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Hydrangea like plants


11 Hydrangea Companion Plants (& What Not To Plant With Them)

For summer flower power, hydrangeas are a must. They fill up hard to plant places, producing colorful mopheads of flowers in blues, pinks, pure white, lavender and rose.

When the flowers start to fade, they can change color too. This makes them interesting in the garden, and perfect for flower arranging.

While hydrangeas typically look best when planted en masse on their own, there are a few plants that make great friends for your favorite cut flowers.

Quick Care Guide For Hydrangeas

Hydrangea macrophylla – also known as mophead, bigleaf hydrangeas, or the old-fashioned hortensia – are generally easy to grow and care for with a little knowledge and observation. They also grow well in containers.

These are woody deciduous shrubs like cool, slightly shaded conditions in the dappled shadow of trees or larger shrubs. Avoid too much shade if you want them to bloom well.

They need rich soil with plenty of compost and leaf mold added. Hydrangeas like well-draining soil, but it should be kept moist, especially during the heat of summer. A layer of mulch will help to keep the soil cool and moist.

Hydrangeas need plenty of water and are greedy feeders. They require regular applications of general fertilizer or specialized hydrangea food from spring to fall to perform their best.

Why Do Some Hydrangeas Change Flower Color?

It can be confusing to see your prized blue hydrangea change color to pink once you get them in the ground.

The reason for this is the chemical composition and pH levels in the soil. Flowers are naturally pink, but will turn blue if the soil contains aluminum and the pH is acidic.

In alkaline soils, hydrangeas remain pink and the white ones usually stay white, but may get some coloration in the center of the blooms.

Blue hydrangeas can be kept blue by keeping an eye on the pH levels and adjusting if necessary, or using a commercial fertilizer like Blue Hydrangea Food that is specifically made for that purpose.

Best Companion Plants For Hydrangeas

1. Azaleas

Azaleas and rhododendrons are some of the best plants to grow next to hydrangeas as they like the same things – a bit of shade and a good organic mulch.

These plants match blue hydrangea’s preference for slightly acidic soil too. Avoid the pink ones, or allow them to turn blue, as they will not do well with acid-loving azaleas and prefer more alkaline soil. 

Azaleas are not bothered by insects or diseases, making good companions for any acid-loving plants. For a spectacular show, try the white or yellow-flowering types to contrast with blue hydrangeas. Any of the pink or salmon colors will go well with white hydrangeas.

Most azaleas will flower in spring and into summer, but some varieties will flower at other times of the year to maintain interest in the garden.

2. Heuchera

This perennial plant is known for its striking foliage in shades of purple, red, lime green, rose, gold and green.

Known as Coral Bells, these plants are native to North America and are perfect for a shaded woodland environment, making them ideal for planting with hydrangeas.

They produce tiny bell-shaped flowers in spring and summer that are rich in nectar and attract pollinators like butterflies and birds in droves.

Plant as a border in front of hydrangeas and choose combos that please the eye when hydrangeas are in flower. One of the classic combos are white hydrangeas with lime green Coral Bells, but there are plenty of options to choose from with this versatile plant.

3. Sweet Potato Vine

Another leafy plant to choose from is the sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas).

Although they prefer full sun, they will do with a little shade and form masses of amazing colorful leaves from gold, bronze, brown and nearly black to bright green. The compact size is perfect for planting in front of hydrangeas as a border plant or groundcover.

There are hydrangea varieties across the spectrum for USDA zones 5-11, but sweet potato vine grows best in zones 8-11, so that should be taken into account before planting.

These plants are usually grown as an annual and they love the heat of summer.

4. Hostas

Hostas are another plant that goes particularly well with hydrangeas as they like the same conditions.

They do best in partial shade and some varieties will even grow in deep shade. They also like slightly acidic soil that is rich in nutrients. These plants are at their best in summer, complementing the hydrangea blooms perfectly.

There are many different sizes (1-3 feet tall) and colors to choose from, including variegated varieties in shades of green, lime-green, blue-green and white. Plant as a border with hydrangeas for a big-leafed bonanza.

Related Reading: 29 Hosta Varieties To Plant In Your Shade Garden

5. Swedish Ivy

Often grown as a houseplant, this plectranthus is an excellent groundcover to fill space between plants, or as a border plant in front of hydrangeas to keep the soil cool and moist. It has small shiny, dark green round leaves that cover well and grow in warm areas with dappled shade.

Plectanthus verticillatus will bloom almost all year round with small, pretty white flowers on spikes around 8 inches tall. It grows easily from cuttings and likes the same conditions as hydrangeas.

6. Ferns

Many types of small ferns are perfect for growing next to hydrangeas. Their lacy leaf structure is a good contrast to the large leaves of hydrangeas, making for an interesting combination.

Ferns like rich moist soil and shady conditions, much like hydrangeas. There are ferns that like acidic soil and some that like alkaline soil, so there are plenty of species to choose from for both pink and blue hydrangeas.

There are also ferns for all hydrangea planting zones. Be sure to choose the right species before planting.

7. Boxwood

The combination of clipped boxwood hedging and the wilder look of hydrangeas provides great contrast, especially in formal gardens. Boxwood can also be clipped into rounds that make for an appealing design, planted between hydrangeas with the shape of the flowers mimicking the rounds for symmetry.

The plant is Buxus sempervirens, also known as Common or American Boxwood, and has the same requirements as hydrangeas.

They prefer a bit of afternoon shade and protection from the heat of the day. Boxwoods also prefer organic soil with a good mulch to help keep moisture in. Their watering needs are the same as hydrangeas too.

Boxwood shows off hydrangeas well and can be planted in front as a low hedge and formal border, or behind as a tall hedge and green backdrop.

8. Ornamental grasses

The thin strappy leaves of ornamental grasses make them appealing companion plants for hydrangeas.

