Macs and serratas are typically the species that offer distinct lacecap type flowers. Technically, a lacecap is defined as having a cluster of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by a border of larger (and showier) sterile flowers, producing a flattened inflorescence rather than rounded or cone shaped one. White Dome does produce a lacecap-form flower as does Haas' Halo and both are cultivars of our native smooth hydrangea.

Also, all climbing forms of hydrangea as well as Hydrangea aspera produce lacecaps as well.

gardengal..so of these categories only panicle and oakleaf don't have lacecaps?..took pics of the leaf undersides of White Dome (#1) and Annabelles (#2)..both have a slight silver frosted look..so as you said come from the native smooth hydrangea..makes sense that they thrive in comparison to macrophyllas..

Correct, oakleaf hydrangeas and paniculatas do not have lacecap blooms.

luis..are mountain and serrata the same thing?..serrata the Latin name?

Yes, 'mountain hydrangea' is the common name for Hydrangea serrata, just as 'smooth hydrangea' is the common name for H. arborescens and 'oakleaf' for H. quercifolia.

Paniculatas don't have lace caps per se, since they are the wrong shape of bloom clusters/panicles and the fertile and sterile are mixed together, but there are some that have denser sterile flowers and some that have a lacier appearance and more fertile flowers

NHBabs..I think of hydrangeas as 3 types..cone shaped, mophead, and lacecaps..Tuff Stuff and TwistNShout seem similar but aren't the same type..your Tuff Stuff is so pretty!

My Twist and Shout is much taller than Tuff Stuff. Tuff Stuff has remained about the size as in the photo I posted on another thread for 3 years now. There's also a Tiny Tuff Stuff, but the regular tuff stuff is small enough for me.

What is the difference between White Dome& Hass Halo?

NHBabs..I'm on the lookout for a Tuff Stuff..