Rare types of hydrangeas. Hydrangea sargent Southern regions of Russia

Hydrangea Sargent (lat. Hydrangea aspera sargentiana)- ornamental shrub; species of the genus Hydrangea of the Hortensia family. Homeland is China. Is different abundant flowering and large inflorescences that open at the end of summer. Widely used in ornamental gardening. Tall look.

Characteristics of culture

Hydrangea Sargent is a flowering deciduous shrub up to 4 m high with a vertical crown and a slightly branched, widely spread root system. The branches are thick, stiff, dark, reddish in color, covered with short fleshy villi. The leaves are dark green, large, opposite, oblong-ovate, serrated along the edge, pointed at the ends, pubescent with sparse whitish hairs from the inside, rough to the touch, sitting on long petioles, up to 27 cm long.

Sterile flowers are white, fruiting - pale lilac, collected in flat umbellate inflorescences up to 20 cm in diameter. Fruits are inconspicuous boxes. Hydrangea Sargent blooms in mid - late July, the fruits ripen in October. The fruits ripen extremely rarely, only in regions with a warm autumn. The considered species is propagated vegetatively, the seed method is difficult. Hydrangea Sargent is not winter-hardy enough, withstands frosts down to -23C. It needs shelter for the winter; without shelter, the above-ground part freezes heavily, but with the onset of stable heat, it quickly recovers.

Growing conditions

Hydrangea Sargent is an adherent of light, loamy, water and breathable, well-moistened, slightly acidic or acidic soils. Will not tolerate dry, infertile, compacted, heavy and clay soils. It is not forbidden to grow on alkaline soils with the condition of acidification. You can acidify the soil with needles, sawdust and tree bark, which can be collected in the nearest forest. The location is preferably semi-shaded, as for other members of the genus. It is not recommended to plant plants in open sunny areas, otherwise the leaves may get burned.

reproduction

As mentioned, most often Sargent's hydrangea is propagated vegetatively, namely by layering and cuttings. The first way is the simplest. Both methods give 100% results even without the use of growth stimulants. Cuttings are harvested from strong shoots cut off during spring pruning. Each cutting should contain 4-5 buds. Previously, the cuttings are treated with a weak solution of "Kornevin", such a procedure will speed up the process of rooting. Planting cuttings in a nutritious and moist substrate is carried out to a depth of two buds. Landings for the first time shade and systematically moisturize.

It is not forbidden to carry out summer cuttings, however, it rarely gives positive results. So, in the middle lane, summer cuttings are cut in the second decade of June (not earlier and not later). Cuttings are cut from healthy shoots located at the bottom of the bush. They should not have flower buds. The optimal length of the cutting is 7-10 cm. The lower leaves are removed from the cuttings, the heel along which the cut passed is powdered with the Kornevin growth stimulator. Then the cuttings are planted in the substrate for rooting and shaded. As a rule, summer cuttings take root in a month. But for this it is important to ensure regular watering and ventilation.

For the winter, young material is covered with spruce branches, the same operation is repeated from year to year, especially if Sargent's hydrangea is grown in regions with cold winters. Plants obtained by cuttings bloom for 2-3 years. The number of inflorescences formed depends on the age of the hydrangea. So, by the age of five, plants form about 30 inflorescences, by 10 years - about 200 or a little more. Reproduction of culture by layering is no less effective than cuttings. To do this, the lower shoots are laid in the grooves, pinned, covered with fertile soil, the upper tip is carefully pulled out and placed at an angle of 45 degrees. For successful and fast rooting of cuttings, it is important to ensure good and plentiful watering.

A heat-loving shrub with huge caps of inflorescences came to Europe from Japan in the 18th century. Long time the hydrangea remained a home plant, but both amateur gardeners and professional breeders of the Old World worked hard to bring this fragrant shrub into their gardens. By the end of the 19th century, the work was crowned with success, and fans of the plant received frost-resistant varieties that feel great in temperate climates.

Species and varieties

The hydrangea family has about 100 species. However, not all of them are suitable for planting in the summer cottage and in the garden of our climate zone. We found out which types and varieties of hydrangeas for the garden take root well and grow successfully in our latitudes. Let's dwell on the most popular plants among gardeners. These include: panicle hydrangea (White Moth, Floribunda, Unique varieties), tree hydrangea (Anabel and Snowball), serrate hydrangea (Bluebird variety (blue bird)), Sargent hydrangea, petiole hydrangea, oak-leaved hydrangea (Snow Queen and Snow Flake varieties), and the most common garden hydrangea, or large-leaved (Quadricolor, Lilacina, Nigra, Grandiflora, Perfecta, Altona). A little more about each.