The dark green options are exceptional with white hydrangeas, and the variegated green and cream types go well with white, pink and blue hydrangeas, depending on what you have chosen.

Grasses like Blue fescue (Festuca glauca) have spiky mounded forms that make a good border or edging.

Dwarf Fountain Grass or Dwarf Maiden Grass has dark green foliage that cascades to give movement to a border.

Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa macra) is a good choice for its form and variegated green and gold foliage.

Many of these grasses do well in shade and partial shade and require regular watering with hydrangeas.

9. Astilbe chinensis

Dazzling is the only word to describe Astilbe chinensis. They also like the same conditions as hydrangeas do, growing best in wet and shady areas.

The combination of hydrangea flowers and the bright feathery plumes of astilbes in a range of either pink, purple-red and white is attractive in any garden.

Astilbes are also easy to grow and maintain, only requiring regular watering and good drainage. They are also pollinator magnets and are deer and rabbit resistant.

Astilbe chinensis blooms in spring and summer, flowering when hydrangeas do to make a spectacular display. They will not flower as much in deep shade, and can get scorched in full sun, but do well in dappled shade with hydrangeas.

10.

Japanese Pittosporum

These evergreen shrubs grow well in sun or light shade, used for multiple purposes including hedging, grouped on borders, or for edging and trimmed to keep low.

This versatile plant is tolerant of a lot of conditions, but prefers those similar to hydrangeas. The leaves are set in whorls in dark green or variegated green and white that make attractive forms in the garden.

Pittosporum tobira does best in the higher zones between 8 and 11. Like hydrangeas, pittosporum does not do well if there is poor drainage.

11. Veronica Speedwell

Masses of Veronica speedwell (Veronica officinalis) planted in front of hydrangeas is a beautiful sight when they flower in colors ranging from blue, pink and white in spring right through to autumn.

These hardy perennials grow in a range of conditions from full sun to partial shade and in any soil. The pH of the soil can be alkaline, neutral, or acidic, perfect for pink or blue hydrangeas. They are also happy with the high moisture content needed for hydrangeas.

The only thing they require is well-draining soil. Veronica speedwell produces flower spikes 1-3 feet tall and will do best in zones 3 – 8.

What Not To Plant With Hydrangeas

Due to the conditions hydrangeas prefer, sun-loving or deep shade plants will not cope. Many ornamental and edible plants fall under this list, making poor companions.

Similarly, plants that prefer dry or poor quality soil, such as lavenders, will not grow well with hydrangeas, no matter how pretty the flowers look together.

Luckily, there is equally a long list of plants that can be planted with them and make for spectacular combos in the garden.

Read Next: How To Propagate Hydrangeas From Cuttings

What to plant with hydrangeas: 10 beautiful companion plants

(Image credit: Getty Images)

When deciding what to plant with hydrangeas, consider not just varieties that will complement the plants visually, but those that will thrive in the same growing environment.

Knowing how to successfully mix different plants is an important part of learning how to grow hydrangeas. And, of course, companion planting, can be beneficial for every plant in the mix.

'Hydrangeas have an easy sort of elegance. Their bold yet simple blooms make them the perfect companion for an exciting range of plants in the landscape,’ says Kip McConnell, director of Southern Living Plant Collection .

‘When choosing companion plants for hydrangeas, think about maximizing color and extending bloom time in your garden. With the right pairings, hydrangeas can help you do just that – they can amplify a color palette and provide months of beauty before passing on the "baton" to their companion plant.’

What to plant with hydrangeas – best varieties

‘The best companion plants for hydrangeas depend on your type of hydrangea, where you grow it (warm or cold zones), how you site it (south facing, east facing, etc), and the color of the flowers,’ says Lorraine Ballato, author of Success With Hydrangeas .

Hydrangeas grow best in moist, well-draining soil, and will thrive in both acidic or alkaline soil. It’s important to know what soil type you have, so when considering what to plant with hydrangeas, you can choose other varieties to suit. 

Interestingly, the flowers of some types of hydrangea will change depending on the soil pH – blue for acidic and pink for alkaline. 

You should also bear in mind that most hydrangeas prefer some shade, and can struggle in full sun.

Knowing how to prune hydrangeas will also ensure you are able to get the best out of them.

1. Hostas

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘Hostas are a great companion plant for hydrangeas,’ says Julia Omelchenko, a botanist expert for the NatureID app . 

‘These small bushes feature drop-shaped leaves with bright margins that highlight the plain greenery and pastel-colored inflorescences of hydrangeas.’

Hostas thrive in nutrient-rich, moist – but not waterlogged – soils, preferring slightly acidic growing mediums. Like hydrangeas, they prefer partial shade

‘I recommend growing hostas in flower beds and using them in multi-level garden compositions,’ adds Omelchenko.

2. Daylilies

(Image credit: Getty Images)

When considering what to plant with hydrangeas, think about classic color combinations.

‘If you have a big leaf hydrangea with big blue or pink flowers, try daylilies in contrasting colors like orange – it's a classic Van Gogh color scheme,’ says Ballato.

Daylilies are striking perennials with exotic-looking lily-like flowers. Though they may appear delicate, they are surprisingly hardy and easy to grow, and will thrive in most soil types.

‘The trouble-free daylilies can take the part shade needs of the hydrangea and still produce great flowers,’ adds Ballato.

As well as orange, daylilies come in other colors, ranging from pure white to deepest red.

3. Gardenia

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘I love the cloud-like blooms of a white hydrangea paired with the fragrant white blossoms of gardenia,’ says McConnell.

‘The large, sculpted leaves of hydrangea meld seamlessly with the deep green foliage of gardenia, creating the perfect backdrop upon which the plants’ white blossoms pop.’

McConnell particularly recommends the 'Diamond Spire' gardenia, which produces fragrant, single white blossoms late spring through fall with an upright habit.

