™re excited to grow them. They are a true Vancouver favourite because they are so reliable and beautiful.

Author Bio:Olena Korobka is the lead floral designer and creative force behind The Bloomerie. With a deep passion for sustainable floristry and a keen eye for design, Olena shares her expertise to help Vancouverites connect with the beauty of nature, both in their gardens and in their homes.

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