About Hydrangea Derby
Derby City Council began the hydrangea collection in 1984 at the request of Plant Heritage whose purpose is to stop plant species becoming extinct. Since April 2010 Hydrangea Derby, a group of volunteer gardeners, has maintained and developed the garden in partnership with Derby City Council Parks Department. Within the hydrangea garden is the National Collection of Hydrangea paniculata.
Finding Us
We are at the north end of Darley Park, near a busy cafe and public toilets. Click on this map for the surrounding area. Click for a plan of Darley Park. Google Maps.
Nearest post codes for free parking: Darley Park Drive Car Park is DE22 1EN. Darley Street Car Park opposite The Abbey Inn is DE22 1DX. All vehicles and contents left at the owners risk.
Opening Times
The garden is in Darley Park, a public park run by Derby City Council. The lower, or outer, hydrangea garden is open every day of the year but the walled garden is only open from early July until the end of October. We keep the gates to the walled garden closed while the plants are dormant and there isn’t much to see. When we open the gates in July, the plants are coming into bloom and starting to put on a magnificent show.
Entry to the garden is free but we do have a JustGiving Page to raise funds for new plants and equipment. If you would like to make a cash donation, there is a box of envelopes in the walled garden. Please place your donation inside an envelope and take it to the secure collection box in Darley Park Café.
The Annual Open Day starts at 10am and finishes at 3pm. Volunteers are on hand to answer your questions and there are two free tours, lasting about an hour, at 11am and 2pm. Meet us by the cafe just before the start times. We have donation boxes for you to show your appreciation! In 2026 the Open Day is on Sunday 16 August. Details will be on our news page nearer the time.
2026 Private Tour Week for organised groups is 10-14 August. Make contact through our Contacts Page.
We don’t sell plants. Hydrangea Derby hasn’t the resources to propagate plants and isn’t in a position to provide plants for sale. Also because of plant breeder rights we are not able to offer cuttings. In the summer we have notices in the walled garden showing which Hydrangea paniculata cultivars are available from local nurseries and garden centres. To locate suppliers of other hydrangeas, we recommend you use the RHS Plant Finder.
Maintaining and developing the garden is done by volunteers. We add new cultivars and take out old ones. Volunteers prune and deadhead the plants. They weed and edge the beds and keep the paths tidy. In recent years volunteers have planted snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils and tulips to add colour to the garden in spring. The Parks Department cut the grass and keep the buildings and walls in good repair. If you want to Volunteer click on the link to find out more, or contact us through our Contacts Page.
