Hydrangea Flowers for a More Colorful Garden
Large, beautiful hydrangea flowers effortlessly attract attention. Hydrangeas are some of the showy flowers that stand out as a focal point in a garden, a vase, or a wedding bouquet. Additionally, shrubs are relatively easy to grow and are hardy in most parts of the country. To get the most blooms from your hydrangeas, make sure your plants are getting the right amount of water and fertilizer. It is important to know the type of hydrangea you are growing.
The three most popular hydrangea varieties are panicle, smooth and large leaf. Each type has slightly different maintenance requirements. With some knowledge and planning, you can properly prepare your particular hydrangea variety for optimum blooms.
How often to water hydrangea
All hydrangeas love water. Their name comes from the Greek hydra meaning "water" and "ship". But how much water do hydrangeas need? You can tell by looking at the leaves. When a hydrangea plant is too dry, its leaves drop off, signaling that it needs water. The leaves also wilt in the midday heat, so wait until the evening to let them recover before you water them. When planting your hydrangea in the ground, it's a good idea to water it at least three times a week to establish a strong root system. The soil should be kept moist but not soggy.
How to Fertilize Hydrangeas
Fertilizing hydrangeas is a tricky task. Most hydrangeas don't need much, but woody plant authority Michael Dirr, retired University of Georgia horticulture professor, says the best fertilizer for hydrangeas is an all-purpose plant food applied in late winter or early spring. Be careful when using hydrangea fertilizer: If you give your plants too much, you may end up with more leaves than flowers. Too much nitrogen produces long stems that don't set flower buds.
Panicle hydrangea
Forming large, cone-shaped hydrangea flower clusters, panicles (Hydrangea paniculata) usually have white flowers, but the flowers of many varieties turn pink as they age. Some of the most popular varieties of this type of hydrangea include 'Limelight' (flowers have a green tint) and 'Vanilla Strawberry' (loved for its pink and white two-tone flowers).
Flowers begin to appear in July and continue until autumn. Plants do best in full sun and well-drained soil and are hardy in zones 3-8. If you like large hydrangea flowers and plants that grow up to 10 feet tall, panicle hydrangea is for you.
Gentle hydrangea
Named for the structure of their large leaves, delicate hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) are best known for their enormous, spherical, white flower heads. A well-known variety, 'Annabel' (sometimes called Snowball Bush), was discovered in the 1960s by a horticulture professor and found in Anna, Illinois. 'Annabelle' hydrangea displays large flowers that are initially pure white but gradually turn green. Invincible Spirit is a new variety that blooms pink instead of the usual white.
Native to parts of North America, tender hydrangea begins blooming in late June and blooms nonstop throughout the summer. It grows in sun or partial shade in zones 4-9.
Bigleaf hydrangea
The bigleaf group of hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) and its relatives oakleaf hydrangea (H. curcifolia), climbing hydrangea (H. anomala ssp. petiolaris), and serrate hydrangea (H. serrata) can be the biggest challenge. Get more flowers. These hydrangea flowers bloom primarily on the previous year's stems (sometimes called "last year's wood"). If you prune the stems one year, you can cut the flowers the next year. It is best to remove dead stems in spring. If you want to prune for shape, do so in early August, as next year's flower buds will set when temperatures drop.
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