TIP OF THE MONTH

June 2008 
 

Hydrangeas in Bloom

June in North Carolina means gardens in dotted with white, pink, blue or purple Hydrangea blossoms.

The most common type of hydrangea is Hydrangea macrophylla, or French Hydrangea.  The French Hydrangea is easy to grow in rich, well drained soil and has a large, mounding habit that can reach up to four feet in one year.

The Oak Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) has bold white flowers and performs well when used as an under-story plant, receiving filtered light.  Not only an eye catcher when in flower, H. quercifolia has large oak-shaped leaves that turn deep red in the fall and drop to expose lovely exfoliating bark.

Hydrangea paniculata is another attractive genus that tolerates more sun than most other Hydrangea selections.  H. paniculata or PeeGee Hydrangea has light green to white blooms that form cone shaped clusters in mid summer.

Adusting soil pH is an important factor in controlling bloom color on Hydrangeas.  White blooming varieties will most always be white, while blue or pink blooms can be controlled by pH.  Agricultural lime can be added in the fall for deeper pinks or aluminum sulfate can be used for darker blues to purple.
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