With care, these timeless favorites will charm for generations
While pruning a neighbor ’s much neglectedHydrangea paniculatarecently , I found myself reflect on the chronicle of this genus in American gardening , whose popularity has wax and waned through the years . Grown throughout the country in its many forms and apply in unnumberable way , Hydrangeahas found swelling in every style of garden . Often , hydrangeas have been taken for granted and left unattended , like this one I was pruning . Yet even among such disregard , this versatile ornamental lives on , winning over novel generations of fans .
Hydrangea Growing Basics
( hı¯-dran - juh )
•Genus of mostly deciduous bush , minor Tree , and climbers .
•Many cultivar are audacious to USDA Hardiness Zone 4 ( – 30 ° F ) .
•Most opt aegis from harsh , midday sun .
•Prefer moist , humus - plentiful territory , but are adaptable to many status .
•Generally pest and disease resistive .
More than 50 cultivated varieties ofHydrangeaare come from five democratic metal money :
They range in height from 18 column inch to 30 groundwork , and in form from a climbing vine , to a dense , bushy shrub , to a weeping Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree .
The nameHydrangeais from the Greek “ hydor ” ( urine ) and “ aggeion ” ( vessel ) , bring up to their cup - shaped seed condensation . Hydrangeas are among the easiest ornamentals to grow , thriving in a motley of mood and conditions . They want a humus - rich grease , copious moisture , and relief from midday sun . Add an annual pruning specific to the species , and you ’ve take upkeep of their pauperism . All are well propagated from cutting .
Growing Panicle Hydrangea
H.paniculata , aboriginal to China and Japan , and thriving to USDA Hardiness Zone 3 ( – 40 ° F ) , is the giant of the genus . A mature specimen , well maintain and in the right place , is a sight to behold .
Description : With graciously arching branches and pyramidical , opulent clusters of snowy - white-hot , then pink - tinged to cold - purple , and finally , warm - wheat berry flower head , it merit a fend ovation in my dormitory of high performers—especially considering that few woody shrub heyday during this one ’s showy season of July to September . With an vertical use — becoming beautifully vase - shaped and arching with years — it will reach 25 foot , with a spread of about 15 feet . Most often , it is produce as a large shrub or small tree , kept to about 12 feet .
Care and Pruning : Because of its vigour , one-year pruning is propose . For a dense , bushy bush , “ head back ” from the growing tips — ignore back by several folio nodes — in former spring , shaping the plant while snip out old and dead wood . To obtain a small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , snip out lower and weaker branches from their head of origin , leave three to five main branch near to the ground . From these , a dumb , attractive crown will train .
Tip : PruneHydrangea paniculatafor monster , snowy flowers
If it ’s larger heyday clusters you hope , reduce the numeral of growing shoot . By channelize its vigor to just a few shoots , H. paniculatawill produce blossoms up to 16 inches in length . These giant blossoms will remind you why you chose this adorable ornamental for your garden .
Growing Mophead Hydrangeas
Perhaps the most prized member of the family , Hydrangea macrophyllahas long been admire for its voluptuous , pink - to - red or aristocratic - to - purple blossom clusters . It is one of the first flora to have made the migration from Europe , where it has been in refinement for centuries and was , before that , a pop flora in China and Japan .
Description : H. macrophyllahas a rounded riding habit , mature to about 5 feet with sheer , serrated , green allow for up to 8 in in length , which in some varieties are creamy - margined . The 6- to 10 - in flower cluster that appear in midsummer consist of both sterile ( showy ) and fertile ( inconspicuous ) flush .
Mophead hydrangea . Photo : Jennifer Benner
Lacecap hydrangea . pic : Ann E. Stratton
There are two distinct blossom types ofH. macrophylla , the considerably recognize being those with globe - regulate heads of primarily sterile flowers . These are the originalHortensia , or mopheads , of our grandmothers ’ gardens . The other is the disc - shaped lacecap variety , having an internal clustering of fertile flowers surrounded by conspicuous , sterile blossom . Each type is gorgeous ; an endeavor to choose between them is futile — which is why I have both grow in my Brooklyn brownstone garden .
Care and Pruning : Though undemanding and dauntless to Zone 6 ( – 10 ° F ) , big - foliage hydrangeas do benefit from a little one-year care . In bounce , utter Natalie Wood should be cut back to live wood , and older branch — those over3⁄4inch in diameter — should be slay . This will encourage novel growth and ameliorate prime quality .
General pruning to contain size should be done soon after flowering , as lacecaps and mopheads bloom on the late year ’s Mrs. Henry Wood . In cold mood , where hard freeze is likely , a small winter protection is advise . Hilling up of leaves or fir branches around the flora will diminish dieback and help ensure another time of year of bloom of youth .
Tip : Mophead hydrangea blossom color is determine bysoil pH
H. macrophyllais the litmus - test flora of the garden . Blue - to - purple flush prove an acid stain . bestow lime and they become a flabby , jolly pink or spectacular reddish . If yours are pink and it ’s blue you want , lend aluminium sulfate or acidifying constitutional matter , such as oak tree - leaf mildew or peat moss . Or stress tossing a penny beneath your shrub ; to this , my neighbor attributes her luscious , purple blooms .
