Which hydrangeas bloom all summer?
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! On the other hand, panicle hydrangeas and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood and generally flower from June to September. These late bloomers are the stars of fall gardens and their dried flowers can remain on the plant through winter.Blue blooms are a giveaway you have a Big Leaf Hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla. If you have a hydrangea with globes of white blooms in a shrub form, you have either an Smooth hydrangea, our native form, or a white Big Leaf hydrangea.Phlox (Phlox Paniculata) Phlox’s voluminous, round flower clusters make it look closely like hydrangeas. However, phlox blooms come in a wider range of bright colours and are more commonly associated with wildflower gardens.Hydrangea ‘All Summer Beauty’ ‘All Summer Beauty’, a bigleaf hydrangea, is a deciduous flowering shrub offering year-round interest. Super-floriferous, creating a long, seasonal floral display, ‘All Summer Beauty’ blooms in showy mophead inflorescences on old wood in midsummer and reblooms on new wood into fall.Smooth Hydrangeas: Hydrangea arborescens Native to the southern United States, smooth hydrangeas are easy to grow and very cold hardy. Often incorrectly referred to as Annabelle hydrangea, this species produces large, rounded flower heads in white, pink, and green hues.
Which type of hydrangea blooms the longest?
Best Panicle Hydrangea Varieties for Long Blooming, Color-Changing Performance. During the later part of summer, when the garden begins to wind down, panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) become the focal point. They showcase magnificent blooms that continue to dazzle well into fall. Most hydrangea plants bloom best in part shade, but some will tolerate full shade or full sun. The amount of sun they can handle depends on your location—in areas further north they can take more sun, while further south they prefer just a few hours of morning sunlight.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.Unlike flowers, which get their color variations from different pigments, the acidity of the soil often determines the color of a hydrangea bloom. This means you can change the color of your hydrangea with soil additives – add lemon juice to get blue blooms, for example.Hydrangeas that are grown in more sun than they like will often flag on hot days. They may recover at night, but if they continue to wilt every day, they may become stressed, making them more prone to damage from pests and diseases. And they’ll look tired with drooping flowers that often don’t attain full size.
What kind of hydrangeas don’t need pruning?
Big leaf, mountain and oak leaf hydrangeas set their flowers in the summer for the next year. So we don’t prune those at all ideally. If we really must, it’s best to prune when the flowers open in the summertime. Plant these types of hydrangeas where they can grow into their full size so you don’t need to prune them. The best time to plant hydrangeas is early fall or spring, depending on your region. In areas with mild winters, planting in September or October allows the roots to establish before winter dormancy. In colder climates, it’s better to plant in early to mid-spring (April or May) after the risk of frost has passed.This timing will vary by region. For instance, in areas with winter freezing and snow, hydrangeas should be planted in early spring or early fall (as soon as summer heat breaks). In warmer regions with mild winters, the window for planting hydrangeas is longer, from fall all the way through to early spring.You don’t need to cut back hydrangeas. If left to their own devices, hydrangeas will die back in the winter and grow again in the spring. However, if they are not pruned or cut back, at some point, the branches will begin to become a mess of last year’s wood and this year’s wood.Hydrangeas can be grown in containers; however, for longevity, planting in the ground is best. If grown in pots, it is usually best to pick a dwarf variety in order to accommodate growing needs.This timing will vary by region. For instance, in areas with winter freezing and snow, hydrangeas should be planted in early spring or early fall (as soon as summer heat breaks). In warmer regions with mild winters, the window for planting hydrangeas is longer, from fall all the way through to early spring.
What not to plant next to a hydrangea?
Sage and hydrangeas are not a good mix. Sage thrives in dry, well-drained soil and full sun, while hydrangeas prefer partial shade and moist soil. When planted near each other, sage may suffer from too much moisture, while hydrangeas could struggle with a lack of nutrients and competition for root space. 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.Consistent moisture is crucial for hydrangeas, but overwatering can be detrimental. The key is to water the base of the plant deeply, adjusting frequency based on weather conditions. Beyond watering, successful hydrangea care involves proper pruning, understanding soil pH, and knowing the variety’s light requirements.The short answer is no. Pruning your hydrangeas just before winter will leave them even more susceptible to winter damage, and you’re at risk for cutting off future flowers.You’ll also want to make sure that you leave room between your hydrangea and your house or fencing. When planting near a foundation or fence, give the plants up to an extra foot for air circulation and so that their stems won’t grow into a structure, which can cause wounds on the stems, Lakatos says.
What is the lifespan of a hydrangea?
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. 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.Pruning prevents hydrangeas becoming woody and congested, and channels the plant’s energy into producing strong growth and large blooms. After pruning, mulch the plant with well rotted manure or compost, which will help it to grow back strongly.You can clip the dead flowers off the plant just below the bloom, or leave it on the plant into the winter. Most dried hydrangea flowers break off sometime in the winter and any that remain on the plant can be removed in the spring. Don’t “neaten them up”!You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth.
What’s the difference between a hydrangea bush and a hydrangea tree?
We’re all used to the gorgeous hydrangea bushes, blessing our gardens with their beauty. But, have you heard of hydrangea trees? A hydrangea tree is nothing more than a shrub that has been trained to grow tall like a tree. Hydrangea trees are considered a medium to small tree, so they shouldn’t take over any areas. What Happens If You Don’t Prune Hydrangeas in the Fall? Nothing. Your hydrangea may thank you with prolific blooms next year because you didn’t prune it. This season’s flowers will slowly dry up and, throughout the winter, blow off and away.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.If a branch is broken or dead, it can be removed completely. If in doubt, don’t prune! No hydrangea requires pruning to grow and bloom well.Endless Summer® hydrangea’s first bloom cycle lasts until about mid-July. That’s about when the blooms start to fade, and you know that it’s time to get deadheading! While deadheading can be done throughout the summer, you should make sure to stop in mid to late fall.If you enjoy puttering in the garden or like a neater appearance, go ahead and deadhead your hydrangea as needed. But you won’t harm the plant or affect blooming if you don’t, says Hirvela.