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If there's one shrub that shouts, "It's Summer!" it's the hydrangea. With its big showy blossoms in shades of white, pink or blue, hydrangeas are hard to beat in any garden. And they're bursting into flower right now.
Hydrangeas come in several varieties and most are hardy in our area. The most popular are the big leaf varieties (Hydrangea macrophylla) known as mopheads, with large round blossoms that can grow up to 10 inches in diameter. Lacecap hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla normalis) have an outer layer of showy flowers surrounding an inner core of lacey flowers. Oakleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) are native to the United States and have white cone-shaped flowers. If you have dry, sandy soil, the Oakleaf is your best choice, as it will grow anywhere.
If you're thinking of planting a hydrangea, visit your garden center to see the different varieties. One thing to remember is that the color of hydrangeas can vary depending on the pH level in your soil. Your local nursery sells soil additives that can help change your flowers from blue to pink, and vice versa.
If you're not sure where to put a hydrangea, the answer is simple: plant them anywhere. They tolerate full sun as well as shade. You can tuck one in among the azaleas or create a hydrangea hedge. And if you just can't squeeze one more plant into a flowerbed, why not plant one in a large pot on your patio?
Know of any gardens with spectacular hydrangeas? Can you please send me a photo? fpearson@mainstreetconnect.us.
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