Which hydrangea is the most beautiful?
Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) The bigleaf hydrangea is a favourite of many gardeners. The flowers are generally white, pink or red. However, with aluminium-based fertilisation and the right pH value, the bigleaf can become a blue or violet-flowering hydrangea thanks to the natural pigment delphinidin. But NEVER prune these hydrangeas to the ground, otherwise you’ll cut off all of next year’s blooms. If your hydrangeas bloom on “new wood” you can deadhead them if you’d like…but then in late fall or early spring you can more aggressively prune them back.No, you will not hurt a new wood hydrangea plant if you decide not to deadhead it. The blooms will naturally fade and fall off on their own over time. In fact, leaving the spent flowers can add winter interest and, on old wood hydrangeas, even protect the plant’s new buds from frost.Prune These Hydrangeas in Late Summer or Early Fall These varieties bloom on new wood or a combination of new and old wood. Prune them as soon as blooms fade in late summer or early fall. If you see buds forming on old branches, don’t prune. Those are next year’s flowers.All Summer Beauty’ macrophylla blooms on both old and new wood, stunning blue mophead hydrangea that blooms all summer long. Hydrangeas traditionally bloom on “old wood”, meaning last year’s growth but ‘All Summer Beauty’ is one of a new breed that reblooms on the current year’s growth as well!
Where is the best place to plant a blue hydrangea?
The best place to plant the majority of Hydrangeas is going to be in a spot that has good drainage, morning sun, and afternoon shade. Hydrangeas can play many roles in your landscape. Most hydrangeas bloom in spring and summer depending on your growing zone. Some can reach heights of 15 feet or higher. Hydrangeas look quite striking in large mass plantings along the edge of a lawn, McConnell says. They are also great as a foundation planting, perfect for the east side of a house where they will be protected from harsh afternoon sun.Also known by the common name PeeGee, panicle hydrangeas are robust plants with excellent hardiness, and drought tolerance. They thrive in the hot and humid summers of the deep South and shrug off frigid northern winters. These are the easiest hydrangea to grow, but you wouldn’t know it from their over-sized blooms.Not all plants pair well with hydrangeas. Here are some combinations to avoid: Sunflower prefers full sun and hotter conditions than hydrangeas, which require some shade. Lavender is a sun-loving perennial that performs best in dry conditions and leaner soil, so will not thrive near hydrangeas.Hydrangeas will have an easier time thriving when planted in the ground because it is easier to give them proper water and soil needs, plus their roots have more room to grow. Hydrangeas are fast-growing shrubs that need full morning sun and protection from high afternoon temperatures.