Paniculata- white-cream flowers, collected in pyramidal inflorescences, in the process of flowering take on a pink hue, which acquires a density of shades by autumn. It grows very quickly, so it requires constant pruning. Gives long flowering autumn.

treelike- visually resembles viburnum, inflorescences are white-cream, spherical. It grows up to 2.5 m, the leaves are pointed, the flowers fit tightly to each other. Flowering continues from July to September.

Serrated- this species loves the sun, relatively low (up to 1.2 m), the Bluebird variety is especially beautiful, with delicate blue flowers that make up a flat-shaped ball. Long flowering period (June to September).

Sargent- leaves with a velvety surface, inflorescences are very large (up to 30 cm in diameter), with exquisite color transitions, from deep purple inside and pale pink borders along the edges. Can grow up to 4 meters. Flowering begins at the end of summer.

Chereshkovaya- refers to curly species, leaves are dark green, stems are red-brown, prefers partial shade, blooms for several weeks in early summer.

Oakleaf- the leaves are shaped like oak, grows up to 2 meters, the inflorescences are cone-shaped. By autumn, the rough foliage takes on purple and burgundy hues. The flowers are white, in the variety Snow Flake terry.

Garden, large-leaved- bright green leaves of an oval shape, slightly pointed, with spherical inflorescences, grows up to 2 m. The flowers, depending on the variety, are painted in blue, white and pink shades. Heat-loving, it is necessary to cover for the winter.

Idea!Another species - ashy hydrangea - is often used as a hedge. It has small flowers and dull green leaves.

Features of care

Only with the right and serious approach to the requirements of the plant itself can a positive result be predicted.

AT proper care hydrangea includes:

disembarkation

When choosing seedlings, carefully inspect root system. The usual practice is to plant the plant in late spring.

Advice!If the root system of the bush is highly developed, then planting hydrangeas can take place in September. In two or three warm weeks of autumn, he will have time to gain a foothold in the soil and survive the winter well.

Soil preparation for planting consists of adding peat with sand and earth with needles. Dig a hole 50x50 cm, drain. Fill it with soil, if necessary (if the soil is alkaline), add an acidifying fertilizer.

When planting hydrangeas in the spring, the rhizomes should be slightly shortened and cut off annual shoots, leaving only 3-4 pairs of buds. After planting a bush in the soil, water it, wait until the water is absorbed, and mulch with peat or sawdust with a layer of 6-8 cm.

To create a hedge, seedlings are placed at a distance of 0.7-1 m from each other. If you want to get one, but thick and lush bush, take 4-5-year-old seedlings for planting, digging a hole a little less deep (35-40 cm) and 50-70 cm wide.

pruning

Pruning bushes is compulsory procedure no matter what kind of hydrangea plant. With uncontrolled growth, the branches of the bush grow so that they lose their aesthetic appearance. Note that the first healthy flowering begins in the 3rd year after landing, everything that appears earlier, ruthlessly cut off. This will allow the bush to develop properly.

For already established plants, a spring rejuvenating haircut is carried out, aimed at forming a bush. The procedure is carried out before the start of sap flow in the plant. If you notice that the hydrangea inflorescences are weakening and decreasing in size, cut the bush “on a stump” (when cutting, only the stems are left 15-20 cm from the ground). The plant tolerates such a cardinal manipulation well and grows rapidly, returning the splendor to the flowers.

Thinning pruning is also necessary for hydrangea hedges. Do it at your own discretion, but not before the bushes gain strength.

Advice!Do not peel the inflorescences by hand, cut them carefully with secateurs so as not to affect upper part branches with buds.

Watering

The heat-loving flower hydrangea loves moisture. It is important that the soil under the bush is always in a state of light moisture. To do this, it is necessary to mulch the soil under the plant twice a year with the help of needles, leaf humus, shavings or bark.

Hydrangea bushes are watered 2 times a week in dry weather, and 1 time if it rained during the week. Under each bush you need to pour 30-50 liters. The water must be soft.

In autumn, on dry days, abundant watering is useful for the plant, it will help the hydrangea to calmly survive the frost.

