There’s a stunning hydrangea in every colour for every garden

Article content

There’s been such an overwhelming explosion of new hydrangea varieties that, frankly, it’s hard to keep up. From the sun- and heat-loving cone-shaped paniculatas to the shade-loving macrophyllas, there seems to be a race to produce new flower forms, sizes and unique foliage and blossom colours.

Article content

If there was ever a contest for which home garden plant caused the most confusion, the mophead or macrophylla varieties would win by a country mile. Even with so many new varieties changing their various levels of hardiness, sun tolerance and repeat-blooming habits, they still perform best in a morning sun and afternoon shade location. Pruning continues to be a huge issue; unfortunately, many folks still prune their hydrangeas in late summer or early spring, thereby cutting off all next-year’s flower buds. It’s important to understand that, even with repeat-bloomers, the new buds set from August through September, and they are then ready to bloom the next year from late spring into summer. Pruning at the wrong time will either extremely delay or destroy the plant’s ability to provide a show the next season.

Article content

Both mophead and lace cap varieties are water hogs. To prevent burning the foliage and blossoms, they need copious amounts of water early in the day, especially during hot weather. Being well hydrated also helps the blooms last longer.

BLOOMING WINNERS

A number of new hydrangea series have been introduced during the past few years, and many of them have made a significant difference in the breadth and depth of macrophyllas in our gardens. Proven Winners have introduced the Let’s Dance series, which includes six new varieties. Hardy to zone four and five, they are very compact, growing in the range of 2.5 to 4 feet tall, and they are rebloomers. This means that once the early flowering stems finish blooming, the new growth will set bud and continue to bloom well into September and even October.

Article content

My personal favourite is the Everlasting series from Europe. They are also compact, which eliminates the need for yearly pruning. Hardy to zone 5, they can be planted in colder climates, and yes, they also rebloom to keep the colour going in your garden. Another unique feature is an infusion of green into their blossoms as they age, creating a delightful, fresh effect instead of just tired-looking, old flowers. This series offers a nice range of colours from whites, pinks and blues to an unusual one that has green blossoms.

I’m also very impressed with Proven Winners’ so-called mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata). Looking much like a traditional lace cap variety, it has a centre of sterile blossoms surrounded by a ring of simple blooms, creating a very attractive lacy look. Native to the mountains of Asia and Japan, these compact varieties are rebloomers too. After growing them for the past three years, I’ve noticed that they seem to be far more sun tolerant than most of the macrophyllas, but in too much sun the leaves turn a bronzy colour.

Article content

Another new series, called Game Changers, was introduced by Green Fuse Botanicals, and these varieties feature prominently in the new world order of hydrangeas. They are, to my knowledge, the first day-length-neutral hydrangeas, meaning they can set bud and bloom any time during the growing season and will keep blooming. Hardy to zone 4, these amazing lace cap types produce exceptionally huge individual flowers that can measure up to three inches across. Available in blue, shell pink and a picotee soft pink, edged in red, they are the new eye-popping hydrangeas.

A NEW LEAF

For the past few years, the number of bronze or burgundy leafed hydrangeas has been increasing, probably because they are proving to be a little more sun tolerant. The macrophylla variety, Miss Saori, is one of the most spectacular with its double picotee, white blossoms edged with deep rose margins. Hardy to zone five and growing only three to four feet tall, it’s a stunning addition to the ever-increasing hydrangea family.

Article content

Another burgundy-bronze leaf variety, Kimono, also grows about three to four feet tall and is rated for zone five hardiness. Its gorgeous white and red picotee blossoms are similar to Miss Saori.

Monrovia Nurseries in California and Oregon have come up with a series called Seaside Serenade. Most varieties in this series are in the three-to-four-foot range, have a consistent reblooming nature, and are being described as having zone four hardiness, which is truly remarkable. Seaside Serenade Newport has one of the deepest blue flowers that I’ve ever seen on the market.  Cape Lookout opens up green and then turns white. Martha’s Vineyard is a unique pink tinged with green. The stunning Fire Island is a beautiful dark pink and white picotee with bronze leaves.

Article content

A few years ago, Bailey’s Nursery in Minnesota and Oregon introduced some exciting rebloomers in a series that they called Endless Summer. The original Endless Summer varieties grew from three to six feet tall and repeated blooming, especially if the old blossoms were removed. Summer Crush has raspberry red flowers and grows much shorter, only 18 to 36 inches. The newest addition to the Endless Summer series is BloomStruck, which is also hardy to zone four and grows about three to four feet in height. Like so many pinks, it can be turned blue with a regular application of aluminum sulphate. BloomStruck is one of the most cold and heat tolerant hydrangeas on the market, and considering our current climate swings, this is a great quality to have.

Article content

Of all these varieties, a new, so-called cascade hydrangea has been introduced. Fairytrail Bride won Plant of the Year at the British Chelsea Flower Show in 2018, and it has been turning heads ever since. Its hardiness rating has been adjusted from zone 7 to zone 6, which is good news, especially after last winter. It’s an absolute stunner, particularly in containers, with masses of white cascading flowers tumbling everywhere.

With so many fabulous new varieties, maybe it’s time to change some of our older, more problematic hydrangea varieties to ones that are more compact, rebloom and turn heads.

More news, fewer ads: Our in-depth journalism is possible thanks to the support of our subscribers. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.