Hydrangeas: Selection, Planting & Care
Smooth, Hills of Snow, Snowball (Annabelle type) Hydrangeas
Hydrangea arborescens (pictured above)
- Shade garden, mixed border, dried flowers
- Grows 3 to 5’ tall and wider
- Prefers partial shade, full sun if soil is kept moist
- Moist, well-drained soil preferred
- Fertilize with low nitrogen/ organic fertilizer early spring to improve flowering
- Soil pH (acidity) does not influence flower color
- Blooms on new growth – prune during dormant season
- Varieties
- Annabelle – large white flowers, 4’ tall x 5’ wide, tolerates full shade
- Invincibelle Spirit – Pink flowers
- Incrediball – Large round flowers. 5’ tall and wide
- Annabelle – large white flowers, 4’ tall x 5’ wide, tolerates full shade
- Pruning Tips
- Prune late winter after the worst of winter has passed /early spring before growth begins (You’ll enjoy the winter interest & increased hardiness
- OR prune in fall for a neater appearance over winter
- OR prune in fall for a neater appearance over winter
- Prune all stems back to 12 to 15” above the ground, then prune half of these back to ground level for less floppy growth
- OR All stems back to several inches above the ground – results in floppier growth
- OR All stems back to several inches above the ground – results in floppier growth
- Prune late winter after the worst of winter has passed /early spring before growth begins (You’ll enjoy the winter interest & increased hardiness
Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata
- Screen, hedge, specimen, mixed border
- Dwarf varieties 3 to 6’ tall & wide, Large varieties up 10’+ tall & wide
- Performs best in full sun will tolerate partial shade
- Moist, well-drained soil preferred
- Soil pH (acidity) does not influence flower color
- Blooms on new growth – prune during dormant season if needed
- Varieties
- Bobo - 2 to 3’ x 3 to 4’ wide, compact mounded plant with lots of long lasting large white flowers that eventually fade to a purplish pink
- Limelight – 6 to 10’ x 5 to 6’ wide, lime green flowers fading to rose
- Little Lime – 3 to 5’ tall and wide. Lime green flowers fading to rose
- Little Lamb – 6 to 8’ x 4 to 6’ wide, large fluffy white flowers
- Pinkie Winky – 6 to 8’ x 5 to 6’ wide, large, white & pink flowers fade to dark pink
- Quickfire – 6 to 8’ tall and wide – earlier bloom, white to pink to rosy red
- Tardiva – 8 to 12’ x 5 to 7’ wide – late bloom, lacy white flowers fades to purplish- pink
- Vanilla Strawberry - 6 to 8’ x 4 to 5’ wide – large white flowers fade to pink and then a strawberry red
- Bobo - 2 to 3’ x 3 to 4’ wide, compact mounded plant with lots of long lasting large white flowers that eventually fade to a purplish pink
- Pruning Tips
- Minimal pruning needed
- Thinning plants to 5 to 10 primary shoots will encourage larger flowers
- Pruning to ground level will result in weak floppy growth Prune in late winter after the worst of winter has passed /early spring before growth begins
- Thinning plants to 5 to 10 primary shoots will encourage larger flowers
- Minimal pruning needed
Bigleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
- Shrub or mixed border
- Grows 3 to 6’ tall & wide
- Grow in full sun with moist soil, afternoon shade
- Moist, well-drained soil preferred
- Soil pH (acidity) influences flower color
- Blue flowers in acidic soil
- Aluminum sulfate (per label directions spring through July)
- Aluminum sulfate (per label directions spring through July)
- Pink flowers in alkaline soil
- Blue flowers in acidic soil
- Blooms on old growth
- Improve flowering on Endless Summer & Twist and Shout
- Moist, not wet soil spring through summer
- One application of Milorganite fertilizer in spring. It contains plant available – non leaching phosphorous (P). Plus as the microorganisms release the nutrients from Milorganite they also release some of the P bound to our soil – P promotes flowering
- Moist, not wet soil spring through summer
- Improve flowering on Endless Summer & Twist and Shout
- Varieties
- Endless Summer – 3 to 4’ tall & wide, spherical blooms on old and new wood
- Twist and Shout – 3 to 4’ tall & wide, lace cap flowers on old and new wood
- Endless Summer – 3 to 4’ tall & wide, spherical blooms on old and new wood
- Pruning
- Allow plants to stand for winter
- Remove winter-killed stems (this may be all of them to the ground)
- No further pruning is usually needed in our area
- Allow plants to stand for winter
Oakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
- Shade garden, four season interest, hedge, mixed border
- Deep green oak shaped leaves
- Bronze, maroon and purple fall color
- Cinnamon colored exfoliating bark
- Deep green oak shaped leaves
- Grows up to 8 feet tall and wide
- Grow in partial shade or sun
- Moist, well-drained soil preferred
- Blooms on old wood
- Varieties
- Alice – 5 to 8’ tall & wide, large 10-14” white flowers fading to pink then brown Bronze, maroon, purple fall color & orange exfoliating bark
- Pee Wee – 3 to 4’ x 2.5 to 3’ wide, compact, less suckering, flowers white, fade to pink, then brown - Bronze, maroon, purple fall color & orange exfoliating bark
- Alice – 5 to 8’ tall & wide, large 10-14” white flowers fading to pink then brown Bronze, maroon, purple fall color & orange exfoliating bark
- Pruning – minimal
- Remove deadwood
- Prune after flowering if need/want to control the size
- Remove deadwood
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