As the seasons change, its natural for plants to go through cycles of growth and dormancy. Hydrangeas, in particular, are known for their vibrant blooms during the spring and summer months but may appear to be dying or dormant during the fall and winter. It can be tricky to tell if your hydrangeas are truly dying or just resting, but there are specific signs to look out for and things you can do to help your plants recover from dormancy.
As a gardener, its natural to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when you grow hydrangeas and your plants are thriving. But when your hydrangeas start to look limp and lifeless, it can be a cause for concern. You may be wondering if youve done something wrong, or if your plants are succumbing to disease or pests. But before you start worrying, take a step back and consider the possibility that your hydrangeas may simply be going through a period of dormancy.
Hydrangeas are a beloved garden shrub, prized for their showy blooms and lush foliage. But in the fall and winter, hydrangeas lose their leaves and flowers which can make them look dead. So how do you know if your hydrangea is truly dead or just dormant?
Here are 5 signs to look for to determine if your hydrangea is dead or alive:
1. Brittle, Dry Stems and Leaves
Dead hydrangea stems and branches will be brittle and snap easily when bent. The leaves will be dried up and brown.
If you scratch away some of the bark on the stems with your fingernail and it’s brown underneath, that likely indicates the shrub is dead. Green cambium layer underneath the bark signals the plant is alive.
2. Lack of Spring Growth
Healthy hydrangeas produce new leaves and shoots every spring If your hydrangea isn’t putting out any new growth in spring, it could be dead.
However, allow 3-4 weeks after the last frost before giving up hope. Some hydrangea varieties are late bloomers.
3. Wilted Appearance Doesn’t Improve
Wilted, drooping leaves can be a sign your hydrangea needs more water. Give it a good soaking and see if it perks up.
If the leaves remain wilted even after thorough watering, unfortunately your shrub may be dead.
4. Dead Flowers
Flowers that turn brown and crispy are normal in fall when hydrangea goes dormant. But dried flowers still clinging to the shrub in spring indicate your plant died over winter.
5. Damaged Stems at Base
Look closely at the base of the stems, near the ground. If you see significant damage from chewing, gnawing, or splitting, animal activity may have damaged the roots and killed your hydrangea.
What Causes Hydrangeas to Die?
Hydrangeas are generally hardy plants when cared for properly. Here are some common reasons they die:
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Insufficient water – Drought and underwatering is the #1 killer of hydrangeas. They need 1-2″ of water per week.
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Overwatering – Too much moisture can lead to root rot.
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Extreme cold – Harsh winter weather may damage stems and prevent spring growth.
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Excess sun – Afternoon sun can scorch leaves if hydrangea doesn’t get enough water.
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Overpruning – Cutting back too far damages next year’s flower buds.
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Animal damage – Rodents, deer, rabbits may nibble roots and stems.
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Disease – Powdery mildew, root rot, and wilt can kill hydrangeas.
How to Revive a Stressed Hydrangea
If your hydrangea is still alive but struggling, here are tips to bring it back to health:
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Water thoroughly if wilted. Soak the root zone every 2-3 days.
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Apply mulch to help soil retain moisture.
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Move to a shadier spot if planted in full sun.
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Prune back dead stems in early spring.
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Rule out disease and treat fungal infections.
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Exclude animals with fencing if nibbling is an issue.
With proper care, most stressed hydrangeas can make a full recovery!
When to Replace a Dead Hydrangea
If your hydrangea unfortunately doesn’t survive, plan to remove and replace it in fall or early spring. Here are tips for planting a new hydrangea:
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Choose a variety suited to your growing zone and sunlight conditions.
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Prepare soil with compost and adjust pH if needed.
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Water thoroughly after planting and mulch around base.
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Stake large shrubs to protect from wind damage.
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Wrap or cover shrub for winter protection the first year.
With the right growing conditions, your new hydrangea will thrive for years to come! Pay close attention in the first year and address any signs of stress immediately.
Be Patient!
When in doubt about whether your hydrangea is dead or just dormant, patience is key. Allow several weeks in spring before taking any action. Look for tiny leaf buds emerging at the base of stems.
Even if your hydrangea looks almost certainly dead, resist the urge to pull it out right away. You might be rewarded with beautiful new growth!
With a little time and care, most hydrangeas can bounce back beautifully even if they appear dead. Follow these tips to determine if your beloved hydrangea still has life in it or if it’s time to say goodbye and plant a new one.
