Take a walk through a southern garden in early June and you are more than likely to come across the heavy, drooping blooms of a Hydrangea. The French Hydrangeas with their ostentatious mophead blooms shout for your attention from a shady corner as the refined Oakleaf Hydrangeas nod under the weight of their glistening white petals. The diversity of the Hydrangea family allows gardeners a selection for nearly any landscape area. The following are Hydrangeas that are most commonly used in southern gardens:
This deciduous shrub is native to the Eastern United States. 'Annabelle' is the most common variety of smooth hydrangea and with good reason: Stunning globular white blooms appear in early June and 'Annabelle' Hydrangeas are more sun tolerant than other Hydrangeas. Prune
French Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Native to parts of Asia including Japan, the French Hydrangea is perhaps the most widely recognized and admired of the Hydrangea family. Large mophead blooms in white and vivid shades of blue, purple, pink and red are cherished in the southern garden and make excellent cut flowers. French Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs with an upright, rounded growth habit to 5' tall and wide. They are best grown in morning sun and afternoon shade or bright, filtered sunlight. In recent years much attention has been placed on longer blooming varieties such as 'Penny Mac' and 'Endless Summer.' 'Endless Summer' Hydrangeas bloom on new wood and 'Penny Mac' blooms on old and new wood which guarantees blooms even if a late frost occurs. The new introduction 'Mini Penny,' a dwarf variety growing 3-4' tall and wide, allows gardeners to enjoy beloved hydrangea blooms in smaller spaces. French Hydrangea blooms, with the exception of white, are dependent upon soil pH to determine their color. Blue blooms are produced in acidic soil (pH below 5.5) and pink or red blooms are produced in alkaline soil (pH of 7.0 or higher). You can easily manipulate the color of your Hydrangea blooms by adding aluminum sulphate to the soil for blue blooms or lime for pink or red blooms, however, you must start this treatment well ahead of bloom production. Prune H. macrophylla immediately after they bloom.
Hydrangea paniculata
H. paniculata are large growing, deciduous shrubs with erect clusters of blooms that resemble the Oakleaf Hydrangea bloom. The most common varieties are 'Grandiflora,' or PeeGee hydrangea, 'Limelight,' and 'Tardiva.' PeeGee hydrangeas have an upright, rounded growth habit to 10' tall and wide with massive white blooms that fade to pinky bronze. 'Limelight' is grown for its unusual greenish white blooms and the fact that it can tolerate more sun. 'Tardiva' blooms in late summer. Prune all H. paniculata in late winter.
Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris)
If you have not already, you will be happy to discover this deciduous, shade-loving vine. H. petiolaris is a true clinging vine that attaches to walls and structures with aerial rootlets. Delicate but showy white lacecap blooms appear in shade where other vines would not even think to bloom. Once established this vine can reach 60'. Prune in late winter.
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
This deciduous shrub is native to the southeastern United States and has a rounded growth habit to 6' tall and wide. Large, coarse leaves turn orange to red in fall and exfoliating bark provides interest even in winter months. Of course the giant white, cone-shaped blooms steal the show in early summer and continue to provide color through the summer and fall as they fade to varied shades of pink and bronze. The 'Snowflake' hydrangea was discovered and developed by Eddie Aldridge and is the most asked for by name here at Collier's. Another dwarf variety 'Pee Wee' allows gardeners to fit these beauties into smaller areas. Prune H. quercifolia right after they bloom.