However, bear in mind gardenia will only thrive outdoors in warmer climes – there are varieties suitable for USDA zones 7a-10b – otherwise they can only be grown indoors.

‘Gardenias enjoy plenty of moisture; to maximize their glorious blossoms, feed them by applying an acidic, slow-release fertilizer such as an azalea or camellia fertilizer,’ adds McConnell.

4. Echinacea purpurea

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‘Echinacea purpurea blooms around the same time as hydrangeas and adds a pop of color. It is a great plant to include in the foreground of your hydrangeas,’ says Sam Hoadley, manager of horticultural research at Mt. Cuba Center botanical gardens.

Tolerant of partial shade, echinacea purpurea grows well in moist fertile soils where hydrangeas thrive – as long as it is well draining – and can be planted in acidic or alkaline soil.

‘As an added bonus, this species is also known to attract a large number of insect pollinators,’ adds Hoadley. 

5. Pieris japonica

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Flowering early in the season, pieris japonica is a great companion plant for hydrangeas. ‘This spring-blooming shrub partners well in a shrub border with hydrangeas; I consider it the opening act for the summertime hydrangea display, says Bob Polomski, horticulturist with Clemson University Cooperative Extension .

‘This evergreen prefers acidic soils and is a suitable companion for hydrangeas that produce blue flowers at a soil pH of 5.5 or less.’

As with hydrangeas, pieris japonica needs a partially shaded, sheltered spot.

6. Conifers

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

When thinking about what to plant with hydrangeas, don't overlook trees and bushes.

‘Conifers – thujas, junipers, pines, and dwarf pines – are some of the best companion plants for hydrangeas,’ says Omelchenko. 

She recommends creating various elegant compositions by combining tall thujas and spreading hydrangea bushes. 'It’s better to grow these plants on two levels – high trees in the background and lower bushes in front of them.

‘This design isn’t only beautiful but also beneficial for hydrangeas – thujas give them the necessary shade.’

Conifers are a broad species, but generally they prefer acidic, well-draining soil. As evergreen plants, they add color and interest to the garden year round, including in winter. When the cold weather arrives, make sure you know how to winterize hydrangeas to protect them from the elements – and to show them off against the conifers.

7. Ornamental grasses

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Ornamental grasses add a wonderfully textural contrast to hydrangeas. Many species are non-invasive, and will happily fill a border, nestling in around other plants.

‘If your hydrangea has a white flower, try some black mondo grass. The contrasting color which it holds all season long marries well with the hydrangea and grows happily in similar conditions,’ says Ballato.

‘Another very popular companion plant is Japanese forest grass. Like the mondo grass, it holds its golden color all season long and enjoys the same growing conditions as the hydrangea.’

8. Camellias

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‘Some hydrangeas, such as "Heart Throb", provide glorious blooms over three seasons, offering a radiant show when the weather is on the warmer side. But what about winter? A clever pairing of camellia offers blooms that pick up where hydrangeas leave off, ensuring your garden has almost year-round flowers,’ says McConnell. 

'October Magic Ruby' is a lovely recommended variety, with winter blooms and shiny green leaves all year. A compact grower, Ruby is a convenient semi-dwarf but with a soft, romantic appearance. It thrives in full sun to part shade, in USDA Zones 7a-9b

‘Camellias prefer well-drained, acidic soil. The simplest way to provide it is to use a commercial mix for rhododendrons and azaleas or camellias – avoid peat moss, which can dry out quickly and harden,’ adds McConnell.

9. Astilbe

(Image credit: Getty Images)

‘Commonly known as the false goat's beard, astilbe grows well alongside hydrangeas,’ says Omelchenko.

The frothy flowering plant tolerates shade, requires abundant watering, and thrives in acidic growing mediums. 

‘Astilbe's appearance is also a good match as it reflects rather than outshines the beauty of hydrangea. With its lush foliage, the false goat's beard keeps its decorative value even after the blooming season is over,’ adds Omelchenko.

‘The plant’s fern-like delicate branches please the eye and look gorgeous against the background of hydrangeas’ round leaves.’

10. Clematis viorna

(Image credit: Alamy)

‘Clematis viorna is a lesser-known native plant species that would be stunning when allowed to climb up Hydrangea arborescens,’ says Hoadley.  

The clematis roots thrive in cool shaded conditions at the base of the hydrangea shrub while their vining top growth is tolerant of part shade to full sun and can gently twine though the hydrangea shrub itself.

‘Their whimsical flowers would offer a pop of color and contrast to the large showy inflorescences of the hydrangeas,’ adds Hoadley.

Planting roses and hydrangeas together

It is possible to plant roses and hydrangeas together. However, as roses are sun loving, while hydrangeas prefer some shade, you will need a more tolerant variety.

Paniculate hydrangea 'Limelight' thrives in full sun, and its limey colored blooms make a perfect foil for romantic pink roses.

Can you plant peonies and hydrangeas together?

As peonies flower earlier in the season than hydrangeas, they can make lovely planting companions. Once they are over, the plant will begin to die back, making way for hydrangeas to shine.

Peonies thrive in full sun or partial shade, and prefer a sheltered spot. They are also tolerant of most soil types, provided they are free draining.

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

planting and care in the open field, species with photos and names

Such a flowering plant as hydrangea (Hydrangea) is directly related to the hydrangea family. According to various sources, this genus combines 30–80 species of hydrangeas. Such plants are represented by compact trees, vines and shrubs. Most types of hydrangeas grow in South and East Asia (China, Japan), this plant can also be found in North America and the Far East. Such a plant was named after the princess of the Holy Roman Empire. Systematic scientists gave the plant the Latin name Hydrangea, which means "vessel of water" in translation. The fact is that it is very moisture-loving. In Japan, this plant is called "Ajisai", which means "flower - purple sun." Despite the large number of species, at home they grow only garden hydrangea, or large-leaved, which has a small size. Other species and varieties are grown exclusively in gardens.

