14 Compact & Dwarf Hydrangeas for Small Spaces
Beautiful small hydrangea varieties that create a big impression
Hydrangea is one of the most popular garden shrubs, revered for the large, show-stopping flowers that bloom from summer into fall. This versatile landscape bush can be used to brighten up shady woodland borders, foundation plantings, shrub borders, mass plantings, and containers.
With shrinking lot sizes and less gardening space, more homeowners are turning to dwarf hydrangea varieties that are suited to small yards. Dwarf, compact, or mini varieties have the same appealing traits of larger hydrangeas, packed into a smaller size. There are many dwarf hydrangea varieties in a range of flower forms and colors to fit any landscape style and personal taste.
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Here are some of the best small hydrangeas to add to your yard.
 1. Let’s Dance Sky View®REBLOOMING HYDRANGEA Zones: 4-9 Let’s Dance Sky View® produces a stunning display of oversized flowers in pastel hues of pink, lavender, and blue, depending on the soil pH. When grown in acidic soils, the flowers emerge vivid sky-blue with a honeydew-green eye, aging to solid blue. This petite variety is a hybrid between the highly popular bigleaf hydrangea and mountain hydrangea, with improved hardiness, heat tolerance, and the ability to flower on both old and new wood for a longer bloom time. The compact growth habit is suitable for containers and garden beds. |
 2. Let’s Dance Lovable®BIGLEAF HYDRANGEA Zones: 5-9 Bigleaf hydrangeas are one of the most popular hydrangea types, with large, rounded flower heads in an array of colors. Let’s Dance Lovable® is a dwarf variety with flowers that bloom on both old and new wood for continuous color throughout the summer. Showy flower heads come in vivid hues of sky blue, royal purple, or hot pink, depending on soil pH. Textured green foliage turns burgundy in fall for added appeal. The compact size is versatile in borders, mass plantings, and containers. |
 3. Puffer Fish®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 Puffer Fish® produces massive, fluffy, cone-shaped blooms from early to late summer, smothering the entire plant. The snow-white flowers turn lime-green as they age, with a fresh sprig of white that emerges from the tip of the panicle. Plants bloom on new wood, with the flower heads lasting into fall. This compact variety reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, with sturdy stems that hold the flowers upright. Use in containers, mass plantings, or as a showy focal point. |
 4. Tiny Quick Fire®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 One of the smallest panicle hydrangea varieties, this low-growing hydrangea has a compact habit that is suitable as a ground cover, border edging, or massed in drifts for greater impact. Flowers are produced on new wood, occurring several weeks earlier than most other hydrangeas. The rounded white flower heads turn to reddish-pink as they age. |
 5. Little Quick Fire®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 This dwarf version of the popular Quick Fire® starts blooming a month before most other hydrangeas for early-season color. Produced on sturdy, dark-red stems, the large, cone-shaped flower panicles start out white, fading to rose-pink as they age. The showy blooms are produced on new growth, lasting throughout summer. Reaching 3 to 5 feet tall and wide, this small hydrangea can be used in foundation plantings, containers, or as a showy focal point. |
 6. Tuff Stuff Top Fun®REBLOOMING MOUNTAIN HYDRANGEA Zones: 4-9 Delicate lace-cap flowers have fertile green florets at the center, surrounded by bright pink or purple infertile petals around the edges for eye-catching contrast. Plants bloom abundantly throughout summer on both old and new wood for long-lasting color. One of the most versatile compact hydrangea varieties, use in foundation plantings, containers, or borders. Produced on bright burgundy stems, the flowers are especially showy in cut arrangements. |
 7. Tiny Tuff Stuff™MOUNTAIN HYDRANGEA Zones: 5-9 Delicate lace-cap flowers are extremely bud-hardy and produced in abundance throughout summer on both old and new growth. Flowers have double sepals for a showier appearance, occurring in soft shades of blue, lavender, or pink, depending on soil pH. This miniature variety only grows up to 2 feet tall. Plant in containers or as a specimen in a small space. |
 8. Little Lime®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 This dwarf variety of the popular ‘Limelight’ hydrangea maxes out at 5 feet tall and wide. Soft lime-green flowers open in summer, fading to shades of pink and burgundy as they age for sophisticated elegance. The long-lasting flower heads are produced on sturdy stems, making a great addition to fresh or dried floral arrangements. Use in mass plantings, containers, or as a showy focal point. |
 9. Little Lime Punch®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 Cone-shaped flower heads open in a soft lime-green similar to Little Lime®, but mature differently. From the bottom up, the flowers display a progression of white, pale pink, and Hawaiian Punch red. As plants rebloom through the summer, flowers occur in the various color stages simultaneously for a compelling display. Use in borders, foundation plantings, or as a showy focal point. |
 10. Bobo®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 One of the most popular dwarf hydrangea varieties, Bobo produces large, conical flowers from the top of the plant all the way to the ground for a head-turning display. Strong, sturdy stems hold the flowers upright, which continue to lengthen as they bloom. The pure white flowers turn dusky pink as they age, lasting from summer into fall. Use this little hydrangea in mass plantings, containers, and beds. |
 11. Fire Light Tidbit®PANICLE HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 This innovative variety is the smallest panicle hydrangea bush, reaching just 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. A profusion of large, mophead flowers are produced on thick stems in early to mid-summer, nearly obscuring the foliage. The white flowers acquire bright pink and red hues as they age, holding their color until the first frost. Textured green foliage develops fall color, an unusual trait for panicle hydrangeas. The compact habit is suitable as a ground cover or in mass plantings. |
 12. Invincibelle Wee White®SMOOTH HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 This mini hydrangea is an ‘Annabelle’ type and one of the tiniest hydrangeas, reaching just 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Large, rounded flower panicles start out blush pink, fading to creamy white before aging to green. Plants begin blooming in early summer, continuing to produce new flowers until the first frost. Use as a thriller element in containers, as border edging, or massed in the landscape for a show-stopping display. |
 13. Invincibelle Mini Mauvette®SMOOTH HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 Invincibelle Mini Mauvette® is one of the smallest smooth hydrangeas, reaching up to 3 feet tall and wide. Rounded, mauve-pink flowers are held upright on thick stems that won’t flop. Smooth hydrangeas bloom continuously from early summer until frost. These hardy bushes flower on the current season’s growth, performing reliably every year, even in colder climates. Perfect for borders, mass plantings, or as a showy focal point. |
 14. Invincibelle Limetta®SMOOTH HYDRANGEA Zones: 3-8 The large, rounded blooms of Invincibelle Limetta® have a cooling effect in the summer landscape, with lime-green flowers that shift to soft, pale green before maturing to jade green. The varying shades of green pair well with most other flower colors, holding up well in fresh and dried arrangements. New flowers continue to occur from early summer until frost. Use in foundation plantings, borders, or as a showy specimen. |
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FAQS
How tall do dwarf hydrangeas get?
Short hydrangea varieties are a more compact version of regular-sized varieties, generally maturing 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.
What are the smallest hydrangeas?
Mini or petite hydrangea varieties may only reach 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. Most dwarf varieties are around 3 feet tall and wide.
Can you keep hydrangea bushes small?
Dwarf hydrangeas that stay small are easier to prune and maintain than larger varieties. Over-pruning can result in a loss of flowers for the current growing season. Dwarf types need minimal or no pruning.
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