Everyone, meet the Hydrangea.
This type of plant enjoys the great outdoors, being in the sun, and loves to bloom in a multitude of colours depending on its mood. Okay we lied about that last part, but they really do come in a variety of beautiful colours that you can easily coordinate with your home. Not only are these plants big and bountiful, they are also easy to take care of — if you know what to do. Luckily, Frankie Flowers is here to teach us all about the different types of hydrangeas out there and how to care for them.
The hydrangea can bloom on what’s called “new wood” or “old wood.” Old wood refers to the stems that have been on the plant since the summer before the season they are currently blooming in. New wood refers to the stems that have just developed on the plants during the current season they are in.
Now let’s get into the most popular types of hydrangeas:
Hydrangea macrophyllia can grow to be very large and round-shaped. They rarely need to be pruned — the only exception is when there is dead wood on the plant. A mistake most people make is that they prune them too soon. What you may not know is that your plant is already in the works of creating buds for next season. If you prune them too soon, nothing will grow the following season. It is also important to note that in most parts of the country, with the exception of the far east and west, the plant will only produce foliage.
For the northern climates, the Annabelle is best. These beauties bloom on new wood in a soft ivory shade. This means that even if you prune them to the ground, they will regrow for next season. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, you are right. There’s only one issue: their heads can become so large that they will start to bend down from the weight. This can be avoided by tying them stems together, or making sure the stems are nice and durable when you are buying them.
The Paniculata comes in a cone-shaped bloom that grows on new wood. This is by far the easiest one to maintain and a favourite among home owners for its simplicity. It will grow to be quite high and is usually used as the centrepiece of a garden for its beauty.
Limelights come in a stunning chartreuse green and bloom on new wood. These are a bit shorter than the others, usually growing as high as 3 ft in height. These guys are low enough to the ground that when winter hits, the snow can rest nicely on top without bending the stems. The limelights can also be substituted as a border or even a hedge.
So, when do we buy our hydrangeas? Always remember that spring and fall are the most ideal planting seasons. However, if they are container-grown, you are able to plant them at any time because their roots are raring to go.
For more of Frankie’s hydrangea advice, check out the video below:
Courtesy Frank Ferragine