Pink blossoms signal alkaline soil. Add aluminum sulfate to mophead hydrangeas, and they’ll turn blue.
Growing Oakleaf Hydrangeas
The popularity ofoakleaf hydrangea(H. quercifolia ) has increased dramatically in recent age .
Description : Though this coinage brightens the garden with erect , showy cluster of bloodless blossoms in mid - July , it is most appreciated for its 6 - invertebrate foot spread of abstruse - green leaf . Left unpruned , the sprawl branches reaching 10 invertebrate foot - plus high bear a lush teemingness of oak - similar leave . When selectively reduce , it makes a distinctive specimen or container plant .
Pruning : Thinning is intimately done in spring or just after blooming .
Lovely lacecap hydrangeas grace the garden with little care. Photo: Kristin Green.
Tip : Oakleaf hydrangeas are the least demanding
Oakleaf hydrangeas are the least demanding of this easy - caution genus — taking both drier soils and more opened exposure than other specie — and will produce in deep shade . Native to the southeasterly U.S. , oakleaf hydrangea are sturdy to Zone 5 ( – 20 ° fluorine ) , where they may go back to the ground in winter . Since they flower on the previous year ’s Sir Henry Joseph Wood , this foreclose all bloom , but the rich fleeceable springtime and summer foliage , mahogany pin foliage , and well-favored , exfoliate winter bark is recompense enough for a plant that asks for so little .
Growing Smooth Hydrangeas
Many conceive fluid hydrangea(Hydrangea arborescens ) to be the poor cousin of a distinguished kinsfolk but this stout hydrangea has much to declare oneself for the right garden .
Description : H. arborescensused to require at least 6 feet of garden blank in all guidance , but new , more petite cultivarsare available each year . Smooth hydrangeas throw out an surfeit of floppy , heart - form leaves . It most closely resembles the mopheads , yet the flowers are half the sizing and issue forth only in white or pinkish .
Pruning and Care : Native to Wood and stream depository financial institution from New York to Florida , and west to Missouri , some summer tad or additional moisture is a must . It blooms from June till rime , when few woody shrub are showy , adding a splash of coolness to those hot summertime twenty-four hour period . True too , it is among the hardiest of the hydrangeas , and the most reliable to blossom . It may stop dead to the ground in Zone 3 , yet will rebound in spring and bloom abundantly , as flowers bud from new growing . It is also the only hydrangea easily propagated by air division ; should it get too big for its allotted game , a portion can always be planted elsewhere .
Showy Hydrangea paniculata is often grown as a shrub or tree. Regular pruning is suggested to keep them under control.Photo: Michelle Gervais
steer : fragile out quondam Grant Wood of smooth hydrangea
Thinning out of erstwhile Natalie Wood in other spring will bring about a more attractive form and large blossoms . Not bad , really , for a poor cousin .
Growing Climbing Hydrangeas
H. anomalassp.petiolaris — formerly known asH. petiolaris — is the only vine of the genusHydrangea . Though a slow starter until its roots are firmly established — usually two to three years after planting — climbing hydrangea is a brilliant woody vine , which is hardy to Zone 4 .
Description : It is unexceeded in vigor and elegance , rise 60 feet by mean value of self - stick , aerial “ root , ” bearing an abundance of warmheartedness - shaped leaves . The white blossom is a mat , weblike clump of both fertile and sterile blossoms stomach on stiff , erect stem in mid - June and into July . Once established , climb up hydrangea will quickly fill its portion space and continue climbing on anything it can fall off its fastener into . It does very well on walls , and can mount trees , fences , or any other structure without the help of telegram or lattice .
Pruning and Care :
Mophead hydrangea. Photo: Jennifer Benner
After a year or two , all you need are hand pruner . General pruning is good done immediately after peak fade , but sense of touch - up piece of work can be done anytime . With just a short care , long - lived hydrangeas will raise your garden and enthrall generations of gardeners to come .
Tip : Be patient with young climbing hydrangea
Patience is the salutary ingredient to issue for the first year or so in the concern of this East Asiatic native .
Lacecap hydrangea. Photo: Ann E. Stratton
With pruning shear in paw , plantsman Keith Davitt cares for hydrangeas and enjoy gardening in Brooklyn , NY .
source for hydrangeas
These mail - order nursery offer all five specie of hydrangeas , plus many cultivars .
Left unpruned, oakleaf hydrangeas spread easily to 6 feet.Photo: Kim Toscano
Carroll gardens,444 East Main St. , Westminster , MD 21157 ; 800 - 638 - 6334 .
Greer gardens,1280 Goodpasture Island Rd . , Eugene , OR 97401 - 1794 ; 541 - 686 - 8266 .
hydrangea plus,6543 S. Zimmerman Rd . , Aurora , OR 97002 ; 503 - 651 - 2887 .
Smooth hydrangeas like shade and moisture.
Owen farms,2951 Curve - Nankipoo Rd . , Ripley , TN 38063 - 6653 ; 901 - 635 - 1588 .
Wilkerson mill gardens,9595 Wilkerson Mill Rd . , Palmetto , GA 30268 ; 770 - 463 - 2400 .
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Climbing hydrangeas climb without the aid of wire or lattice.
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