Signs that hydrangeas have entered dormancy
While dormancy is natural, it can be alarming to see your hydrangeas looking lifeless. These plants go dormant in the fall leading up to winter. Hydrangeas may also go dormant due to lack of water or nutrients, extreme temperatures or weather conditions, and pests or diseases.
Signs of dormancy in hydrangeas include wilted or droopy leaves and a bare appearance, yet the stems are soft and bendy. Youll also find buds are still there even though the plant doesnt look vibrant and may even appear in bad shape. If you notice any of these signs, its important not to panic.
Dormancy is a natural part of a plants life cycle, and with proper care, your hydrangeas can come out of it and bloom again in the spring. To help your hydrangeas emerge from dormancy and thrive, make sure you water thoroughly, but infrequently, to encourage deep root growth. Then provide a balanced fertilizer to give your plants a nutrient boost.
How Do You Know If Your Hydrangea Is Dead?
FAQ
Will dead hydrangeas come back?
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Reddit · r/gardeninghttps://www.reddit.comHi folks, Is our hydrangea dead? Its already end of may. The stems …May 20, 2023 — Yes, leave the ones with green buds. Hydrangeas produce new growth on old wood (I think for 2 consecutive years) so don’t cut back any woody stems u…
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YouTube · Planting 101https://www.youtube.comIs Your Hydrangea Dead or Dormant? – YouTubeJun 16, 2023 — it’s easy to revive wilted hydrangeas just give it a thorough soaking. … if your hydrangeanger is in a pot you can also transplant your hydrangean…
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Southern Livinghttps://www.southernliving.comEpisode 3: Will My Hydrangeas Ever Bloom Again? – Southern LivingMay 31, 2023 — So if you have are blooming type of hydrangea, the type that you see in garden centers called Endless Summer, and there’s lots of other ones, they b…
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YouTube · Garden-Oasishttps://www.youtube.comREVIVE a WILTED HYDRANGEA using a garbage bag! with updatesFeb 23, 2024 — keep them bottom watered the saucer will always have water in it so that they can take it up as much as they need. and rebuild their root system. so…
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Quorahttps://www.quora.comCan a hydrangea recover from getting so dry and hot that its leaves and blooms turned brown and crispy and fell off? It does now have some lovely new green leaves coming on, and I’m wondering if I should cut off all the dead brown stuff or not.Jul 11, 2020
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Epic Gardeninghttps://www.epicgardening.comHow to Revive a Dying Hydrangea Plant – Epic GardeningMar 10, 2025 — If your hydrangea has been spending too much time in the sun, your plant may look a bit crispy. You may see burned leaves and browned flowers. If yo…
How do you revive a dead hydrangea?
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Underwatering:Hydrangeas need consistent moisture, especially when blooming. If the plant is wilting due to lack of water, give it a thorough soaking.
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Overwatering:Overwatering can lead to root rot, which can cause wilting or death. Allow the soil to dry out before watering again.
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Disease:Fungal or bacterial diseases can affect hydrangeas. Symptoms can include yellowing leaves, brown spots, or wilting. Treat with a fungicide or bactericide, and remove infected leaves.
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Sunburn:Hydrangeas can be sensitive to intense sun, especially in the hottest parts of the day. Move the plant to a location with partial shade if necessary.
What do dying hydrangeas look like?
If you’ve provided proper care and your hydrangeas are still struggling, it may be time to assess the situation. Signs that your hydrangeas are dying include wilted or discolored leaves that don’t improve with watering and stems that are brittle or breaking.
How do you know if a hydrangea is dead?
To make sure, scratch some stems with your fingernail, recommends Lorraine Ballato, horticulturist and instructor at the New York Botanical Garden. If a stem is alive, it will display some green under the bark. If you can’t find any live stems and no sprouts are visible from the base of the plant by late spring, you have a dead hydrangea.
Are hydrangeas dying?
As spring nears, hydrangeas are bare of buds and evergreens are losing their foliage. Andrew Fleming, superintendent for VanDusen Botanical Garden and the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver, said plants were pushed to the brink by year-on-year drought and cold, wet winters — before the “tipping point” of the cold snap.
How do you know if a hydrangea is dormant?
Signs of dormancy in hydrangeas include wilted or droopy leaves and a bare appearance, yet the stems are soft and bendy. You’ll also find buds are still there even though the plant doesn’t look vibrant and may even appear in bad shape. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important not to panic.