Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs or vines with large leaves and showy flowers in large clusters for dramatic effect.

About This Plant

Bloom midsummer to fall. Colors: blue, pink, red, white. Most common: bigleaf (H. macrophylla), 3–6 feet, huge ball-shaped or lacecap clusters. Flower color depends on soil pH: acidic = blue, alkaline = pink. Bigleaf blooms on old wood—in cold north, may die back and not flower. Climbing hydrangea (H. anomala) clings to stone, brick, arbors, trees; reaches 50 feet, heavy/woody, needs sturdy support.

Special Features

• Good for cut flowers

Site Selection

Full sun to light shade, moist, well-drained soil. Hot summers: afternoon shade.

Planting Instructions

Spring or fall. Space 3–10 feet per mature size. Hole as deep as rootball, 2–3x wide. Poor soil: amend removed soil with little compost; else don't amend. Set plant, backfill halfway, water, drain, finish backfill, water.

Care

Spring: compost to dripline + 2–4 inch mulch (away from trunk). Consistently moist soil—water if rainfall <1 inch/week.