Hydrangeas, traditionally well-suited to Britain’s mild and damp climate, are facing increased stress from hotter summers and drought conditions, according to the Royal Horticultural Society. Inquiry data from the RHS gardening advice service indicates that reports of heat and drought damage to hydrangeas have increased significantly since 2023, with the plant now ranking as the most frequently reported species experiencing hot weather-related problems among the organization’s 600,000 members.
The RHS is considering a strategic relocation of its hydrangea collection from Wisley in Surrey to its northern gardens in Greater Manchester and North Yorkshire, where climate conditions are expected to remain more suitable for cultivation. Guy Barter, chief horticulturist at the RHS, noted that while certain hydrangea varieties suffer more than others under heat stress—particularly Hydrangea macrophylla types in sunny locations with sandy soils—the plants can thrive in shadier positions and moister soils. He indicated that northern regions offer superior growing conditions for hydrangeas as climate patterns shift toward hotter and drier summers.
A trial conducted at the RHS’s Manchester garden from 2021 to 2025 tested hydrangea performance under various challenging conditions, including drought, record heat in 2022, and heavy rainfall. The organization plans to move additional collections northward, including prize rhododendrons destined for Harlow Carr in North Yorkshire, while relocating the national collections of rhubarb and gooseberries from Wisley to Bridgewater in Salford.
The RHS is also observing that some plants are adapting well to warmer conditions, with fig and almond trees thriving in the gardens, while banana and lotus plants have successfully flowered at Harlow Carr—outcomes considered unlikely a decade earlier. The RHS recommends that gardeners position hydrangeas in dappled shade during extreme heat, apply deep watering and mulch to retain soil moisture, and consider relocating plants from full sun to cooler locations during autumn months.
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