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The Pros And Cons Of Planting 'Old Wood' Hydrangeas
By PEG ALOI
“Old wood” hydrangeas form buds on the stems of the previous season, which then mature and open in summer — as opposed to “new wood” plants, which form buds on new spring stems.
Old wood hydrangeas are lower maintenance and easier to prune. Their buds are large and easy to see, so you won't accidentally prune them off as you can with new wood.
These plants are resilient and bloom earlier in the season than new wood varieties. However, their early bloom may put them at risk come late-spring frosts.
Sometimes old wood hydrangea flowers can weigh down the branches and cause them to droop. To solve this, you can cut these stems and put the flowers in a vase.