Hydrangea Macrophylla Care: Bigleaf, Mophead, and Lacecap

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is the species behind blue and pink mopheads — it's also the most demanding, blooming on old wood with cold-sensitive buds and precise pruning timing that trips up most first-time growers.

This article is a deep dive into Hydrangea macrophylla specifically — its cultivar types, flower color chemistry, pruning timing, and zone-specific challenges. For a side-by-side comparison of all five hydrangea species and how their care differs, see the main hydrangea care guide.

Mophead versus lacecap: two flower types, one species

Hydrangea macrophylla produces two distinct flower forms, both common in garden centers.

Mophead (Hortensia type)

Round, densely packed flower heads composed almost entirely of large sterile florets. The classic dome-shaped summer flower. Per Penn State Extension, mophead hydrangeas are "the most recognizable garden plant in the northeastern U.S." Flower heads are 4–8 inches in diameter. The color-changing response to soil pH is most dramatic and visually striking in mopheads.

Lacecap type

Flat flower clusters with a ring of showy sterile florets surrounding a center of tiny fertile florets — visually similar to a Queen Anne's Lace flower shape. Less common than mopheads in commerce but considered more elegant and better for pollinators, which can access the fertile center florets. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, "lacecap hydrangeas tend to be more tolerant of heat and drought than mopheads" and are generally considered more refined in appearance.