Need some assistance getting your own hydrangeas to bloom more successfully? Hydrangea cultivation doesn’t have to be difficult. The most frequent questions about cultivating these garden favorites have answers here. In the Q&A below, we’ll explain how to take care of hydrangeas, how to encourage them to bloom, and where to plant them.
As seen: Depending on the pH of the soil, many H. macrophylla cultivars can produce blooms ranging in color from pink to deep blue (even on the same plant).
Often my hydrangeas just don’t bloom. Am I doing something wrong?
Look closely at where they are situated. In general, hydrangeas prefer some shade and require some sunlight. To block sunlight, nurseries in the South grow plants in pine or shade buildings. According to horticulture Michael Dirr, “for most hydrangeas, the farther north they are, the more sun they can endure.” “They can get by with just three hours of daylight down in the South.” While hydrangeas can thrive in full sun in the North as long as they receive sufficient of water and aren’t exposed to dry winter winds, they should be planted in the South in areas with morning light and afternoon shade.
Sun and temperature both pose problems, especially for mopheads who are prone to drooping from heat exhaustion. They flourish in the salty air and like a seaside environment where breezes alleviate the heat. Try another traditional favorite, the peegee hydrangea (H. paniculata ‘Grandiflora’), which can survive full sun exposure and high temperatures. On the other hand, if your yard receives insufficient sunlight, consider planting oakleaf hydrangea, which enjoys some shadow.
A late spring or early fall cold snap can also have an impact on bloom; bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) are particularly susceptible because they flower on the growth from the previous year. Consider smooth hydrangea, which is native from New York to Florida and as far west as Arkansas, and peegee hydrangea, which is also the most drought tolerant, if unpredictable frosts are a concern where you live. H. arborescens is recognized as a reliable blooming in cold areas and is a well-liked native.
Which side of the house does hydrangea growth best?
No matter where in the nation you reside, the north side of your house receives little natural light. That aspect makes picking the correct plants for a landscaping project in a north side garden more challenging, as does exposure to north winds. Fortunately, there are numerous plant species that will not only flourish in these environments but also add beauty and value to your home.
Where should hydrangeas not be planted?
growing circumstances The best place to grow hydrangeas is where they will receive morning light and afternoon shade because they require well-draining soil. Both full sun and deep, consistent shadow are unsuitable for hydrangeas. Choose a location where your hydrangeas will receive at least three to four hours of direct sunlight each day.
Are hydrangeas capable of growing in Southern Exposure?
Because they bloom for six months out of the year and are reasonably simple to grow in containers, inside, or outdoors, hydrangeas are almost the ideal plant.
They are reasonably priced and available at practically all local nurseries as well as food stores like Trader Joe’s.
The flowers may be quite spectacular even when they are not in bloom due to their rich green foliage.
Where to Plant Hydrangeas
Location is important since too much sun might cause a plant to struggle and produce feeble blooms. The majority of hydrangeas prefer early sun, though they may tolerate more sun the closer you are to the Southern California coast. Even in San Diego, inland homes benefit most from being located in a north- or east-facing location to shield them from excessive sunshine. The blossoms of hydrangeas will struggle in deep shadow, and isn’t that the point?
In pots, hydrangeas can also flourish, but you’ll need to take extra precautions to prevent water from draining away. Put your finger into the pot about two inches down as a general rule of thumb. If the soil is dry, more water should be added. The soil should be damp but not soggy. Twice during the growing season, fertilize them.
Caring for Hydrangeas
It should come as no surprise that these lovely plants adore water as the name “hydrangea” is derived from the Greek word “hydro, meaning water. Water is the essential to keeping these plants blossoming happily, so make sure there is appropriate irrigation where you put them. Avoid overwatering and keep the ground cool by using mulch.
Another thing to be careful with is pruning. Like many other flowers, deadheading (removing dead flowers) hydrangeas encourages the growth of additional blooms. Simply remove dead branches and blooms when pruning, as cutting off only old wood may also remove bulbs intended to bloom in the upcoming season. For for this reason, some advise against pruning hydrangeas at all in the fall, winter, or spring. If you have a new plant that is little and possibly unfamiliar to your gardener, they may yank it out believing it is dead because hydrangeas are actually deciduous and lose their leaves in the winter (been there). With the exception of one kind known as oak leaf hydrangea, which has leaves that resemble the colors of the fall, they will appear somewhat sickly.