Content

  • 6 Hydrangea after flowering
  • 7 Wintering of the hydrangea
    • 7.1 Preparation of hydrangea for winter
    • 7.2 Hurse in winter
  • 8 Types of hydrangea photo and name 9000,000 8.1 Drevoid hydrangea (Hydrange Arborescens)
  • 8.3 Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
  • 8.4 Oak-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
  • 8.5 Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)

    • Growing Brief

    1. Planting. In autumn, sowing seeds for seedlings, followed by planting seedlings in open ground in early spring in two years. In the south, seedlings can be planted in the ground in the fall.
    2. Flowering. Early summer to late autumn.
    3. Lighting. Partial shade in the southern area, bright sunlight in the middle lane and more northern regions.
    4. Soil. Rich and moist, lime-free (pH 5.0).
    5. Watering Weekly and abundant, water consumption 15 - 20 liters per plant.
    6. Top dressing. At the beginning of spring - with a solution of urea, after flowering - with a complex mineral fertilizer.
    7. Cutting. Annually from 3-4 years. Paniculate and tree-like - in March-April.
    8. Reproduction. Seeds, dividing the bush, grafting, layering and green cuttings.
    9. Pests. Spider mites.
    10. Diseases. Peronosporosis, chlorosis.

    Hydrangea: care, planting, pruning


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    Hydrangea characteristics thirty meters high. Also, such hydrangeas can be deciduous or evergreen (depending on the species). In mid-latitudes, deciduous species are most preferred to grow. Most often, such a plant has large opposite leaves, they are oval in shape with a sharp point at the top.

    The edge of the leaf plates is most often serrated, and venation is clearly visible on their surface. Hydrangea begins to bloom in spring, and ends only after the onset of frost in the fall. The flowers are collected in large inflorescences, which can be corymbose, spherical or paniculate. The composition of the inflorescences includes 2 types of flowers. Some of them are small fertile (fertile), located, as a rule, in the middle part of the inflorescence, while others are large sterile (sterile), which are located along the edge of the inflorescences. There are species that have only one fertile flowers. Most hydrangeas have white flowers. However, there are species, for example, large-leaved hydrangea, or large-leaved, which can have flowers of various colors: cream, white, blue, pink, red and lilac. At the same time, it is interesting that the pH of the soil affects the color of the flower. So, for example, if the substrate is neutral, then the flowers will be cream or beige, if the substrate is alkaline, then pink or lilac, and on an acidic substrate, they will be blue, because aluminum is easily absorbed by hydrangea in the soil. The fruit of this flower is a box with 2-5 chambers, in which there are small seeds. It happens that a hydrangea is mistakenly called a flower belonging to a close genus of schizophragms, but you should know that petiolate hydrangea is nothing more than a schizophragm.

    Growing hydrangeas

    How to grow hydrangeas in the garden? Here are the basic rules:

    1. Large-leaved hydrangea can have different flower colors. At the same time, their color does not depend on the variety, but on the pH of the soil. So, in acidic soil, the flowers are blue and blue, in neutral - white and beige, and in alkaline - lilac or pink. In order for the bush to be spectacular and colorful, experienced gardeners advise changing the acidity separately for each flower.
    2. This flower is very fond of moisture, in this regard, it must be watered not only plentifully, but also on time.
    3. Direct sunlight required. But at the same time, it is worth considering that the flowers are able to fade under the influence of the scorching rays of the midday sun. In this regard, you need to choose a place for landing, where there would be a slight shading at noon.
    4. The plant must also be pruned on time.
    5. Do not apply a lot of organic fertilizers, because flowers may not appear on overgrown bushes.
    6. Hydrangeas must be well covered for wintering, even those species that are considered frost-resistant. If one of the bushes freezes, then in most cases it will be able to fully recover during the period of intensive growth.
    7. Very disease and pest resistant.

    Planting hydrangeas

    Growing from seeds

    Seeds are generally very easy to propagate specific hydrangeas. Also, this method of reproduction is often used by breeders in their work. It is quite easy to grow such a flower from seed, but it is a time-consuming method. Seeds should be sown in autumn. To do this, you need to fill the container with a loose earth mixture rich in nutrients, which can be prepared by combining peat and leaf soil with river sand in a ratio of 2: 4: 1. The seeds sown on the surface of the substrate should be sprinkled with a thin layer of soil, and then watered with a spray bottle. Then the container must be covered from above with a transparent film or glass, while the shelter must be removed several times in knocks so that the soil is ventilated. It should also be noted that the soil should always be slightly moist. The optimum temperature is from 14 to 20 degrees. After the first seedlings appear, the shelter must be removed for good. Picking must be done 2 times. The first time at the stage of development of the cotyledon lobes, and the second - in the first month of spring. At the same time, diving the plant for the second time, you need to take small pots for each of them (diameter 7 centimeters). After you transplant young plants a second time, they need to be hardened off. To do this, flowers are taken out into the street in the summer and a place is chosen for them that is protected from direct sunlight, gusts of wind, drafts and precipitation. In the evening, hydrangeas are returned to the room. For 2 years, hydrangea must be grown indoors, and in winter it is kept in a fairly cool and lit room, and in summer it is transferred to the street. In this case, it is necessary to cut off all the buds, as they will take a lot of strength from a still young plant.

    How to sow Hydrangea seeds? Growing Features!


