Hydrangeas do best in acidic soil. You'll be hard pressed to find that in Austin, which is sitting on top of a lot of limestone. Now, what makes it especially hard is that the tap water is slightly alkaline. So you can acidify the soil chemically, but every time you water (unless you're using rainwater, maybe), which you have to do a LOT, you're defeating that acidification.

I have a couple of hydrangeas, and although the plants are very healthy, the blooms have never been impressive.

Just east of Austin, we have acidic soil in the Bastrop area "lost pines," but we are an exception soil-wise. We are not exception moisture-wise and Hydrangeas are not drought tolerant. Like Dan said, it can be done, but you'll have to commit to babying the plant and it'll never be what you are accustomed to.

ooh best of luck. My motto for hydrangeas here: "Never Again." I simply don't have what it takes to keep them thriving here. My mother brought a 'limelight' with them from their move from VA to TX last year. It's more drought tolerant but even then it's having a rough time of it just S. of Austin.

Yes, sienna, I was going to note that there ARE pockets of acidic soil around here. But not in Austin itself. I am greatly envious of the Lost Pines soil, where you can even grow berries with some confidence.

I think there is one hydrangea variety that can tolerate our native soil. See attached link. I presume that means it blooms well.

Now, again, I'll point out that my hydrangeas do fine as plants, with decent but untreated soil, and tap water. They just have pretty insipid flowers. They are, BTW, the thirstiest of all my plants (well, except my catnip ...).

Here is a link that might be useful: Oak Leaf Hydrangea

I don't believe that the hydrangea would thrive (maybe survive?) in alkaline, dry soil. You can probably grow one in a large container where you can control the soil ph and moisture.
Molly

The acidic soil out here is nice, but without the moisture, I've learned that it's still a trial to grow some of the plants that I would like (in theory, azaleas should do okay especially under my pines, but I've managed to kill a few; yet every so often, I have to try again, lol). However, the roses (mostly antiques/Earthkind) do just fine with the acid soil and low rainfall.

At least as important as the soil is the sun/shade condition. Hydrangeas in the far south cannot tolerate full sun except early morning. However, they do fine in shifting/dappled sunlight/shade underneath trees, or full shade. I grow hydrangeas in Jacksonville, Florida (zone 9a) in full shade without any problems. I have twelve healthy hydyrangeas, all in full shade.

In bloom:

Love,

Your hydrangeas are gorgeous! Wish I could get 'em to do that here, but even in the shade, you won't see blooms like that.

The soil around the house is quite alkaline due to leaching from the foundation (thus pink blooms rather than blue). I periodically apply aluminum sulfate and still - - pink blooms. In my experience, acidic soil is not essential for growing healthy hydrangeas.

Drippy, if you can find a spot with morning/early day sun only, or dappled sun all day, your hydrangea has a good chance. Water it frequently and deeply during the first year.

Carol