Consider growing hydrangeas in pots and bringing them inside during periods of really cold weather if you happen to live somewhere where it snows (yep, it snows even in inland San Diego). Otherwise, make sure that mulch is used to protect the roots.
Mopheads or Lacecaps?
Mopheads and lacecaps are the two categories into which hydrangeas are typically divided. Typically, mophead hydrangeas have spherical clusters of beautiful blue, pink, or white flowers. Although certain mopheads in Southern California bloom sporadically all year long, the majority of them bloom in the late spring and summer. Mophead flowers have a maximum diameter of 14 inches!
The core of lacecaps (shown above), which have tiny flowers, appears to be flat and empty. Additionally, there are numerous species and variants among the two groupings. The colors of the leaves can also vary.
Changing Color of Hydrangeas
Although it’s quite simple to find either blue or pink mophead hydrangeas in Southern California, you can also enhance the color tones by changing pink to blue and blue to pink.
The pH of the soil is fairly easily adjusted to do this. But white mophead flowers don’t work with this method.
The amount of aluminum that is available to plants depends on the soil pH. Mophead hydrangea blossoms are blue in high aluminum soil, while pink flowers are produced by low aluminum soil (pH about 6). (pH below 6). On a single shrub, soil with a pH of 6-7 yields flowers that are often purple or a combination of blue and pink.
Sprinkle sulpher (often approximately 1/2 cup) over the garden soil at the base of the hydrangea to increase the acidity of the soil for blue hydrangeas and then water it in. Sprinkle around 1/2 of lime on the soil at the base of the hydrangeas and water it in for more basic soil that produces pink hydrangeas. Patience is essential because the procedure would need to be done several times over the course of several months to produce the desired effects.
Note that companion plants may be impacted by shifting soil pH; therefore, check with your local nursery or gardener to confirm whether anything close by may be impacted.
When to Cut Flowers
These lovely blossoms are grown in part to show them off in vases, but they frequently don’t endure for very long after being cut. Try these two preservation techniques to stop rapid wilting.
- A major grocery store’s spice aisle is where you may purchase alum. On a cool morning, trim the hydrangeas, and plunge the stems right into water. Dip the freshly cut stem in the alum powder as you trim the stems to the appropriate height. Place the stems in a water-filled vase. People claim that this works even when the alum washes off for whatever reason.
- Alternately, use the technique described above to immediately position the stems of hydrangeas after cutting them. Boiling water should be poured into a secure container once it has cooled for a short while. The hydrangea stems should be cut to the required length, and the ends should be submerged for about 30 seconds in boiling water. Next, put the flowers in a vase with room temperature water and arrange them wherever you like (immediately).
Other Hydrangea Tips
It is better to purchase hydrangeas when they are in bloom because sellers frequently label them incorrectly by accident. Additionally, because the color is so reliant on the pH of the soil, as was discussed before, the bloom you start with may not be the bloom you end up with.
It’s crucial to ask your neighborhood nursery which species of hydrangea will thrive in your yard. They can potentially grow to be up to 12 feet tall and wide!
Where to plant hydrangeas:
- A location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. They’ll take more sun if you reside further north (possibly full sun all day).
- Think about the mature size and give it lots of room to expand.
- Pick a location with great drainage. If necessary, add compost to the soil.
- Plants won’t thrive if they are planted too close to a tree because of root competition and a lack of sunshine.
- Planting should not be done in open locations where strong winds could snap stems.
How to plant hydrangeas:
- By amending your soil with up to 15% organic matter and an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer, you may give your plant a good start (use half of what is recommended).
- Plant a little higher than you did while you were in the nursery container.
- In order to give the roots plenty of freedom to expand, the planting hole should be two to three times broader than the root ball.
- Before planting, gently untie the roots from their pots.
- Add the modified dirt back in and thoroughly water it.
- Planting in groups requires a minimum distance of 3 feet (more, if planting larger varieties).
Planting hydrangeas in pots:
- Put potting soil in a bag rather than garden dirt.
- Slow-release fertilizer should be added.
- For watering, leave 1 to 2 inches between the soil’s top and the pot’s rim.
- Make sure the pot includes space for the plant to grow and drainage holes.
Can hydrangeas be grown close to the House?