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    Hydrangea seedlings

    After 2 years at the very beginning of the spring period (in areas with a cold climate - in autumn), the grown flowers are transplanted into open soil, immediately to a permanent place. When choosing a suitable place, do not forget that all species are photophilous and need direct sunlight. However, there are several species (ground cover, Sargent, rough and tree-like) that feel great in partial shade. The soil should be loose, rich in organic matter, neutral or slightly acidic. Alkaline soil can be acidified by taking high-moor peat or Acid plus acidifier. It is not recommended to plant trees or shrubs with a superficial root system next to these flowers, since after some time these plants will fight each other for water and nutrients.

    First of all, it is necessary to dig a hole, while its size should be 2 times the volume of the root system of the seedling, together with the pulled out clod of earth. Then organic and mineral fertilizers, as well as peat, should be added to the hole, which should be mixed with the ground. Then the seedling taken out together with a clod of earth must be thoroughly shaken off the ground and the roots leveled. Then it is lowered into a hole, which is covered with a mixture of compost and soil. In this case, it is necessary that the root system rises quite a bit above the soil surface. Then the soil should be compacted, water the bush and cover the area with mulch (bark or needles).

    Proven Hydrangea Planting / Garden Guide


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    Outdoor Hydrangea Care

    Basic Care

    Caring for this outdoor plant is not difficult, but it is must be correct. Proper watering is of great importance for the normal development of hydrangeas. So, in hot weather, it needs to be watered 2 times in 7 days, while 3-5 ten-liter buckets of lukewarm and necessarily settled water should be poured onto 1 adult bush. In the event that the site has mulch in the form of peat, then watering can be reduced.

    In order to get more oxygen to the roots, it is necessary to loosen the surface of the soil around the plant several times during the season to a depth of about 5 centimeters. You also need to timely cut off those stems that have already faded.

    Hydrangea fertilizer

    In order to achieve the most abundant flowering, you need to feed such a flower at least 2 times a year. This must be done before the plant begins to bloom and after it has faded. At the very beginning of the spring period, a solution of urea (2 g per 1 liter of water) is used to feed hydrangeas. In this case, 1 bush will need 30 liters of this solution. When the plant fades, a complex mineral fertilizer should be used to feed it. During the summer period, experts advise using slurry as a top dressing. However, do not overdo it, because an overfed hydrangea has very large inflorescences that can break rather fragile branches. To avoid this, you can tie a bush.

    Hydrangea Mineral Fertilizer / Garden Guide


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    Pruning hydrangeas

    Prune bushes that are older than 3-4 years. Species that bloom on the stems of the current year should be pruned at the very beginning of the spring period, before the buds begin to open, and also before the start of sap flow, otherwise the plant may leak juice, which will lead to its death. However, after pruning carried out very early, cuttings should not be rooted. In this regard, pruning should be carried out at a time when the kidneys begin to look alive and swell a little. The tree-like hydrangea awakens the very first, so it must be cut first. She cut off very long stems at a height of 3-4 buds. After that, the resulting twig can be divided into cuttings. Paniculata hydrangea requires more careful pruning. So, last year's stems must be shortened by 1/3, but viable cuttings are obtained from such segments. Large-leaved hydrangea does not need to be heavily pruned. So, in the spring, only every 4th stem is cut, especially if it grows inside the bush. And also it is necessary to remove dried and damaged branches.

    Propagation of hydrangeas from cuttings

    After pruning hydrangeas, you will have a large number of stem segments, and cuttings can be made from them. Each cutting should have 2 knots. In this case, the cut above the node located at the top should be straight, and under the one below it should be oblique. At the same time, 2–3 centimeters should be retreated from the knot, and then a cut should be made. Fill the greenhouse container with a mixture of peat and sand and stick the cutting to a depth of 3 centimeters, while watering well. After that, the greenhouse on top should be covered with plastic wrap "house". The cuttings must be systematically moistened with a spray bottle so that the soil is always slightly moist. After full rooting, the cuttings should be planted in open soil in a permanent place. Before winter, they should have time to get stronger.

    Hydrangea propagation by cuttings 🌱 How to avoid mistakes? / Garden guide


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    Hydrangea after flowering

    A faded plant should be prepared for wintering. Seedlings that are grown in containers must be moved indoors. With flowers growing in the open field, wilted flowers should be cut off, because when wet from rain and snow, they will become very heavy and can break branches. And it will also be necessary to pile up the base of the bushes quite high, cover the surface of the soil around them with a layer of mulch, which will help protect the root system from freezing. The most frost-resistant species are ground cover and paniculate. The stems of such plants become completely woody before the onset of the autumn period, which helps them to endure frosts more easily, even if they are not covered (when grown in areas with mild winters). You can also not cover the hydrangea tree for the winter.

    Hydrangea overwintering

    Preparing hydrangeas for winter

    A rather warm and snowy winter period allows even species that love warmth (serrate and large-leaved hydrangea) to winter without shelter. However, it should be taken into account that the winter will be frosty or warm, no one knows exactly how and how much snow will fall. It is better to play it safe and, despite the fact that weather forecasters promise a warm winter, prepare the plants for wintering as it should. Because if the forecast of weather forecasters is incorrect, then plants unprepared for wintering may die.

    When is the best time to cover this flower and how to do it? As a rule, this procedure is carried out in October, after the first frosts have passed. If the bushes are young, then they should be covered to the top with dry soil. The grown bushes must be pressed to the surface of the soil and covered with roofing material or lutrasil. They must be fixed with bricks, as such a shelter can be blown away by the wind. Older bushes will require more effort. The bush must be carefully tied and then covered with spunbond or lutrasil. After that, a metal frame from the grid should be created around the bush, which should have a cylindrical shape. At the same time, the walls of the structure should be 20–25 centimeters away from the bush, and they should also rise 10 centimeters above it. The empty space in the structure should be filled with dry leaves. In springtime (April), the mesh with leaves can be removed, but the spunbond is removed only after the threat of frost has passed.

