I have never known a mophead form to turn into a lacecap. But there are a few such creatures that will produce something part way in between......more sterile flowers than fertile flowers so more of an appearance as a mophead but with lacecap tendencies :-)) Depending on cultivar, that is possibly what you have but it would really help to see a photo.

Sometimes available sunlight and/or nutrients can alter the form of a flower to some degree. But it is not something that you can necessarily plan for or correct.

I would not expect one to be able to do that either. Have you checked to see if somehow you have two different hydrangeas in the same pot, one is a mophead and the other a lacecap??? Just guessing....Now some people who have an Annabelle have indicated that their Annabelle's roundish white blooms have produced the species Hydrangea arborescens's lacecap-type of blooms.

Looks like a lacecap to me. The middle portion contains the fertile flowers and these sometimes open (when blooming) a lot, perhaps they might have given you the impression of a mophead.

well, i guess i can feel better after three years. I've assumed i hurt them in some way or did something wrong, but if they're blooming as they should be, I'll just learn to appreciate them :)

Maybe your memory is of something else? Have you got any tags on those?

no, no tags. I just know I wouldn't have purchased them as they are now, as i would have assumed something was wrong. But, hey-- who knows. I'll learn to love them now that i know they are how they are intended to be, lol

Lovely!

I actually prefer most lacecaps to the mops :-) And those are showing some gorgeous flowers. Enjoy!!