You need to seek for areas where hydrangeas can flourish when deciding where to put them in your front-of-house landscaping. Hydrangeas like full sun if you reside in a northern region. In contrast, hydrangeas thrive in Southern climates where they like early full sun followed by afternoon shade or partial sun. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, the region should also have fertile, moisture-rich soil that drains properly.
Make sure there is enough room for the hydrangeas to spread and grow when selecting a spot. They can grow up to 15 feet tall and between 3 and 10 feet broad, depending on the kind. So you should watch out that a mature plant doesn’t take over your front-of-house landscaping.
The function of the plant is another factor to take into account when using hydrangeas into front yard landscaping. In front of a tall porch, do you want it to act as a natural screen? Will they serve as focal pieces on the porch steps or as flower bed bookends? They may serve as a kind of inorganic fence separating the front yard from the side yard or the backyard. Your choice of the finest location to plant your hydrangeas will be influenced by the purpose.
Can hydrangeas survive in the shade?
In dappled shade that is neither very sunny nor overly dark, wet, well-drained soil is excellent for hydrangeas. Avoid sites that face south, especially if the soil is quite dry. Grow the climbing hydrangea on a north-facing wall or in a highly shaded area. Hydrangea petiolaris subsp. anomala.
Which hydrangea thrives in shade the best?
Shade-Friendliest Hydrangeas
- Big leaf mophead hydrangeas are Hydrangea macrophylla.
- Hydrangea macrophylla normalis, also called lacecap hydrangeas.
- Hydrangea macrophylla ssp. Serrata, sometimes known as mountain hydrangeas.
- Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris, a climbing shrub.
Does hydrangea like shade or the sun?
With the ideal balance of morning sun and afternoon shade, hydrangeas flourish. Even the sun-loving Hydrangea paniculata will thrive in some shade. Some hydrangea cultivars may survive complete shadow, though.
The oakleaf hydrangea, also known as hydrangea quercifolia, is a substantial species of hydrangea that may reach heights of up to eight feet. In a shade garden, this big bush makes a beautiful backdrop. The height will provide excellent midsummer seclusion. Oakleaf hydrangeas are summer bloomers with mostly white blooms, elegant oakleaf-shaped leaves, and lovely peeling bark.
Hydrangea anomala ssp. petiolaris is another choice for full shade. This climbing species, which has lacy, white blossoms in the summer, can reach a height of 50 feet if it is given adequate support. The foliage is a rich shade of green and would look wonderful growing up a tree trunk or covering the face of a building. It would also look lovely covering the roof of a garden shed.
Full shade cultivars require the same upkeep as partial shade. In the deeper shade, it will be especially crucial to keep the plants free of leaf litter and with excellent airflow. Water your plant once a week after it has become established. Keep a watch on the leaves, and if you notice any drooping, especially during the hot summer months, water them right away. The importance of this increases in hotter regions.
These leaves’ unique shape would be a lovely complement to Hosta leaves. The white blossoms would contrast nicely with the lighter hues of your shady blooms and provide some brilliant brightness to your shaded locations.
Shade Varieties
There are a few different hydrangea cultivars that thrive in the shade. Some types can even thrive in zones 3 (which doesn’t warm up until later in the spring), which is one of the coldest growing regions. Let’s examine some of the best shade selections!
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow queen’
The movie “Snow queen” is stunning. The flowers are stunning, as they are with all hydrangeas. These rose blush-colored blossoms appear in the middle of summer. The foliage of this plant is my favorite component. The leaves begin the season in a very deep green, gradually changing to a deep reddish bronze color, and finally finishing in that shade, offering a stunning splash of color to your fall landscape.
Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Alice’
With a height ranging between 12 and 15 feet, this Oakleaf Hydrangea is one among the biggest. In the summer, this plant blooms with incredibly deep cream-colored flowers. A woodland garden would be a truly lovely place for “Alice.” This cultivar would look especially beautiful if it were grown as a bordering hedge.
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
‘Annabelle’ enjoys partial shade and has some of the largest flowers in the hydrangea family (12 inches wide!). These enormous blossoms can be supported all season long by the sturdy stalks. This shrub can grow up to five feet tall and five feet broad, so give it plenty of area to expand. These enormous, all-white blossoms bloom for a long time.
In a mass planting, as a specimen shrub, or as a foundation planting, “Annabelle” would look lovely. These bushes should still be included in your cutting garden. Imagine a bunch of flowers that large! Wow!