    Hydrangea in winter

    You can decide whether or not to cover these flowers. The above options are ideal for a frosty winter with little snow cover. In the event that the place where you live has a very mild winter, then covering the hydrangea can be quite easy. And if you have winter-hardy species growing, then you can not cover them at all. However, if the winters where you live are often frosty, then it is better to take care of the shelter for the hydrangea in the autumn, and then you will definitely be sure that it can survive even severe frosts.

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    Types of hydrangea photos and names

    If you are thinking about how to decorate your garden with hydrangea, then first of all you should pay attention to the features of different types of this plant. Then you can choose exactly those species that will best suit your garden. It is also important to know how each of the species needs to be looked after. For example, a tree-like or large-leaved hydrangea must be prepared for wintering and cut a little differently than panicle hydrangea. If you know a lot about the rules for caring for such plants, then caring for them will not be difficult.

    Hydrangea arborescens

    This variety is very popular among gardeners living in mid-latitudes. This plant is presented as a shrub. Its height can vary from 100 to 300 centimeters. Inflorescences grow on tops of annual stems. When the flowers are just beginning to open, they have a light green color, after they are fully opened, they change their color to cream or white. The most popular varieties are: "Invisible Spirit" - the flowers have a pink color; "Sterilis" - the inflorescences are painted white, while this plant blooms very profusely; "Annabelle" and "Grandiflora" - have very large inflorescences, painted in pure white (note that panicled hydrangea has varieties with exactly the same names).

    Hydrangea paniculata

    Under natural conditions, such a plant has the form of a tree or shrub, the height of which can vary from 2 to 5 m. This species is considered one of the most popular among gardeners. Without a transplant in the same place, this type of hydrangea is able to grow and develop normally for more than 40 years. The stems of this plant become woody in a relatively short time, which is why it is considered winter-hardy. Inflorescences grow in the upper parts of the stems of this year, while flowering is distinguished by its abundance. However, the buds formed in the last days of June open only in August or September. The inflorescences of this type of flowers have a pyramidal shape. When the flowers begin to open, they are pale green in color, and after full opening they turn white. At the end of the summer period, they become light pink, and then brick. When the flowering period begins to end, the flowers again become light green. The most popular varieties are Grandiflora, Kuishu, Vanilla Fraze and Tardiva.

    Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

    Or garden - often cultivated in the garden. However, some varieties can be grown indoors or outdoors in containers. Dense leaves have a rich green color. The stems of this year are herbaceous, which is why the bush does not have a very high cold resistance. It is believed that inflorescences appear on last year's stems, since the buds for their growth are laid in the autumn, and they begin to grow in the spring. As a rule, inflorescences have a viburnum, umbrella shape, it is also called hemispherical or Japanese. The color of the flowers depends on the pH of the soil. More recently, interesting varieties have appeared: "Endless summer" - in acidic soil - blue color, in neutral - lilac; "Renata Steinger" - blue; "Expression" and "Romance" - have double flowers.

    Hydrangea quercifolia

    Possesses low frost resistance and needs good winter insulation. It blooms very luxuriantly and has unusually attractive leaves. It has a height of about 2 m. The length of paniculate inflorescences is from 10 to 30 centimeters. Flowering begins in June-July, while at the beginning the flowers are white, and then turn purple.

    Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)

    Or mixed pubescent hydrangea - winter hardy species. Under natural conditions, it can reach a height of 200-300 centimeters. Often used to form a standard form. The length of dark green leaves is about 20 centimeters. Their front side is smooth, and the wrong side is pubescent. Loose corymbose inflorescences are white at first, and then turn pink at the end of flowering. Flowering begins in the last days of June or the first of July. The most popular ground cover variety is Bretschneider, which blooms profusely with rather large milky-white inflorescences.

    Gardeners also grow hydrangea: ashen, serrate, radiant, rough, Sargent. They also grow a climbing species of petiole hydrangea, but as mentioned above, this is not a hydrangea.

    Hydrangea: types, varieties


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    planting and care in the open field, wintering, pruning, transplanting, types and varieties

    Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/en/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19Category: indoor plants reprinted: Last amendments:

    Content

  • Hydrangea care in the garden
    • Care instructions
    • Fertilizer
  • Literature
  • Useful links
  • Comments

    • Thanks to archaeologists, it became known that the hydrangea already existed at least forty thousand years ago. In Asia, this plant has been cultivated for a long time, and Europeans began to show interest in it only since 1900, although the hydrangea was brought to Europe from Japan almost a century earlier. Now this shrub is found everywhere.

    Hydrangea has a unique ability to accumulate aluminum in itself, and then the inflorescences on the bushes turn blue or blue.

    Answers to these and other questions you will find in our article.

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    Planting and caring for hydrangeas

    Read more about growing hydrangeas below

    Plant hydrangea (lat. Hydrangea) belongs to the genus of flowering plants of the Hydrangea family, which, according to various sources, includes from 30 to 80 species of shrubs, lianas and small trees. In nature, most often hydrangea can be found in East and South Asia - in Japan and China. It also grows in the Far East and North America. The hydrangea flower got its name in honor of the princess of the Holy Roman Empire, and the Latin name Hydrangea was given to the plant by taxonomists for its exorbitant moisture-loving nature (hydrangea is translated as “vessel of water”). The Japanese call the hydrangea "ajisai", which in Japanese means "flower - purple sun." Of the large variety of types of hydrangea in room culture, only garden hydrangea, or large-leaved, compact forms, is grown, all other types and varieties of hydrangea in our latitudes are grown in gardens.

    Botanical description

    Hydrangea flowers under natural conditions are shrubs up to 3 m tall, medium-sized trees and vines that can climb tree trunks to a height of up to 30 m. In addition, depending on the species, they can be either evergreen or deciduous plants, and in our climate flower growers prefer to grow deciduous. Hydrangea leaves are usually large, opposite, oval with a sharp apex, often with serrated edges and prominent venation. Hydrangea blooms from spring to frost with large spherical inflorescences, corymbose or paniculate, consisting of flowers of two types: small fertile (fertile), usually located in the middle of the inflorescence, and large sterile (sterile), blooming at the edges. There are, however, species in which all the flowers in the inflorescence are fertile.