Advice!With peat-mulched soil, abundant watering of the plant should be carried out less frequently, about 1 time per month.

make-up

Successful cultivation of hydrangeas is impossible without competent feeding. After planting, at the beginning of the growth of the seedling, add superphosphate (30-40 g) under the bush, urea at the rate of 20-25 g per one square meter, sulfuric potassium (30-35 g).

During the formation of buds, the plant needs additional portions of fertilizers: superphosphate (60-80 g) and potassium sulfur (40-45 g).

At the end of August, prepare the hydrangea for wintering by placing 15-20 kg of manure (rotted) or compost under each bush. Treat the branches well with Bordeaux mixture. Closer to mid-October, it is necessary to spud the bushes to a height of about 30 cm, and in November, the hydrangea branches must be bent to the ground and covered with spruce branches.

If your garden is already growing hydrangeas of the usual forms, and you are a fan of these plants, it's time to try growing rare forms. Of course, such plants will require more care, because it is not known how quickly they will take root in the conditions of your site and whether they wish to make you happy with lush flowering. But only a walking person can master the road, and in any case, it’s definitely worth a try!

Rare forms include serrate, Sargent, rough, oak-leaved, Bretschneider and, perhaps, ashy - all these names of hydrangea species are heard by any grower, but few dared to breed them. If desired, any kind of garden hydrangeas can be found in Russian stores or catalogs. It is worth noting that all of them are quite thermophilic (the city of ashen is a separate story), they should be planted in the most comfortable place protected from the winds and covered for the winter. They will bloom in the middle lane, with the exception of the oak-leaved hydrangea, almost every year, but, of course, not as chic as in Europe.

On this page you will learn what rare types of hydrangeas are and how to care for them.

Ornamental shrub Hydrangea Bretschneider

In terms of habitus, the ornamental shrub Bretschneider's hydrangea, found in 1882 in the vicinity of Beijing, rather resembles a lilac or a large mock orange. Its height is up to 4 m. It can grow in the form of a bush or a tree, it is very frost-resistant, durable, does not bother with growth, does not require any supports. Compared to other hydrangeas, it is drought tolerant. This miracle blooms annually and very abundantly, covered with slightly fragrant inflorescences with a diameter of about 15 cm.

As you can see in the photo, Bretschneider's hydrangea flowers are milky white at first, later they turn pink and purple tones:

The color of the inflorescences can change with changes in the acidity of the soil. In this type of hydrangea, the flowers are collected in large umbellate, slightly convex shields, which stay on the plant for a long time, until late autumn.

Fruits - dry boxes - ripen in September. Blooms from 5-6 years.

Bretschneider (N. bretschneideri) seeds and cuttings.

Cuttings usually root without problems. The root system of the hydrangea is superficial and branched. Hydrangea can grow in partial shade and full sun. Moreover, in full sun it blooms better, but there it needs to be watered, otherwise the leaves may dry out and burn.

Dislikes calcareous soils and windy places. Does not tolerate winter dampness, the soil must be sufficiently permeable.

Cut the shrub before the start of sap flow. Strong faded shoots are shortened to a well-developed node with buds, all old, weak and frozen ones are cut out. Hydrangeas are fed with special hydrangea fertilizers rich in magnesium and iron.

Hydrangea Bretschneider is a unique plant. This is a great backdrop in a shrub mixborder, an element in a shrub group that you want to see blooming in the second half of summer.

Look at the photo - this type of hydrangea looks great in autumn and winter in combination with viburnum, hawthorn, rowan Köhne (with white fruits):

With these plants, the hydrangea also looks interesting in summer thanks to the contrasting foliage.

For a long time, Bretschneider's hydrangea was impossible to buy. Now domestic nurseries have begun to grow it.

Bretschneider is sometimes found in Western European nurseries:

'Snowcap'

'Jermyn's Lace'

The diameter of their inflorescences is gigantic - from 25 to 30 cm. It is not known how the varieties will feel in central Russia.

Hydrangea serrate: photo and description of varieties

serrate hydrangea (N. serrata) – close relative. At home, in the mountains of Japan and Korea, it is an upright shrub about one and a half meters in height. Its foliage is different from that of the large-leaved hydrangea. It is smaller and narrower, sometimes even lanceolate.

