Tree hydrangea Hydrangea arborescens, also known as a bush, is a shrub that grows naturally in eastern and southeastern North America. It was brought to Poland in 1820 to the Botanical Garden in Warsaw.This hydrangea in natural stands creates shrubs growing from 1 to 3 m.In Poland it grows from 1 to 1.5 m, depending on variety.
Tree hydrangea has very attractive, spherical, usually white inflorescences. Recently, breeders obtained pink varieties through selection. Inflorescences usually consist of two types of flowers: inconspicuous and not very ornamental, fertile, on which the seeds are formed, and sterile ones without pistils and stamens. The latter are much larger and very ornamental thanks to the large sepals resembling petals.
Tree hydrangea without secrets
The leaves of hydrangeas are seasonal, egg-shaped or elliptical in shape, with a serrated edge, from glabrous to covered with fine felted hairs. The hair coverage of the underside of the leaves depends on the botanical subspecies. The leaves of the subspecies radiata are covered with the densest gray cutter.
Tree hydrangea has flowers gathered in semicircular creamy white inflorescences. It blooms on annuals that sprout from spring in the flowering year. The shoots end with a flower bud that begins to develop from June to the end of September.Later it turns green, and with time (in autumn and winter) it dries up.
Recently, this species has been very popular among growers, who have received several beautiful, new, valuable varieties for their gardens.The oldest is 'Grandiflora' with large, creamy-white, 20 cm diameter inflorescences, later turning green.During flowering, the inflorescences are similar to the viburnum 'Roseum' variety.
Another old variety is 'Annabelle' with large creamy-white inflorescences with a diameter of 30-40 cm, made of barren flowers, turning green in autumn. 'Bounty' stands out in particular, with leaves covered with gray hairs on the underside and with compact, dense, rounded, white inflorescences built with a predominance of sterile flowers.
Equally interesting is 'White Dome' with white flowers gathered in flat inflorescences made of fertile flowers and single barren inflorescences, with characteristic leaves covered with white-gray hairs on the underside.Especially attractive is the 'Abetwo' variety with very large rounded inflorescences mounted on stiff upright shoots.
Among the varieties with pink flowers it is worth recommending 'Pinc Pin Cushion', which creates numerous pink inflorescences. With its original beauty, 'Spirit' also delights with pink inflorescences with a diameter of 15 cm, creating shrubs that can grow up to 1 m.
Requirements and care
Tree hydrangea requires fertile, humus and moderately moist soil with a slightly acidic to neutral reaction. It grows badly in heavy, cold and waterlogged soil, then the shrubs start growing late and bloom poorly.Before planting, the well should be well covered with good compost.
The shrubs should be planted in quiet places with sun exposure or in partial shade.All hydrangeas require watering during drought because they are sensitive to the lack of water in the soil.The surface of the soil is good to mulch with bark or wood chips. During the first two winters, young bushes require protection of the root system, preferably by mounding.
In the garden, they look very attractive when planted in large groups or under the canopy of trees giving partial shade, as well as in open spaces. They blend in nicely with colorful funk, Arends tawułki and ornamental grasses, such as miscanthus.
Cutting tree hydrangea
At the end of March / beginning of April, we can start pruning the shrubs, because the tree hydrangea blooms on this year's shoots (i.e. those produced in the flowering year).Trim young bushes over 4-5 buds.From the buds remaining on the bushes, shoots will be formed, which will end with nice inflorescences.
Older shrubs should be rejuvenated by cutting out the oldest shoots 10 cm high each year. Cover the cutting wounds with Santarem or Funaben. After cutting the plants, we feed the plants with compound fertilizer, such as Azofoska, Yara Milla, at a dose of about 10-20 g per plant.
