The pink and blue flower balls of the Hydrangea macrophylla garden hydrangea have already appeared in our summer gardens some time ago.Little known are very nice relatives of this popular plant.It is worth paying attention to the lush white flowers of shrub (tree) hydrangeas H. arborescens 'Annabelle' and bouquet (paniculate) H. paniculata 'Grandiflora', which develop from July to September.
The oak-leaved hydrangea H. quercifolia is also decorated with white panicles in summer. They are a bit more modest, but they smell slightly and turn red when they fade.The shrub is also distinguished by decorative leaves, which in autumn take on various shades of red and orange.And when the leaves fall, they still remain attractive on the shoots, although dried inflorescences.This species is not fully resistant to frost.
The dreams of blue or pink flowers will be fulfilled by Hydrangea serrata. Its flat inflorescences look spectacular and more natural than the flowers of the garden hydrangea. For this reason, the saw hydrangea can be combined in beautiful arrangements with other flower shrubs and perennials, without fear that it will dominate the entire group.
Similarly interesting compositions with other ornamental shrubs are created by the hairy hydrangea H. aspera (sensitive to frost, similar to the garden hydrangea). At the discount, it can be accompanied, among others, by rhododendrons, azaleas, viburnum, bulldog and laurel trees.When these shrubs fade, flat umbrella umbels of pink, red or blue hydrangea inflorescences emerge.
In the group of hydrangeas of great decorative value, there is also a climbing form. If we provide support to the shoots of the climbing hydrangea H. petiolaris (it may be a house wall, pergola posts or a tree trunk), the plant can climb even to a height of 10 m. against the rough surface of a wall or tree bark.The shoots of the freshly planted hydrangea should be attached to the support.The unsupported hydrangea does not produce sticky roots, it has a bushy habit and is only 1.5 m tall, but it grows in width, covering a large area of the ground.
The externally different hydrangeas have one thing in common: they like a slightly acidic substrate, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.0.Since such soil is rare in gardens, when planting a shrub, the hole should be filled with a mixture of native soil and soil for rhododendrons.
Hydrangeas like a constantly and evenly moist substrate. They need more water if they grow in more sunlit places. In the spring, we can prune the shoots of the 'Annabelle' and bouquet hydrangeas very strongly.These species bloom on this year's shoots.Thanks to this cutting, the hydrangea inflorescences will be larger. The bouquet hydrangea can be kept in the form of a tree.
Other hydrangeas only need a spring pruning. We only remove dried inflorescences and disturbing or diseased shoots.
