If a stem is alive, it will display some green under the bark. If you can't find any live stems and no sprouts are visible from the base of the plant by late spring, you have a dead hydrangea. Pull the plant out and try for a more cold-hardy variety.

Can a dead hydrangea come back to life?

Hydrangeas can die due to frost damage, drought, transplant shock and because of too much sun. ... To revive hydrangeas water them generously, apply a mulch of compost and protect hydrangeas from direct sun and too much wind. Prune back any frost damaged or sun burnt growth to promote healthy growth.

How do you bring hydrangeas back to life?

Use the Boiling Water Method: Boil water and pour it into a cup. Stand the stems of the wilted hydrangeas in this water for 30 seconds. Immediately put into room temperature water (this usually means back into the arrangement). If the blooms are not too old, within a couple of hours they will have completely revived.