Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival
Among the many gardens of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, you can see hydrangea blooms in every shade of blue, pink, purple, white, cream, and green.
During the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, you can visit private gardens – large and small – from Falmouth to Provincetown, Massachusetts.
Through the gate to a private garden.
The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival is an annual celebration of the region’s signature flower.
Visiting Cape Cod in 2026? The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival dates are July 10-19, 2026.
Visiting Cape Cod in 2026? The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival dates are July 10-19, 2026.
Gardens large and small.
For garden inspiration, you can visit gardens of various types and sizes during the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival.
Mal Condon, The Hydrangea Guy
Mal Condon in his Yarmouth Port garden.
Now in his late 80s, but still known as The Hydrangea Guy, Mal Condon was educated as an engineer and has joked, “Typical of engineers, I know a lot about very few things; one of them is hydrangeas.”
Hydrangeas in the Condon garden.
In 1966, Mal and Mary Kay Condon moved from western Massachusetts to the island of Nantucket off Cape Cod. The Condons started growing and propagating hydrangeas, eventually starting a business.
In 2014, the Condons relocated to Yarmouth Port on Cape Cod where their 3-acre property is filled with hydrangeas.
While the Condon garden is no longer on view, the second floor of their home is an Airbnb rental.
While the Condon garden is no longer on view, the second floor of their home is an Airbnb rental.
Mal Condon’s hydrangea variety, Froggie™
After 20 years of experimentation, Mal Condon perfected his own variety of hydrangea.
This unusual green cultivar is named Froggie™ because of its spotted appearance.
This unusual green cultivar is named Froggie™ because of its spotted appearance.
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival Garden Recommendations
Garden locations for the festival can change each year. Here are gardens to see and why I recommend them.
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival Garden Recommendations
Garden locations for the festival can change each year. Here are gardens to see and why I recommend them.
Terraced garden at hilltop home.
Prince Way Garden, South Dennis: Rock walls, terraces, 80 hydrangeas, roses, cone flowers, alliums, and intriguing garden art, such as miniature houses.
Path to the kettle pond.
Collie Lane Garden, Cummaquid: Kettle pond, willow trees, and oversized garden shed with climbing lacecap hydrangeas. You will likely see an artist in this garden.
Hydrangeas in a shaded area.
Driftwood Lane Garden, East Orleans: Specimen trees, a shade garden, 100 labeled hydrangea varieties, and 700 different labeled varieties of daylilies (a nationally registered American Daylily Display Garden).
Bay view in Cummaquid.
Indian Trail Garden, Cummaquid: Climbing hydrangeas, 150 varieties of daylilies, and a stunning view of the bay.
150 feet of Annabelle hydrangeas.
Keveney Lane Garden, Cummaquid: 150-foot border of Annabelle hydrangeas. Annabelle never gets knocked out by winter cold snaps. She keeps going and going...
Artist painting in one of the gardens.
During the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, you can see local artists at their easels in the gardens.
Harvest of Barnstable in Yarmouth Port hosts the annual exhibition and sale of artwork that has been created during the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival.
Harvest of Barnstable in Yarmouth Port hosts the annual exhibition and sale of artwork that has been created during the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival.
Why are there so many hydrangeas on Cape Cod?
Hydrangeas thrive on Cape Cod because of the region’s sea breezes and maritime temperatures (cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter).
The most common hydrangea shape on Cape Cod is the mophead (hydrangea macrophylla) which has a full, round bloom.
Why are there so many hydrangeas on Cape Cod?
Hydrangeas thrive on Cape Cod because of the region’s sea breezes and maritime temperatures (cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter).
The most common hydrangea shape on Cape Cod is the mophead (hydrangea macrophylla) which has a full, round bloom.
The iconic Cape Cod blue mophead (hydrangea macrophylla).
The acidic, high aluminum soil of Cape Cod produces the iconic Cape Cod blue hydrangea.
The pH level (acidity) in the soil determines the color of the hydrangea. If the soil has varying pH levels – which some gardeners introduce intentionally – hydrangeas can boast a blend of colors.
The pH level (acidity) in the soil determines the color of the hydrangea. If the soil has varying pH levels – which some gardeners introduce intentionally – hydrangeas can boast a blend of colors.
Lacecaps (hydrangea serrata) attract bees.
Lacecaps (hydrangea serrata) have a flat bloom that is more delicate like fine lace. Hydrangea serrata can attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden.
The autumn colors of Cape Cod hydrangeas.
One reason that hydrangeas are popular is because the flowers are long-lasting.
Typically, hydrangeas bloom from early July to the end of September. In autumn, hydrangeas enter the “antique season” when their colors are muted, yet still beautiful.
Typically, hydrangeas bloom from early July to the end of September. In autumn, hydrangeas enter the “antique season” when their colors are muted, yet still beautiful.
Hydrangeas at Heritage Museums and Gardens.
If you miss the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, you can still see hydrangeas at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts, where Mal Condon is Curator of Hydrangeas.
Rhododendrons used to rule at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Now, hydrangeas have become the fan favorite with more than 155 species and cultivars of hydrangeas.
Rhododendrons used to rule at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Now, hydrangeas have become the fan favorite with more than 155 species and cultivars of hydrangeas.
The number of private gardens and the number of days that the gardens are open, can vary from year to year.
Gardens that are open to visitors display a Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival sign.
The entry fee is $5 per person per garden as you enter the garden. Each garden is open only on the days specified from 10am-4pm, rain or shine, and nonrefundable.
In addition to the entry fee, gardens may sell plants, crafts, or other hydrangea-related items.
All proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Most recently, the 10-day event raised more than $100,000 for Cape Cod charities.
Learn more about the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival.
Gardens that are open to visitors display a Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival sign.
The entry fee is $5 per person per garden as you enter the garden. Each garden is open only on the days specified from 10am-4pm, rain or shine, and nonrefundable.
In addition to the entry fee, gardens may sell plants, crafts, or other hydrangea-related items.
All proceeds benefit local nonprofits. Most recently, the 10-day event raised more than $100,000 for Cape Cod charities.
Learn more about the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival.