Growing Hydrangea

Growing Hydrangea macrophylla – the Bigleaf Hydrangea

This is the plant that most gardeners want to grow because it has so many different kinds of flower colors (including blue).

This plant usually grows to 6 feet tall but older specimens have reached 10 feet. As a rule of thumb, you’ll find the spread of the shrub is as wide as it is tall.


Hardiness

It grows into USDA zone 6 and flowers there with few problems. In colder areas, it is usually bud-killed (although the leaves grow nicely). Zone 5 is the hit-and-miss zone where sometimes it will and sometimes it won’t.

The plant is divided into two flowering forms. The lacecapsthat have a center of fertile and non-showy flowers and an outer ring of beautiful flowers (sterile). This gives the flower a pinwheel effect. The second class is the hortensia These are sterile flowers on huge corymbs (big balls) that come in a wide variety of sizes and colours. This is the Hydrangea that most folks think of when they want to grow the plant.


Questions About Growing Hydrangea

Q: I've been growing hydrangea for years and my plant never blooms? A: This is likely because the buds are being winterkilled in cold climates.

Q: My neighbor’s does but mine doesn’t. A: Likely because it is in a slightly warmer location out of the wind or protected a little bit. Or your neighbor has a 'Forever & Ever' plant.

Q; I want a blue one! Most of these plants will take on a “blue” tone if planted in acidic soils. They assume a pinkish colour when planted in alkaline soils.

Q: So how do I get acid soils. A: Dig a bushel basket sized hole and mix the soil 50:50 with peat moss. Sprinkle sulphur around the plant every spring (just a bit) to keep the soil acid.



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Good to know Oceanna. I have tried the lacecap variety but my location isn't protected so that could have caused it's demise.