Growing Hydrangea

Botanical Name:

Hydrangea

Life Cycle:

perennial flowering shrub

Planting Time:

spring or fall

Height:

3' to 15'

Exposure:

full sun to partial shade

Soil:

rich, well-drained, evenly moist soil

Hardiness:

hardy to zones 3 to 9

Bloom Time:

early summer to fall

Flower:

white, pink, red, purple and blue clusters; acidic pH produces blue flowers and alkaline pH produces pink flowers in certain varieties.

Foliage:

green

Propagation:

layering or cuttings-softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings (taken late spring or early to mid summer), hardwood cuttings (taken from dormant growth in fall or winter).

Suggested Use:

shrub borders, hedges, cut flowers and dried flowers

Growing Hints:

Plant in spring or early fall from cuttings or purchased plants. Dig holes as deep as the existing root ball, but three times wider to accommodate the lateral spreading roots.

Pruning Tips:

When to prune your hydrangea depends on the variety. Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens) and Panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) bloom on new wood (growth from the current year) and should be pruned in late winter or early spring. On the other hand, oak-leaved hydrangea (H. quercifolia) and florist's hydrangea (H. macrophylla) flower on old wood (previous year's growth) and should be pruned immediately after flowering. Certain varieties are not suited to colder zones and the cold may kill flower buds, resulting in plants with nice leaves that never flower.