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There’s nothing quite like hydrangeas in the landscape. I’ve said it before and I’ve stood by it. They’re a great (but low-maintenance) choice for a variety of environments, from coastal to alpine.
And thanks to my love for hydrangeas, the following news is one of the most exciting I’ve ever received: there will be a new hydrangea variety coming out in 2025 that will definitely surprise you.
Meet Full Flower, A type of smooth-leaf hydrangea that has two to three times more flowers than other types.
Take a moment to admire its beauty and read on for everything you need to know about adding this plant to your landscape.
The Spruce Tree / Mia Ingui
While FlowerFull will be available at nurseries or hardware stores near you in spring 2025, the flower has been in development for years by scientists at Bailey Nurseries (the growers of Endless Summer hydrangeas).
We spoke with Ryan McEnaney, marketing and communications director for Bailey Nurseries, to share what makes this variety a must-have in any hydrangea lover’s landscape.
What makes FlowerFull special?
Shrubs & Trees First Editions®
FlowerFull solves many common hydrangea problems, such as leaf spot, wilt and chlorosis. Bailey Nurseries has bred this variety to be as perfect as possible: it produces lots of beautiful flowers, has strong stems that don’t fall over on windy days and is disease resistant thanks to its dark, clean foliage.
The most common challenges home gardeners face with this hydrangea are weak stems and diseased leaves, so Bailey decided to create a plant that could improve those traits.
“To introduce a new variety into such a crowded market, we knew it had to be truly special,” McEnaney told The Spruce. “And what we’ve got at FlowerFull is that and more.”
FlowerFull meets all of the following requirements:
- Healthy trunk
- Disease resistant leaves
- Better heat resistance
- Double flower
- Low maintenance
It is durable in harsh conditions
If you’re familiar with the beloved Annabelle hydrangea, you’ll notice some striking similarities in color and size. However, FlowerFull retains its shape in harsh conditions—something that was an issue for Annabelle in the past.
As soon as home gardeners encounter rain or wind, those flowers begin to droop and fall to the ground, and the hydrangea loses its beauty. But, according to McEnaney, that’s where FlowerFull comes in.
“Even in wind and rain, FlowerFull stands tall, keeping its beautiful large, soft white flowers standing tall all season long,” says McEnaney. “No more dragging flowers in the mud or having to plant them in the ground to keep the flowers in their proper place, standing upright in the garden!”
It has a lot of beautiful flowers.
Besides durability, there’s another obvious example of why this new variety is so great: the number of flowers.
“In our years of testing before introducing it, we found that FlowerFull consistently produced two to three times more blooms than other plain hydrangeas,” McEnaney shares. “If you want to make a big impact in your landscape, FlowerFull will fill your garden with large blooms all summer and fall.”
When can I plant FlowerFull hydrangeas?
Shrubs & Trees First Editions®
If you are wondering when you can get your hands on this beautiful plant then look no further.
According to McEnaney, growers across the country have already begun replacing FlowerFull with other plain hydrangea varieties. Their customers can be sure they will get the best product when FlowerFull is officially introduced.
You may see FlowerFull at a nursery or hardware store near you next spring.
FlowerFull is a wonder to behold. There’s something about the deep green foliage against the gorgeous white flowers (even larger in person, I might add) that makes it so beautiful.
