Which hydrangeas grow the biggest?
Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) If you want an exceptionally large hydrangea, a panicle hydrangea typically reaches a height of 8 to 15 feet wide and tall (it can grow up to 25 feet tall), making it ideal for a hedge or privacy screen. Big Daddy’ Hydrangea macrophylla can reach 5-6 feet tall and wide and is known for its huge blooms in blue or pink depending on soil acidity. The much more compact Heart Throb® Hydrangea grows to only 3 feet tall and wide and offers unique dark red blooms edged with green that age to green with hints of red.Avantgarde is a unique long-flowering Hydrangea with truely enormous blooms, making it the world’s largest flowering Hydrangea.Plant your hydrangeas in good, well-drained soil. In my experiments, better soil and more regular water does matter to size and will lead to bigger blooms.The Incrediball® hydrangea is an improvement on the classic garden favorite, the ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea, bred for sturdier stems and larger flower balls that can reach up to 12 inches wide. Limelight hydrangea is a cultivar with no native origin, bred for impressive and colorful flowerheads.
What is the best time to buy hydrangeas?
The best choice of hydrangeas in garden centres is available from mid-summer when they are in flower, but containerised plants are available all year round. Check the height on the label as some will grow into sizeable shrubs. 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.There are certain instances when pruning Hydrangeas can be helpful: All dead stems should be removed from hydrangeas every year. After the plants are at least 5 years old, about 1/3 of the older (living) stems can be removed down to the ground each summer. This will revitalize the plant.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.However, most varieties of hydrangeas take two to four years to mature to full size.
How to make hydrangeas really big?
Plant your hydrangeas in good, well-drained soil. In my experiments, better soil and more regular water does matter to size and will lead to bigger blooms. Epsom salt won’t help hydrangeas bloom or change color—it doesn’t affect the soil in a way that generally boosts flowers. However, you can add Epsom salt if a soil test indicates a magnesium deficiency. To turn hydrangeas blue, lower your soil’s pH using sulfur—not Epsom salt.Want to turn your hydrangeas blue? It will take some time, but used dry coffee grounds can alter the ph level of the soil. Coffee grounds increase the soil’s acidity. Acidic soil (low pH) favors blue flowers, while alkaline soil (high pH) favors pink flowers.You’ll find potted hydrangeas for sale at nurseries during the growing season. If possible, buy your plant when it’s blooming, so you’re sure you’re getting the flower type—and color—you want.Cut the stem below the flower head and just above the first set of leaves. For reblooming types, you can deadhead again when this second set begins to fade, but only through mid-August or so. After this your hydrangeas will create buds for next year’s flowers, and you don’t want to accidentally cut these off.Plant Nutrition 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.
What not to plant next to hydrangeas?
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. Perennials To Plant With Hydrangeas Shade tolerant perennials make excellent partners next to hydrangeas. Some of the best are hostas, ferns, foxglove & coral bells. Many upright hydrangeas create a shady area under their foliage. This is a great location for planting shade-loving hostas.The most important factors when choosing where to plant hydrangeas are light and moisture. In the South, plant them where they will receive morning sunlight and afternoon shade. With these conditions, you can grow the extremely popular French (also called bigleaf) hydrangea or panicle hydrangea.
What month is best to plant hydrangeas?
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. Avoid feeding hydrangeas after August, especially in regions with cold winters. A slow-release plant food works well. For best results, try Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food, which feeds for up to 3 months.
Can you buy big hydrangeas?
Large hydrangeas are a beautiful addition to any garden. With their big blooms and vibrant colours, they are sure to impress. At Charella, we have a variety of large hydrangeas for sale that are perfect for creating a stunning garden that will be the envy of all your neighbours. Large Trees and Shrubs Large trees and even large shrubs can cause harm to hydrangeas and other plants, both by blocking incoming light and by outcompeting them and consuming all the available resources, Lenhart says. You should especially watch out for willow trees, McConnell says.