Lacecaps and Mopheads

If you have a partial sun garden and no deer, or a well secured deer fence, you might be tempted to fill it with hydrangea. The big leaf hydrangea or Hydrangea macrophylla can be magnificent in June, maybe even better in July, when they age and soften. The petals, technically sepals, are simple but when collectively arranged in large ovals or puff balls each flower becomes something much more than simple.  These are the mophead types. 

The woody stems look horrible in winter, one of a few downsides; they must be left uncut and/or undamaged since flowers arrive from these as growth begins in spring. If winter has been too cold for that variety and stems freeze to the ground, it will not flower. There are many that don't, no matter how you place them. If we have a ridiculously mild winter, these tender types can produce a few flowers but this happens rarely, too infrequently to provide them space in your garden. The biggest culprits of all foliage and no flowers are the seasonal hydrangeas, sold at Easter or Mother's Day, forced into bloom and looking too good to be true. Just a bit tender for zone 7A.

 Fortunately there are some glorious varieties that are more dependable. Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' will occasionally flower even if stems freeze to the ground. Hybridized to (also) flower on new growth, it's still hesitant to do that reliably but a much better variety for hardiness and stamina. 

There are also hydrangeas that have floral heads that have both male and female flower. The flower center holds the small fertile flowers with larger, infertile flowers on the perimeter. These are the lacecap hydrangeas, an appropriate name and the variety I prefer. The care is no different, winter die back can result in nothing more than a leafy shrub. There have been some real advancements in hybridization, the variety H. 'Twist-N-Shout' is another option for potential flowers on new growth, albeit I think more reliable than H. 'Endless Summer'. A large plant of 'Twist-N-Shout' will invariably have all who see it asking its name.

 Breaking it down even further is Hydrangea macrophylla ssp. serrata. Commonly known as the mountain hydrangea, almost all look like lacecaps, slightly smaller in foliage and flower, but much hardier. I can recommend H. 'Blue Billow' and H. 'Tokyo Delight', having grown them for 15 years or more. Outstanding in their hardiness and bloom. 

Soil chemistry will make a difference in bloom color; very acidic soil will render them blue, sweeter soil - pink. I have seen some so blue that it seemed unnatural, at least to my eyes. But it's something you can experiment with; I much prefer the softer, natural shades and have never altered the pH to change their color.

In truth the big leaf hydrangea are worthy of an entire backyard. They are a bit (very) ugly in winter so may not deserve a place of pride in the front yard, but they flower for months, don't need staked, and rarely have insect or fungal problems. Just don't waste space and time on those that don't flower year after year

Comments

[DLH]

Exquisite, as always.
DLH