As legion of an organic - horticulture radio show in Pittsburgh , Pa. , for the past 10 years , the No . 1 hearer question each and every yr is , “ Why do n’t my hydrangea bloom ? ” I ’m imagine my listeners are n’t the only gardeners who ponder their hydrangea ’ blooming use , I thought I ’d address it here .
In our domain , many folks grow the swob - headed or vauntingly - entrust hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla ) , and this particular coinage is notoriously bad-tempered . Yes , their gigantic pink or low-spirited flowers are gorgeous , but they do n’t always perform as we ’d like them to . Some age they flower fantastically , while other years there ’s nary a rosiness in mass . Because the heyday buds ofH. macrophyllaare form on the old class ’s growth , they often freeze out over the winter , or folks accidentally prune the buds off when removing those “ ugly dead sticks ” before they have a chance to sprout .
There ’s never a guarantee withH. macrophylla . It ’s hardy down to USDA zona 6 , but the past few wintertime have dipped down to 20 below zero here in Pennsylvania . However , some of the fresh cultivar are hardy to zone 4 and have been multiply to bloom on both sometime and new wood to increase your luck of success — dear news for hydrangea - lovers for certain , but still not a guarantee in my part of the country .
If you need insure blooms from your hydrangea and you experience northward of zone 6 , it ’s good to sour to a few other spectacular specie of this flora . These selections are far less busy thanH. macrophyllaand require very little in term of pruning and maintenance . I originate all of them at my house and relish beautiful blossom each and every season without fail .
Oakleaf Hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia )
This is my manpower - down favourite hydrangea . It ’s a North American native that has oak tree - leaf - like leafage that turns a smart as a whip deep red in the fall . It ’s peeling , papery barque is an middle - get wintertime bonus . At adulthood , it can reach up to 8 feet marvellous , though there are some cultivars with far shorter stature . The creamy white-hot conoid of blossom turn pink as the time of year get along . It can handle full sun to part shade .
Panicle HydrangeaHydrangea paniculata )
In mid - summertime you ’ll see beautiful , enceinte panicles of flowers on this hydrangea coinage . The straight case bears blanched flowers , but there are cultivars in various shades of pink and green , as well . It ’s a non - native species that is hardy down to zone 3 and can care full sun to part shade . I love that this hydrangea can be turn as a bush or as a minuscule tree with the proper pruning . extend to up to 15 feet tall , it blooms on new wood so there ’s no need to interest about the bud suspend out . Grandiflora is my personal favourite variety .
Smooth Hydrangea ( Hydrangea arborescens )
This is a patsy - proof bloomer if there ever was one ! It ’s a North American indigen that is stout down to zone 4 , and it prefers full to partial tad . The flowers ofH. arborescensare snowball form and can be quite magnanimous , reckon on the cultivar . My favorite is Annabelle ( picture here ) , though some new pink varieties are starting to slip Annabelle ’s skag , include the just gorgeous Invincibelle Spirit .
Find more of Jessica ’s garden suggestions on HobbyFarms.com :
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