My Blooming Hydrangeas

August 1, 2017

I love hydrangeas and have been collecting them for quite a long time. Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants, grown for their large flower heads, which are excellent in cut arrangements and for drying.

At my Bedford, New York farm, the hydrangea border is located across from my vegetable garden and chicken coops. Some of you may recall - I expanded this area a few years ago when I transplanted a collection of mature mophead hydrangeas from my Lily Pond home in East Hampton. This season, the plants are flourishing and the unimaginably large blue, pink, purple and white blooms are looking so beautiful in the sunlight.

Enjoy these photos.

: I started planting hydrangea shrubs many years ago in this border garden not far from my Maple Avenue house and Japanese maple grove.

: When I redesigned my East Hampton gardens, I transferred about 30-plants to this location at the farm.

: Hydrangea is a genus of at least 70-species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and the Americas. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea.

: The name hydrangea originates from two Greek words – “hydro” meaning “water” and “angeion” meaning “vessel” or “container.” Together, the rough translation is “water vessel” which refers to their exceptional thirst for water.

: Most hydrangeas are shrubs, but some are small trees. They can be either deciduous or evergreen, though the widely cultivated temperate species are all deciduous.

: Hydrangeas are long-lived, and extremely vigorous specimens that offer lavish and varied blooms. The most common garden hydrangea shrub is the Bigleaf mophead variety, Hydrangea macrophylla.

: In addition to the mopheads, there are also hydrangeas that bloom in lovely lacecaps.

: The lacecap is very similar to the mophead, but instead of growing round clusters of showy blossoms, this hydrangea grows flowers that resemble flat caps with frilly edges.

: The secret to its color is in the soil, or more specifically, the soil’s pH level. Adjusting the measure of acidity or alkalinity in the soil can influence the color of the hydrangea blossoms. Acidic soils tend to deepen blue shades, while alkaline environments tend to brighten pinks.

: Blue, pink and purple are the most common colors seen in mophead varieties.

: Hydrangeas produce a glorious show from mid-summer until fall.

: I love these mostly white hydrangeas. The blooms resemble large snowballs – these with a hint of pink.

: These mopeds are a light shade of blue – so pretty.

: For the first year or two after planting and during any drought, be sure hydrangeas get plenty of water. The leaves will wilt if the soil is too dry.

: In general, mophead and lacecap leaves are relatively thick and crisp, shiny, and often heart-shaped. They range in size from four to six inches long by three to five inches wide.

: Hydrangea blooms are so striking against their bold green leaves.

: Hydrangea shrubs will tolerate partial shade but prefer full sun.

: Here is a light pink hydrangea bloom.

: Flower buds actually form in the late summer and flower afterwards the following season, so avoid pruning after August 1st – only cut away dead wood in the fall or very early spring.

: If it’s August or later, the plant is likely growing new buds along the stems in preparation for the following year.

: While hydrangeas produce spectacular flowers, they rarely, if ever, produce seeds, which means propagating hydrangeas is typically done from cuttings. Take a look at my blog on propagating hydrangeas from cuttings. http://www.themarthablog.com/2012/09/propagating-hydrangeas-from-cuttings.html

: A good all purpose 12-4-8 to 10-10-10 composition will provide all the fertilizing hydrangeas need – just apply a slow release formula once a year for trees and shrubs.