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Big, blousy hortensias or hydrangeas were once shrubs we associated with our grandmother’s garden, not something we would grow ourselves! Recent years have seen a well-deserved re-assessment of these valuable deciduous flowering shrubs, and increasingly they are finding their way back into our gardens.
The plant most closely associated with the name, H. macrophylla or the mop-head hydrangea, has rounded flower-heads of white, pink or blue; actually showy sterile flowers with much smaller, fertile flowers between. These cover the bushes in late summer and last well into autumn, the flowers fading to green-pink and then drying to a dull, parchment. Large glossy leaves are a great backdrop for other plantings and, blessedly, these shrubs actually like partial shade. Named clones carry deeper pink or blue or even white flowers, but flower colour is affected by soil type – for blue blooms you need acid soil, for pink alkaline (or rich in lime), while white flowers don’t change. Size varies but most will reach 1.5m (5ft) or more, making a great informal hedge.
‘Lacecap’ forms of H. macrophylla are probably a hybrid between H. macrophylla and H. aspera, these are smaller plants growing to around 1.0m (3ft). They have a lighter look with the sterile flowers arranged around a mass of smaller fertile flowers. A big plus with these hydrangeas is that they have the much-sort-after ‘flat’ flowers that give horizontals in a planting scheme. There are several excellent named forms available. Good in coastal gardens, H. macrophylla and its many forms are a feature of areas such as Cape Cod where they complement the white clap-board houses perfectly.
Hydrangeas have become one of the mainstays of the late summer garden, but look further hydrangea can add foliage contrasts and a refreshing dose of creamy-white and green throughout the summer.
There are different hydrangeas readily available. For a lighter, lacy look, H. aspera has flat, lace-cap flowers with the showy sterile flowers surrounding a mass of smaller fertile flowers. These are frost hardy and grow to around 3.0m
H. paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ flowers in mid-summer with spikes of creamy flowers, aging rosy-pink, and smaller, oval and more matt leaves. Growing to 4.5m, it is a rounded shrub that adds a fresh cool look to summer planting schemes. Prune hard in late winter or very early spring to encourage larger flowers. Frost hardy in well-drained soils
H. arborescens ‘Annabelle’ is a rounded, mounding shrub (1.8-2.4m) with larger leaves and rounded heads of white carried in mid-summer, and becoming green as they age.
For even larger leaves grow H. quercifolia, the oak-leaf hydrangea, with wonderful large, deeply lobed leaves in deep green are reason enough to grow it and a superb contrast, becoming fiery orange-red in autumn. Spikes of creamy flowers carried in mid-summer are a bonus, look for H. quercifolia 'Snow Queen'.
There are many desirable hydrangeas available to us, and many ways of using them. You can even enjoy hydrangeas in a container, if you re-pot and feed regularly.
The climbing hydrangea, H. petiolaris (or more properly H. anomala subsp. petiolaris), has flat, creamy flowers and is one of the best climbers for a shady, south-facing wall. It may take time to start to climb, but attaching stems to a cane will encourage it to cover up to 15m high, but is easily kept in bounds on a smaller wall.
Hydrangeas have fabulous foliage and fascinating flower forms – one of the few ways of getting those horizontal, flat flower shapes into a planting scheme.
Hydrangeas contained
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Hydrangea macrophylla, 'Mop-head' hydrangea
Banks of hydrangeas in Cape Cod
Hydrangea macrophylla - lacecap form
Hydrangea aspera - a lacecap hydrangea
H. paniculata 'Grandiflora' - spikes of creamy flowers
Hydrangea quercifolia for huge leaves
Hydrangea petiolaris for a shady wall
Growing Hydrangeas
Cultivation A rich, moist well-drained soil (does not become waterlogged), except in cool and moist areas, grow in dappled shade. While H. macrophylla is good in coastal gardens and as a hedge, larger and softer leaved hydrangeas should be protected from strong winds.
Prune after flowering by completely removing the stems that have just flowered and leave the remaining stems to flower the following year. In humid climates powdery mildew can be a problem but mostly hydrangeas are trouble-free.
Propagation Cuttings
Sources Most hydrangeas are widely available, ask at your local plant nursery or see specialist nurseries | | |
