What has happened to this hydrangea?

[newnamethanks]

It should look beautiful. It does not, it's been cut back to ground and inside stems look like this. Has it come to the end of it's life?😰

Looks beautiful to me, although a bit floppy? Lack of water?

Are these before and after shots? Hydrangeas are not great growing in tubs after a couple of years, they are big shrubs and they need root room and plenty of water. They also prefer some shade for at least part of the day.
that looks as if it might be Annabelle? If so , it wants to be in open ground. Cut it back give it plenty of water and move it.

If it's an Annabelle hydrangea then underweight of the foreheads make them flip and the need supporting. There is a thicker stemmed variety called Strong Anabelle which doesn't need supporting. It may just be the heat we've had that's affected it?
I'd feed and keep well watered and see what happens.

Weight and flowers that should say 🙄 Also agree it would be better in the ground.

That stem looks fine, there's life in there. Who cut it back?

If that first photo is what it looks like now it's fine, it's just flopping because the heads are heavy and possibly lack of water (hydra in hydrangea means it likes water). Next year get some stakes in early, or move it somewhere where it has more space.

It won't do well in a patio container. It needs to be able to set its roots deeper. That on itself would stabilise plant. Give it a good water twice a week at night water with tomato feed in. Wait until flowers gone over trim it back and replant in ground with more space.

Thank you all. It's Annabelle and it's in the ground not in a container, flowery pic is from last year. It was looking sad and weedy, not healthy as before, so cut it back as it just looked unwell. The stem, does it look healthy? I've never looked closely at the stem before and thought it looked suspect. However, will feed and water what's left and see how it goes.

Feed it more?

Have you just cut it down now? Seems a very strange time to do it!

It probably needed more water, we've had an incredibly dry spring. I doubt it will flower this year now but look after it and you should get flowers next year.

My mother said to only cut hydrangeas in february.

We had one that looked too heavy as well. We cut it back a lot and cut it in half including removing the roots. It's smaller now but much happier.

Mothers are always right so I'll bear that in mind. Your hydrangea looks good.

Anabelle flowers on new growth, so it should still flower for you I prune mine when it gets out of bounds and it still flowers.

Thanks everyone. I thought she was done for but will leave her alone and cross fingers for her return next year.