Hydrangeas & mock oranges — Hydrangeaceae

Most hydrangeas & mock oranges are not pet-safe. Of the 50 hydrangeas & mock oranges in the Growli library, 43 (86%) carry a toxic or mildly-toxic ASPCA classification and 7 are pet-safe. They are not uniformly safe, so always confirm the exact species on its pet-safety page before trusting it around cats or dogs.

Most hydrangeas & mock oranges want bright, indirect light — 26 of the 50 in our library do best there. If yours stretches toward the window or loses its variegation it needs more light; scorched or bleached leaves mean it is getting too much.

Hydrangeas & mock oranges are moderate to grow: the one real requirement is a genuinely bright spot out of harsh midday sun. Get the light right and most of the rest of their care follows.

The Hydrangeaceae family — the hydrangeas & mock oranges — groups 50 species across 3 genera in the Growli library, most prominently Hydrangea, Deutzia, Philadelphus. Members share a broadly similar light, water and soil pattern, which is why it pays to learn the family before the individual plant.