    Most of the hydrangeas bloom with white flowers, but such a species, for example, as large-leaved hydrangea (or large-leaved hydrangea), blooms not only with white and cream, but also with red, blue, lilac and pink flowers, and the color is directly dependent on the pH of the soil (pH level): on neutral soil, hydrangeas grow with beige and cream flowers, on alkaline soil with lilac or pink flowers, on acidic soil with blue ones due to the aluminum contained in the soil, which the plant can absorb. The fruit of the hydrangea is a 2-5-chamber box with small seeds. Sometimes plants from the closely related genus Schizophragmatic are confused with hydrangea, but you should know that the so-called petiolate hydrangea is actually a schizophragma.

    Peculiarities of cultivation

    Well, now we can talk about the peculiarities of growing hydrangeas in the garden. So:

    Hydrangea planting

    Growing from seeds

    Hydrangea species are successfully propagated by seed method (generative). The method of seed propagation is also used for the purposes of a selection experiment. How to grow hydrangea from seeds? Very simple, but you will need time.

    Hydrangea seeds are sown in autumn: hydrangea seeds are sown in a nutritious loose substrate, consisting of a mixture of leaf and peat soil with river sand in a ratio of 4:2:1, which are then covered with a light layer of the same mixture and moistened from a sprayer. The container is covered with glass or film, which is periodically removed to ventilate the crops and moisten the substrate, which should be slightly damp at all times. The temperature required for germination is 14-20 ºC. As soon as shoots appear (this usually happens after a month and a half), the glass can be removed.

    Hydrangea seedlings should be dived twice: the first time at the stage of development of cotyledon leaves, the second - in May. Moreover, during the second picking, each seedling is planted in a separate pot with a diameter of 7 cm. After the second picking, young hydrangeas for hardening are exposed to fresh air during the day in a place where direct sunlight, rain moisture and drafts do not reach. In the evening, seedlings are brought into the room.

    At home, hydrangeas are grown for two years, in winter - in a bright, cool room, and in summer, exposing as much as possible to fresh air and removing emerging buds so as not to weaken young plants with flowering.

    Care of seedlings

    Two years later, in early spring, and if you live in a region with a cold climate, then in autumn, grown seedlings are planted in open ground in a permanent place. When choosing a site for hydrangeas, keep in mind that all species of this plant, without exception, love sunlight, but species such as rough hydrangea, ground cover, treelike and Sargent feel good in light shade. The soil is preferably neutral or slightly acidic, loose and rich in organic matter. Alkaline soil can be acidified with high-moor peat or Acid plus acidifier.

    Make sure that shrubs or trees with the same shallow root system as the hydrangea do not grow near the hydrangea area, as in the future there may be a struggle between them for moisture and nutrients in the upper soil layer. Planting a hydrangea begins with digging a hole, which should be twice the size of an earthen coma of a hydrangea seedling. In the finished pit, add peat, mineral and organic fertilizers mixed with soil. Remove the seedling with the clod from the pot, carefully shake off the soil, straighten the roots, lower into the hole and cover with soil mixed with compost so that the root ball protrudes slightly above the level of the site. Tamp down the soil, water the plant and mulch the area with needles or bark.

    Caring for hydrangeas in the garden

    Care instructions

    Caring for hydrangeas in the garden is not difficult at all, but there are mandatory items that must be followed strictly. The most important condition for caring for hydrangea is properly organized watering - it should be plentiful, approximately 30-50 liters of warm settled water for each adult plant twice a week during hot weather. If the soil is mulched with peat, then you can water less often, because the peat stays wet for a long time.

    To improve the aeration of the roots, it is necessary to loosen the soil around the bush several times during the spring-summer period to a depth of about 5 cm. Do not forget to cut off faded shoots.

    Fertilizer

    If you want the hydrangea to bloom in full force, it is necessary to carry out complex top dressing at least twice a year - before and after the flowering period of the hydrangea. In early spring, the hydrangea is fed with a solution of 20 g of urea per bucket of water, on the basis that three buckets of such a solution will be needed to feed an adult plant. After flowering, the hydrangea is fed with complex mineral fertilizers.

    Throughout the summer, you can fertilize the hydrangea from time to time with slurry, but be careful not to overfeed the plant, otherwise the large inflorescences can break fragile branches with their weight. Just in case, tie up the shoots so that this does not happen.

    Pruning

    Hydrangeas that have reached the age of three or four are subject to pruning. Those species that bloom on the shoots of the current year are pruned in early spring, before bud break and sap flow begins, so that the plant does not expire with juice and die. But too early pruning makes cuttings obtained after it unsuitable for rooting. Therefore, you need to guess for pruning such a time when the kidneys only swell a little and take on a “live” appearance.

    Hydrangea cuttings

    From the shoots you got after cutting, cut into pieces with two knots so that there is an oblique cut under the lower knot and a straight cut above the upper one. There should be a distance of 2-3 cm from the node to the cut. Plant the cuttings in a container-greenhouse with peat-sandy soil, immersing the lower part in the soil by 3 cm, water well. Then cover the greenhouse with a "house" made of polyethylene.

    Spray the cuttings with a sprayer to keep the soil moist at all times. As soon as the cuttings take root, they are planted in open ground in a permanent place, where they will have time to grow enough before the fall to courageously survive the coming winter.

    Hydrangea after flowering

    When the hydrangea has finished blooming, it is time to prepare the plant for winter. Young seedlings growing in pots are transferred indoors, and wilted inflorescences are removed from garden hydrangea species so that suddenly falling wet snow does not stick to them and break the fragile branches of the plant. In addition, you will need to pile up the base of the hydrangea bushes high and mulch the area where they grow in order to reliably protect their surface root system for the winter.

