Thursday, January 28, 2010

Deciduous Shrub Of The Day


Hydrangea macrophylla syn. Hydrangea hortensis; Hydrangea opuloides 'La France'
Bigleaf Hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea

Type Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range 5B to 9A
Height 4' to 6' / 1.20m to 1.80m
Spread 6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded
Exposure Full shade to partial sun
Persistence Deciduous

Bloom Color Blue, lavender and purple
Bloom Time Spring and Summer

The flowers are very showy.

Environment
This plant tolerates some drought, occasional wetness and some salt.
This plant will grow in dry to occasionally wet soil.
Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay.
The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.

Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color

Culture Notes
Since the deciduous Bigleaf Hydrangea blooms on large buds formed on previous season's growth, any pruning should be done immediately after flowering. Cultivars are available in shades or pink, white and blue. Long popular as a florist's plant, Bigleaf Hydrangea performs well in moist, rich garden soil in partial sun to fairly deep shade, where it can grow 4 to 8 feet tall. Be sure that tree roots are not competing with the roots, since this will slow growth dramatically. Flowers are bluish in acid soil, pink in neutral.
Colors indicated for blue cultivars are for acid soil conditions; they appear pink or lavender in neutral or alkaline soil.


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Please feel free to comment on any post at any time all feedback is welcome and we’d love to hear it.