Hydrangeas for Everyone

When choosing hydrangeas it is very important to pay attention to the type of species or variety. Big leaf varieties are probably the most popular because of their large colorful flowers but unfortunately they are the least hardy. Lush green plants that do not bloom every year may be a disappointment to gardeners. The blooms often fail because their flower buds are formed in fall of the previous year; an untimely frost, a hard winter, or inappropriate pruning may damage the buds and the flowers will be lost.

The flower color of big leaf hydrangea ranges from rich blue, to white and deep pink depending upon the variety selected and your soil type. Aluminum content and soil pH affect the flower color, acid soil produces blue flowers, and alkaline soils produce pink blooms. Even in acidic soils high levels of phosphorous and low levels of aluminum may result in pink flowers. Spring and fall treatment with aluminum sulfate will solve this and help produce blue flowers.

Most gardeners will find best success with panicle hydrangeas. These hydrangea are very hardy and bloom no matter where you live. Pruning is simple so you will be rewarded with plenty of dramatic summer flowers. The difference is panicle hydrangea buds are formed in late spring. Prune plants from late fall to spring. If you want larger flowers, cut them back extra hard. It’s that easy.

One of the best panicle varieties is ‘Limelight.’ It's a very strong bloomer with loads of flowers from July until frost. It’s unique because its large, full blooms change from shades of pink to burgundy as summer changes into fall. Limelight is very easy to grow, is unaffected by soil pH, can be planted in full sun or partial shade. This 6- to 8-foot tall beauty is a great addition to the back of the perennial bed, to existing shrub borders, or it can be used as a dramatic low- maintenance hedge. The flowers are ideal for cutting, and will hold their green color if you have placed them in a vase for drying. Limelight is a gardener’s dream.

If you are lucky enough to find it, ‘Little Lamb’ is an excellent new selection of panicle hydrangea. Noted for its semi-dwarf habit, its delicate white flower heads look like little lambs dancing across the plant. Children especially love Little Lamb and like picking flowers for mother all summer long! It too is easy to grow and blooms reliably every year. Gardening doesn’t get any easier than this.

White Dome hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) is also easy to grow. Hardy as far north as Minnesota, White Dome rewards gardeners with blooms every year. In mid-summer White Dome is a cloud of large, lacy white flowers. Its 4- to 5-foot height makes it the perfect plant for the back of the perennial garden or a foundation planting. Like Limelight and Little Lamb, it is very easy to grow, a reliable bloomer and adaptable any decent garden soil. It canbe planted in full sun or partial shade. Strong stems make it a great choice for gardeners and flower arrangers.

Hydrangeas are wonderful plants that add excitement to the home garden from mid-summer through fall. Many varieties are also good for cutting bouquets or for drying, and so provide year-round enjoyment. If you’ve been afraid to try hydrangeas because they seem too complicated, then reconsider. Just ask at your local garden center for hardy, reliable varieties like White Dome, Little Lamb and Limelight and you’ll be successful. No matter where you garden, there’s a perfect hydrangea for you.