Pay attention to the photo - the inflorescences of the serrate hydrangea are slightly convex, corymbose:

In the central part fertile flowers, on the periphery relatively large rare sterile - white, pink or bluish. Pink and blue are able to change the color of the inflorescences depending on the acidity of the soil. Hydrangea serrata is unusually good in July-August during flowering.

Tolerates light shade. When caring for this type of hydrangea, mandatory shelter for the winter is required. As a shelter, it is recommended to wrap the bush in burlap, roofing material and be sure to spill dry leaves inside. If the bush can be bent, the chance of a successful wintering will increase. Due to the difficulty of shelter, mainly in the southern regions, in the northern regions it is prone to freezing. This is important, since inflorescences are laid, as a rule, on last year's shoots. Although sometimes inflorescences appear on new shoots growing from the lower buds.

Hydrangea serrata has a lot of varieties. They are compact, used for container growing.

The most famous variety is ‘Blue Bird’ with a bright blue color of sterile flowers. The center is dark blue.

In 'Preziosa' almost all flowers are sterile.

As they bloom, their color changes from light pink to purple. The acidity of the soil does not affect the color of the flowers.

‘Spreading beauty’ interesting for the prostrate form of the bush and the fiery autumn color of the foliage.

‘Golden Sunlight’ distinguished by yellow foliage, especially bright at the beginning of dissolution. Flowers in pink.

Ornamental garden shrub hydrangea Sargent

Sometimes the ornamental shrub hydrangea Sargent is considered as a subspecies of rough hydrangea (H. aspera ssp. sargentiana).

Sargent's hydrangea is native to Central China. In nature large shrub up to 3 m tall. In central Russia, it reaches 1-1.5 m in height. With age, it grows strongly in width. The bush is not falling apart, with thick shoots.

As you can see in the photo, the leaves of Sargent's hydrangea are very spectacular, large, dark green, covered with thick hairs, as if velvet, very pleasant to the touch:

Hydrangea blooms regularly, in July.

Inflorescences are flat, corymbose, 16 cm in diameter. Fruiting flowers are pale purple, sterile are white. It is impossible to bend the plant to the ground, so the shoots are cut short in the fall. The short lignified part and the trunk circle are covered with a dry leaf or spruce branches.

Sometimes, to protect from the cold, the base of the bush is mulched, and the crown is tied with covering material - lutrasil, spunbond and then kraft paper. With such shelter, the shoots can be preserved if the winter turns out to be favorable. If you're not lucky - it's okay, the shoots, as already mentioned, will grow back.

In early spring, once the danger of hard frost has passed, the mulch and kraft paper are removed, but not until mid-April. This work is carried out on a cloudy day, in the late afternoon, so as not to cause burns with bright rays. spring sun. The most thermophilic of the hydrangeas mentioned in this book, it belongs to the 7th zone according to the zonal gradation system adopted by the Department Agriculture USA and used in other countries.

Hydrangea rough

Hydrangea rough (H. aspera) is native to the Himalayas and Western China. Similar to Sargent's hydrangea, also pubescent. In nature this small tree or a shrub 4 to 10 m high. The leaves are somewhat smaller and narrower than those of Sargent, with serrated edges and a long recurved end. The diameter of the inflorescences is 25 cm.

Look at the photo - this type of garden hydrangea has sterile flowers that are white, pinkish, bluish, may have jagged petals, the center of the inflorescence is purple:

The winter hardiness of the rough hydrangea is the same as that of Sargent, so the plants require the same care.

Rough hydrangea has varieties, but they are not too different from each other.

Some of them are grouped villosa (Villosa Group).

Among them - ‘Velvet Lace’ with inflorescences in lilac purple colors and ‘Anthony Bullivant’ with pink sterile flowers and purple flowers.

Perhaps, of all varieties of rough hydrangea, the most interesting are - 'Peter Chappell' and ‘Macrophylla’.

The first one has a light center, sterile flowers are snow-white with wide serrated petals, the second one has sterile flowers pinkish, brimless.

Ornamental shrub hydrangea ashy (with photo)

motherland ornamental shrubhydrangea ash, or gray (N. cinerea listen)) is eastern North America. It is very similar to, differs from it by a well-defined grayish pubescence on the lower part of the leaf.

The photo shows that ashy hydrangea forms large hemispherical inflorescences:

The height of the shrub is 1.1-1.5 m. It has been grown in the GBS RAS since 1954 (Seeds were obtained from Amsterdam and Turin).

