C U L T U R A L N O T E S
Nearly all hydrangea species originated in Japan & China with two varieties appearing naturally in the U.S. landscape. H. arborescens can be found in the Appalachian area & H. quercifolia is abundant in the Piedmont region of the Eastern U.S. At Twombly Nursery, we are big fans of the beauty and landscape value of Hydrangeas. We carry a large array of species and cultivars. They can be used effectively in mass or in the hot trend of combining them extensively with perennials. They grow best in a site that provides afternoon shade-flowers will last longer and foliage will not wilt.
Hydrangeas are long lived plants and respond well to early spring pruning by removing darker, older canes (about 1/3rd on a 4yr plant). Remove winter interest, dried flower heads, as the buds begin to swell in spring and mulch to provide nutrients and to cool surface roots. Hydrangeas and Lilacs tend to bloom heavily every other year. Extended periods of non-performance could be due to over fertilizing-with too much nitrogen pushing new foliage growth at the expense of flower production, winter damage to buds, improper pruning or drastic site misplacement.
Colors in hydrangeas vary greatly and are dependent upon the pH value of your soil. For the deepest, most intense blues, soil pH should be between 4.5 to 5.0. as the soil pH becomes more neutral (6.0 to 7.0) colors will be dull. For pinks and reds to be strong, pH needs to be 7.5 to 8.5. To decrease the pH for better blues add aluminum sulfate as a soil drench twice a year. For more intense pinks and reds add lime to raise the pH, also at the rate of twice per year. Good luck, and enjoy the beauty of these summer performers.
| NAME |
HABIT |
FLOWER COLOR |
HIGHLIGHTS |
| arborescens 'Annabelle' |
low mounding |
pure white |
best in class |
| macrophylla 'All Summer Beauty' |
small |
rich blue |
prolific bloomer |
| m. 'Alpenghuhen' |
rounded/twiggy |
blue-purple |
very showy |
| m. 'Blue Billow' |
5'x4' |
long staying blue to pink |
finest Winterthur lacecap |
| m. ' Blue Wave' |
vigorous to 6' |
rich blue |
very hardy |
| m. 'Coerulea' |
rounded |
large flat heads of clear blue |
good seaside plant |
| m. 'Compacta' |
rounded |
similar to 'Nikko Blue' |
dark green foliage |
| m. 'Endless Summer' |
rounded |
rich blues and pinks |
the name says it all |
| m. 'Fasan' |
4' high |
soft pink in ph 7.0 |
layered with enormous flowers |
| m. 'Forever Pink' |
dwarf 2'-3' |
clear 4" pink heads |
early flowering in June |
| m. 'Glowing Embers' |
large |
purple to blue to pink |
striking |
| m. 'Gertrude Glahn' |
vigorous |
pink to purple |
tinged petals, strong stems, large flowers |
| m. 'Mariessi' |
4'-5' high |
heavy flowering with white floret & blue fertile flowers |
cupped shaped leaves |
| m. 'Variegata' |
4' high |
blue lacecap |
leaves edged in creamy white |
| m. 'Nigra' |
vigorous |
dusty rose |
free flowering with black stems |
| m. 'Nikko Blue' |
large |
true blue |
large & late blooming |
| m. 'Pia' |
dwarf to 2' |
pinks |
mixes well with perennials |
| m. 'Pink Beauty' |
3'x3' |
large pink |
burgundy cast to the leaves |
| m. 'Pink Elf' |
dwarf to 1' high |
4" pink flowers |
good in the perennial bed |
| m. 'Teller White' |
medium |
6" blue flowers surround white florets |
charming lacecape |
| m. 'Tokyo Delight' |
3'x3' |
cobalt blue & white |
exciting lacecap |
| paniculata 'Grandiflora' |
small tree |
huge white panicles |
late summer blooming maturing to pink |
| p. 'Kyushu' |
upright |
white |
blooms early July onward |
| p. 'Limelight' |
6-8' |
chartreuse |
floriferous and unique color |
| p. 'Little Lamb' |
dwarf paniculata |
white fading to pink |
small habit with plentiful blooms |
| p. 'Pink Diamond' |
large |
cream white fading to dark pink |
large flower heads |
| p. 'Tardiva' |
6' to 8' |
delicate clean white |
blooms very late into September |
| p. 'The Swan' |
6-8' |
bright white |
showier with larger flower panicles |
| quercifolia |
large |
cone shaped white flowers |
wine-purple oakleaf fall foliage |
| q. 'Snowflake' |
large |
double flowered oakleaf |
most beautiful |
| serrata 'Bluebird' |
stout shrub to 3' |
pale blue to pink |
long blooming |
| s. 'Preziosa' |
4' high |
rosy-pink mophead |
hardy, free flowering with purple tinged foliage |