    The most cold-resistant of the hydrangeas are paniculate and ground cover. Their shoots become completely lignified by autumn, so it is easier to endure winter cold even without shelter, if you do not live in a cold climate. It can endure a harsh winter without shelter and tree hydrangea.

    Wintering hydrangeas

    Preparing for winter

    In warm snowy winters, even heat-loving large-leaved and serrate hydrangeas can winter without man-made shelter, but no one will tell you for sure to what temperature the thermometer column can drop in winter and how high the snow cover will be in the coming winter . Believing in assumptions and making a mistake means ruining your garden, so it’s better to be vigilant and maybe even distrustful of forecasts, but sleep peacefully on frosty nights, knowing that your plants are also fast asleep under their warm shelter.

    So, how and when to cover hydrangeas for the winter? It is better to do this after the first frost, during October. Very young bushes simply fall asleep with dry earth to the top. Older bushes are bent to the ground and covered with lutrasil or roofing material, which are pressed down with bricks so that the wind does not rip them off. Adult bushes will require a lot of effort from you: the bush is carefully tied and wrapped with lutrasil or spunbond. Then a frame is built around it in the form of a cylinder of metal mesh at a distance of 20-25 cm from the bush, and the frame should be 10 cm higher than the plant. The space between the mesh and the hydrangea is filled with dry foliage, which at this time of the year in the gardens is more than enough. In the spring, in April, the frame with foliage can be removed, and when a stable positive temperature is established, the spunbond is also removed.

    Hydrangea in winter

    Whether or not to cover your hydrangeas for the winter is up to you. We offer shelter options in the event of a harsh, and most importantly, snowless winter. If there are no severe frosts in your area, then the shelter may be symbolic, and if your hydrangea also belongs to winter-hardy species, then it may not need to be protected from frost. But if the hydrangea in your garden is not a cold-resistant species, and winters in your area are unpredictable, use our tips in the fall to sleep peacefully in the winter, see how the hydrangea awakens to life in the spring, and admire its incomparable, beautiful flowering in the summer. .

    Types and varieties

    Before planting hydrangeas in your garden, you need to know which type is right for you, because each of them has its own requirements in agricultural technology. Growing panicled hydrangea, for example, differs in some important ways (pruning, preparing for winter) from growing tree or large-leaved hydrangea, so the more you know about the species, the easier it will be for you to care for any of them. So...

    Hydrangea arborescens

    A species widespread in the gardens of our climatic zone. Tree hydrangea is a shrub that reaches a height of one to three meters. Inflorescences are formed at the ends of annual shoots, at the beginning of flowering the flowers have a greenish tint, but when they bloom, they become white or cream.

    Popular garden forms are Invisible Spirit - pink hydrangea, Sterilis - white hydrangea, characterized by abundant flowering, Annabelle hydrangea and Grandiflora hydrangea with large snow-white inflorescences (just do not confuse this variety of tree hydrangea with the paniculate hydrangea variety of the same name).

    Hydrangea paniculata

    In nature, it grows as a shrub or tree from two to five meters high. In garden culture, it is one of the most sought-after species. In one place paniculate hydrangea can grow for more than forty years. Its shoots become woody quickly, which makes this species resistant to cold. Inflorescences are formed on the tops of the shoots of the current year, so the flowering is very plentiful, although the buds that appear already at the end of June open only by August or September. Hydrangea inflorescences are paniculate pyramidal in shape, the flowers at the very beginning of flowering have a greenish tint, then turn white, become pink in the fall, then brick, and at the end of flowering again become greenish.

    The most famous garden forms: Grandiflora, Hydrangea Vanilla Fraze, Kuishu, Tardiva.

    Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)

    Called the garden hydrangea, it is most often grown in the garden, but there are compact varieties that can be grown in containers on terraces and even indoors. This species has dense foliage of bright green color, the shoots of the current year are herbaceous, so the plant has a very low cold resistance. However, the buds for the shoots of the current year, at the ends of which the inflorescences bloom, are laid the previous autumn, so it is believed that the large-leaved hydrangea blooms on last year's shoots. The shape of the inflorescences is usually umbellate, viburnum, which is commonly called Japanese, or hemispherical. The color of the flowers depends on the pH level of the soil.

    Interesting, for example, such varieties from recently bred cold-resistant ones: Endless summer - blue hydrangea if it grows on acidic soil, and lilac if it grows on neutral soil; Renata Steinger - blue hydrangea; variety forms with double flowers Romance and Expression.

    Hydrangea quercifolia (Hydrangea quercifolia)

    A very attractive look, but, unfortunately, not winter-hardy at all, therefore, it requires thorough warming for the winter. It impresses not only with lush flowering, but also with leaves of a beautiful shape unusual for hydrangeas. Oakleaf hydrangea grows up to two meters in height, has paniculate inflorescences 10-30 cm long with white flowers at the beginning of flowering, and eventually purple flowers that bloom in June-July.

    Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)

    Or mixed pubescent hydrangea is a frost-resistant species that reaches 2-3 meters in nature. In culture, it is often used to form a standard form. Dark green leaves 20 cm long have a smooth surface and a woolly, pubescent underside, the inflorescences are loose, corymbose, white at first, but turning pink towards the end of flowering. Blooms in late June or early July. Especially popular is Bretschneider's ground cover hydrangea, which blooms profusely with large milky-white inflorescences.

    In addition to these most popular types of hydrangeas, gardeners are also interested in radiant hydrangea, ashen hydrangea, rough hydrangea, serrate hydrangea, Sargent hydrangea, and the climbing hydrangea petiolate, which (you remember) is only conditionally a hydrangea.

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