I’m into low-maintenance gardening. If a plant can’t make it with adequate food and water, it’s out of my garden.

But I do confess to having one exception…hydrangeas…in particular Hydrangea macrophylla, with their eye-grabbing, massive flower heads. This doesn’t make much sense given my sandy, dry soil, but after years of experimenting I have a bountiful hydrangea bed.

There are basically two types: those that bloom on old wood, meaning that the buds set the previous growing season and must be able to survive over the winter, and those that bloom on new wood, meaning the buds are set on new growth in the current growing season and don’t have to survive a Michigan winter.

In Michigan, the easiest hydrangeas to grow are those that bloom on new wood such as Hydrangea arborescens (Smoothleaf Hydrangea). This is a fast-growing shrub that reaches 3- to 5-feet tall and wide. White flowers appear in late June through September on new wood. These flowers are great for drying, and the plant can be cut to the ground in late fall or early spring. The best-loved of this species is “Annabelle,” with spectacular white flowers. It grows very well in all Michigan hardiness zones from 3 through 6, and is not fussy about soil and only requires watering during dry periods. It can be grown in full sun to part shade.

The big news this spring is a new cultivar of “Annabelle,” with pink blooms called “Invincibelle Spirit™” by Proven Winners™. “Invincibelle Spirit” is extremely hardy and easy to grow, it will bloom year after year without the special pampering required by other hydrangeas,” comments Tim Woods of Spring Meadow Nurseries in Grand Haven. Woods is also the product development and marketing manager for Proven Winners.

Hydrangea paniculata (panicle hydrangea) is another great type for Michigan, since it also blooms on new wood and has growing conditions similar to Hydrangea arborescens. It is a fast-growing shrub that reaches 6 to 15 feet, depending on the variety. Its flowers appear on panicles 6 to 12 inches long.

Another great new variety is Proven Winners’ “Pinky Winky” (USDA Zone 4), which has two-toned pink and white flower heads and blooms in mid-summer. “Tardiva,” with white flowers and a tinge of pink, is another popular variety.

Then we come to the prima donnas of the hydrangea world, Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea) with their large, luscious flowers. These blooming beauties demand much more from Michigan gardeners in order to be good performers. Hydrangea macrophylla’s flowers are either mopheads or lace-caps. Plants grow 3 to 6 feet, and require adequate moisture and fertile soil. Up until about six years ago, these hydrangeas only bloomed on old wood, making it almost impossible to grow in Michigan if you were not in hardiness Zone 6. But a breakthrough came with the introduction of a variety called “Endless Summer™” (Zone 5), the first of this type to bloom on new and old wood. Since then, a number of new varieties have come out that bloom on both new and old wood, such as Proven Winners’ “City Line™” and “Let’s Dance™” series.

The key to success with these hydrangeas is careful site selection—one that is protected from the western sun and winds, provides good winter protection, and has fertile, somewhat moist, well-drained soil. After placing “Endless Summer” plants in numerous spots without a lot of luck, I finally settled on a fertile stretch of soil near a garage that faces east and is close to a water source. It provides plenty of morning to midday sun while sheltering the plants from the harsh western sun. Contrary to popular belief, these hydrangeas don’t require a lot of fertilizer. One application of a good all-round fertilizer to the surrounding soil in the spring will do the trick. Nor do they require moist conditions; let them dry out, but not wilt. I wait until spring to prune back any dead wood and only after I’ve removed the 12-16 inches of chopped leaf mulch that I applied in late October (or before the first hard frost). The key here is leaving the mulch on the plants until all chance of a spring frost has passed. In Zone 5 that is around May 15. If it looks like there’s a chance of a late frost after I’ve removed the mulch in mid-May, I cover the plants with sheets. Follow these tips and you, too, can enjoy these eye-grabbing hydrangeas.

Rita C. Henehan is an author, freelance writer and photographer. Her book, “The Michigan Gardener’s Companion: An Insider’s Guide to Gardening in the Great Lakes State,” is available in bookstores.