Bloomipedia
Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Photo: dinomariobob via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Garden flower

Bigleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

🌷 Garden flower

Bigleaf hydrangea is a popular garden flower. It's on our flower lists for 44 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–October.

0states
44of our state lists
230U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026. Planted garden flowers are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Hydrangea macrophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Hydrangeaceae, native and endemic to Japan. It is a deciduous shrub growing to 3 m (10 ft) tall by 2.5 m (8 ft) or more broad with large heads of pink or blue flowers in summer and autumn. It is currently treated as monotypic, with no subspecies or varieties.

  • It belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as indeterminate. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 8 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #107 among the 110 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 7 research-grade sightings of it in Georgia, ranking #108 among the 111 flowers on our Georgia list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 6 research-grade sightings of it in Alabama, ranking #109 among the 111 flowers on our Alabama list. iNaturalist

Bigleaf hydrangea gift ideas

Handmade bigleaf hydrangea gifts from independent makers.

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (25 records)
Bloom time in each of our 44 states
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
Washington🌷 Gardenfew records8
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records7
Alabama🌷 Gardenfew records6
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records6
South Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records4
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records3
Florida🌷 Gardenfew records2
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records2
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenfew records2
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records2
Arkansas🌷 Gardenfew records1
Indiana🌷 Gardenfew records1
Louisiana🌷 Gardenfew records1
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records1
Texas🌷 Gardenfew records1
Vermont🌷 Gardenfew records1
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenfew records0
Arizona🌷 Gardenfew records0
Colorado🌷 Gardenfew records0
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records0
Delaware🌷 Gardenfew records0
Iowa🌷 Gardenfew records0
Idaho🌷 Gardenfew records0
Illinois🌷 Gardenfew records0
Kansas🌷 Gardenfew records0
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records0
Maine🌷 Gardenfew records0
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records0
Minnesota🌷 Gardenfew records0
Missouri🌷 Gardenfew records0
Mississippi🌷 Gardenfew records0
North Dakota🌷 Gardenfew records0
Nebraska🌷 Gardenfew records0
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records0
New Mexico🌷 Gardenfew records0
Nevada🌷 Gardenfew records0
New York🌷 Gardenfew records0
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records0
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records0
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenfew records0
South Dakota🌷 Gardenfew records0
Utah🌷 Gardenfew records0
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenfew records0
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe
Unknown We couldn't find this name in NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead.
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead.
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). 02 NCAC 48F .0301
South Carolina
No list South Carolina has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's South Carolina ranks instead.
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). COMAR 08.03.08
Florida
Not listed Not on Florida Regulated Plant Index (Fla. Admin. Code 5B-40.0055). FAC 5B-40.0055
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). MESA list
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead.
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). 2VAC5-320-10
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead.
Louisiana
No list Louisiana has no state list of endangered or threatened plants separate from the federal list, so we show federal status and NatureServe's Louisiana ranks.
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. 31 TAC 69.8
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). Vermont E&T list
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NH Ncr 312
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). AAC R3-3 App. A
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead.
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). CT E/T/SC list
Delaware
Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). DE rare plants 2024
Iowa
Not listed Not on Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3). IAC 571-77.3
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead.
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. IL E&T checklist 2025
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants.
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). 400 KAR 3:040
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. Maine rare plant list
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). R 299.1028
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). Minn. R. 6134.0300
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Mississippi
No list Mississippi has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Mississippi ranks instead.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead.
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). 163 NAC 4-004
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Nevada
Not listed Not on Nevada fully protected plants, critically endangered (NAC 527.010). NAC 527.010
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). OAC 1501:18-1-03
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). RI rare plants 2016
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead.
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NR 27.03
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peoplePoisonous to people

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, leaves. Symptoms they list: “Consuming large quantities can lead to nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and sweating.” NC State Extension

For petsCan be a problem for cats, dogs and horses

NC State Extension flags it as a problem for cats, dogs and horses. It isn't on the ASPCA plant list. NC State Extension

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS has no state-by-state distribution for this name, so we can't map it yet.

More Washington flowers

Sources