Hydrangeas are a popular choice among gardeners and can fill a front or back yard with an abundance of beautiful blooms. Their bold flower heads in blues, pinks and whites look stunning in cottage and modern gardens alike. But did you know it’s possible to change the color of hydrangeas? While florists are known to change the colors of cut flowers with food dye, it’s not the same with hydrangeas — there’s a bit more science involved.
With a few simple changes and a bit of patience, you’ll be able to see a dramatic difference in the hue of your hydrangea petals. So, if you have a preference for pink petals over blue, or blue over pink, you can enjoy a splendid display of your favorite colored hydrangeas in your yard. This simple trick is rooted in chemistry, but it doesn’t work with all hydrangeas.
Here, garden experts explain the science behind changing the color of your hydrangeas, which hydrangeas it works for and how to do it. Hydrangeas are a vast genus and offer a variety of bloom colors, from crisp whites to deep purples. However, if you want to shift the color of your hydrangea from blue to pink or from pink to blue, you’ll need to opt for a Hydrangea macrophylla, otherwise known as a bigleaf hydrangea.
Other popular hydrangeas, including Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea quericifolia, don’t follow the same shift in color. And the color change does not happen with white varieties of Hydrangea macrophyllas, so check which variety you have before trying .