The problem is that not all taxonomists recognize the independence of this type. In serious foreign reference books, the plant is called H. arborescens var. discolor, that is, tree-like hydrangea, a multi-colored variety. But that's not all.

There is an old hybrid (before 1860) - grayish hydrangea (N. x canescens), which also has a grayish pubescence on the underside of the leaf. Since all three hydrangeas (a species tree-like variety of multi-colored, ashy and grayish) have long been in culture, hardly anyone is able to distinguish them.

What do gardeners care about the intricacies of taxonomy? Direct. The plant you planted may have different winter hardiness. Option two. The first - it is equal to the winter hardiness of the hydrangea tree. The second - the plant can withstand temperatures down to -23 degrees. In this case, the shrub is suitable for landscaping southern regions Russia.

Hydrangea gray‘Sterilis', which can be found in garden centers, similar to Hydrangea arborescens ‘Grandiflora’, but it has a gray underside of the leaf and fewer) sterile flowers in the inflorescence.

Oakleaf hydrangea: photo and description of varieties

hydrangea oak-leaved (N. quercifolia) - the most exotic among the other hydrangeas. This is a North American plant 1.5-3 m high. Its “zest” is textured leaves that are pleasant to the touch, resembling red oak leaves in shape. Such leaves are the main difference between this form and other types of this shrub.

As shown in the photo, in the oak-leaved hydrangea, the edges of each leaf are sharp, with notches:

Leaf size - up to 25 cm. Fresh shoots and young leaves are covered with light fluff white color, which disappears over time, remaining only on the underside of the sheet. In autumn, the leaves turn purple-red.

Hydrangeas have huge, up to 30 cm, paniculate inflorescences with a predominance of sterile flowers, which at first stand like candles, then gradually lean. Unfortunately, in central Russia, it practically does not bloom. Experts suggest that the matter is not only in the relatively low frost resistance of the shrub (it can withstand a short-term drop in temperature to -29 ° C), but in the insufficient number of sunny days.

Where the climate is milder and there is more sun, varieties of oak-leaved hydrangea are popular:

'Snow Flake'

By beauty flowering shrub hydrangeas can indeed be compared with the magnificent outfits of princesses. Just do not take your eyes off the airy spherical inflorescences in the most delicate pink, lilac and blue tones, which are scattered among the lush green foliage. In the article, we will consider how to plant and care for hydrangea.

European botanists named the culture Hydrangea (that is, a vessel filled with water), this name was given, firstly, for its moisture-loving nature, and secondly, because the seed pods resemble jugs in shape.

The Japanese, who especially revere hydrangea, call it "purple sunny flower"- adzisai. Wild hydrangea leaves in Japan are used to make the sacred Amacha tea, which is brewed and drunk on April 8 - the day when, according to legend, the Buddha was born.

Curious information about hydrangea

Two types of flowers coexist in hydrangea inflorescences.
1. The first type is small flowers, usually densely located in the core of the inflorescences, seed pods are formed in their place.
2. In the form of a terry ruffle along the edges of the inflorescence, larger flowers are located, which are actually overgrown petal-shaped sepals. They are sterile and do not set seeds. Nature created them to decorate and attract pollinating insects. In some varieties, sterile flowers are scattered over the entire surface of the inflorescence.
The acidity of the soil affects the color of the flowers. If the soil has a weak alkaline reaction, the flowers turn pink, and with an acidic soil reaction, the inflorescences turn blue and blue. However, plants that bloom white are almost unchanged.

From alkaline soil, the roots of the plant cannot absorb iron, which affects the color, therefore, on such soils, in order to obtain inflorescences in blue tones, the bushes are watered with solutions of iron salts. The blue color will turn out juicier if rusty nails are dug in the trunk circle. It happens that blue ones appear on the same bush on one side, and on the other - pink flowers. This circumstance can be used to create unique landscape designs.
To change the color, metal salts are also used - alum, which are sold in the same place as fertilizers. High-moor peat is also used to oxidize the soil, which is mulched trunk circles or infusion of which plants are watered.

Varieties of garden hydrangea grown in Russia

Unfortunately, in cold Russia this amazingly beautiful heat-loving plant can be grown in open ground mostly gardeners of the middle lane, and even then a few species: Sargent's hydrangea (Hydrangeasargentiana); treelike (Hydrangeaarborescens); large-leaved (Hydrangeamacrophylla); panicled (Hydrangeapaniculata); petiolate (Hydrangeapetiolaris); groundcover (Hydrangeaheteromalla).

