How big does an Annabelle hydrangea get?
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ is a mounding shrub that grows 3–5′ high with a wider spread. In July, it produces huge (8–12″) round heads of pure white blooms that remain attractive into September and can be cut for fresh or dried arrangements. Hydrangeas are long-lived shrubs, sometimes living for up to 50 years if properly cared for. They enjoy morning sun but afternoon shade, and they need frequent watering during the growing season.Climbing Hydrangeas Their remarkable lacecap flowers are a sight to behold and can remain in bloom for up to two months. Climbing hydrangeas are a treasure in a garden. They will grow up tree trunks, fences, stone walls, or even as a ground cover.Adding mulch to your hydrangea after thoroughly watering helps retain moisture (and warmth) at the shrub’s crown when temperatures drop. Use a thick layer of hardwood mulch, up to 12 inches at the base of your hydrangea, and that’s it!These long-flowering and low- maintenance shrubs are hardy in zones 5 to 9 and often have a 50 year life span. They can complement any garden, large or small. The plants we see most often are different seedling forms of hydrangea macrophylla, commonly known as mopheads and lacecaps.
Do Annabelle hydrangeas spread?
Growing up to five feet in height and presenting a dazzling display of large snowy-white blooms, the Annabelle Hydrangea is considered a mounding shrub because of its expansive spreading at peak growth. Your hydrangeas may be surprising you with some blooms in the fall. This is totally normal.Grow Hydrangea aborescens ‘Annabelle’ in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade.Hydrangea trees also need space to grow, so plant them at least 5-10 feet away from other trees, shrubs, or structures.If possible, overwinter hydrangeas outdoors, as they need to be exposed to the elements to stay in their natural rhythm.Don’t throw out those used coffee grounds. Use them to change the color of your hydrangeas to blue. Make the soil more acidic and the blooms more blue.
Do Annabelle hydrangeas come back every year?
Hydrangeas are perennial, returning every year. And one of the greatest things about annabelle hydrangeas is that they bloom on new growth. That means they can be cut down (even to the ground! You can prune Annabelle hydrangeas either in late winter or very early spring. Personally, I prune mine down to about 15 cm (6 inches) from the ground to encourage large blooms. However, these bigger flowers often require staking for support.The best time to prune Annabelle hydrangeas is late winter to early spring, just before new growth starts.Caring for the Annabelle Hydrangea does have a couple of challenges. They do not like to be too dry, nor extremely wet. It is also helpful to have snow cover on the roots for winter protection. This helps to insulate the roots during the winter months.So, when is the best time to plant hydrangeas? Aim for late spring, well after any danger of frost has passed, or early fall, when night temperatures usher in cooler air. If you garden in a region where the ground freezes, get plants into the ground at least six weeks prior to fall’s first killing frost.
Do Annabelle hydrangeas need a lot of water?
Hydrangea Annabelle prefers soil that is consistently moist but well-drained. Ensure that the soil remains consistently damp as the weather warms in spring. Deep watering is important to penetrate the root zone. Wilted or drooping leaves – If you see heavy leaves that seem to hang that may even be mushy to the touch, you might have overwatered hydrangeas.Hydrangeas lose their leaves in autumn or early winter and grow best in temperate and cool climates with warm dry summers and cool winters. Depending on the cultivar you’ve chosen, many hydrangeas flowers will also change colour depending on the soil pH and, yes you can alter the soil pH to change the flower’s colour.When exposed to excessive sunlight, their leaves may scorch, turning brown or yellow, and delicate blooms can wilt or fade prematurely. This stress often occurs in hydrangeas planted in full sun, particularly varieties like macrophylla which thrive in partial shade.A pH of 7 is neutral, and household vinegar has a pH of around 2. The theory is, applying diluted vinegar to the soil will lower the pH enough to change the color of your hydrangea blooms. This strategy will make the soil more acidic, but not for long!When hydrangeas grow lots of leaves but no flowers, it is often due to excessive nitrogen in the soil, which encourages foliage over blooms. Insufficient sunlight can also cause lush growth without flowers, especially in varieties that need 3-4 hours of direct light.
How do you prepare Annabelle hydrangeas for winter?
To protect Annabelle Hydrangeas during winter, it’s important to ensure proper care before the onset of cold weather. Similar to caring for other hydrangeas, mulching around the base with organic material such as leaves, straw, or wood chips can help insulate the roots from freezing temperatures. Sunlight: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ thrives in full sun to partial shade. A location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for optimal flowering and leaf health. Soil: Well-drained, moist, and fertile soil is essential for Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’.To help prepare growing hydrangeas for winter, add a fine bark mulch to the base of the hydrangea plant. Remove the top inch of compost and replace with the mulch to add a layer of protection for the winter season.Sun is needed to get an abundance of blooms. The best combination is direct morning sun, but shade from the afternoon sun. Dappled shade is preferable to deep shade. Avoid placing hydrangea on the west side of your home, where they will be blasted by the afternoon sun, McConnell says.We recommend feeding Hydrangea with a slow-release, granular fertilizer such as Plant-tone® + Iron-tone® OR Holly-tone® + Iron-tone® in both spring and midsummer. For a bloom boost, try applying Triple Phosphate, per package instructions, in addition to fertilizer.
Where is the best place to plant Annabelle hydrangea?
Sunlight: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ thrives in full sun to partial shade. A location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal for optimal flowering and leaf health. Soil: Well-drained, moist, and fertile soil is essential for Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. Summary: Pair hydrangeas with plants that match their light, moisture, and soil needs. Shade/part-shade allies (great with Bigleaf, Mountain, Oakleaf, Climbing) include Astilbe, ferns, Hosta, Heuchera, Brunnera, and Tiarella. For sunnier spots (Panicle, Smooth), try Daylily, Salvia, Nepeta, Echinacea, and Rudbeckia.Most common hydrangeas prefer a partial sun location – ideally receiving sun in the morning hours and shade in the afternoon. The reblooming Endless Summer® Hydrangea series prefers part shade.