Hydrangea Sargent

The shrub attracts with its unusualness - it has dark red thick shoots, as if covered with felt, and beautiful velvety dark green leaves.
It grows to a height of about one meter.
Blooms from mid-July. Violet-lilac inflorescences have a shield-like shape - among densely arranged small flowers, large light sterile flowers are scattered like stars. Using this species, create spectacular hedges.
The plant is thermophilic, loves well-lit areas.
Of all the species, it is the most drought-resistant, but it still likes moist soil more.
Due to the tendency of Sargent's hydrangea to freeze in the fall, the stems are pruned under the root and shelter. The next year the bushes are restored.
Propagated mainly by root processes or by dividing the bush, as the seeds do not have time to ripen well.

Hydrangea

This species comes from North America, so it tolerates not too harsh winters. And even if it freezes a little, then when correct pruning and top dressing finds strength for a quick recovery.
Grows fast. During the season, an upright bush with a rounded crown can reach a height of 2 meters.
Its leaves are large, spherical inflorescences of white or cream color. Blooms in July. The special beauty of the massive caps of snow-white barren inflorescences is distinguished by the varieties of this species Sterilis (Sterilis) and Grandiflora (Grandiflora).

large-leaved hydrangea

The labors of breeders around the world have created many magnificent varieties large-leaved hydrangea, without which almost no European garden can do. Russian gardeners are forced to choose only varieties that can withstand cold winters. This is a deterrent to the spread of shrubs in regions with a harsh climate. However, in the middle lane it has been grown since ancient times, luxurious bushes served as decorations for landowners and noblemen's estates.
The inflorescences of the large hydrangea are unusually beautiful. Countless large sterile flowers make them look like balls. It is delightful in single plantings or in the center of flower beds.
New remontant winter-hardy varieties can bloom both on the shoots of the previous year and on newly grown ones. Therefore, they are guaranteed to bloom every year, even if last year's shoots freeze slightly.
They winter well, and popular varieties bloom beautifully every year: EarlySensation, RedSensation (Red Sensation) with bright scarlet inflorescences and burgundy branches, Peppermint with pale pink inflorescences and white sterile flowers, terry blooming pink or blue variety Expression.

Hydrangea paniculata

In the native forests of China and Japan, shrubs of this species can grow up to 10 meters in height. In the Far Eastern regions of Russia, you can also see these plants. The temperate climate of the middle zone allows the bushes to reach a height of two meters.
The rounded crown consists of large oblong foliage, velvety to the touch.
Elongated inflorescences have a pyramidal shape. In racemes-panicles there are both sterile white flowers and fruit-forming flowers of a delicate greenish hue.
On the pleasant aroma bees and bumblebees flock. Closer to autumn, the extreme white flowers change color to pink with a greenish tint. Ripening of seed boxes begins by the end of September. This species can grow in polluted city air, and prefers slightly shaded areas.
The variety Floribunda (Floribunda), which has large pyramidal white-cream inflorescences, has gained great popularity. Such a bush strewn with flowers will look beautiful anywhere in the garden, for example, in the center of a flower garden, at the entrance to a house or a gazebo.
Hydrangea Grandflora (Grandiflora) is widespread and loved by gardeners, originally blooming with light cream panicles, which then turn white, and by the end of the season - red with greenish hues.

petiolate hydrangea

lovers vertical gardening successfully use petiolate hydrangea (H.petiolaris), which is a woody deciduous liana. Under natural conditions, it grows in China, Korea, Japan, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands. This species is widely distributed as ornamental plant all over the world.
On the red-brown shoots of the creeper there are aerial roots with which it clings to the supports and creeps up or clings to the soil. Its dark green foliage is smooth and glossy with an elongated oval shape. In autumn, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
This honey plant is characterized by early flowering - from June to July. It blooms profusely with fragrant white or pale pink loose inflorescences.
The plant has good winter hardiness, but in severe frosts the stems freeze slightly, and therefore require the construction of shelters.
Young, slow-growing seedlings need about two to three years to gain strength. Only then do they turn into a powerful plant that can cover a vast area with a green flowering carpet.
Stem hydrangea decorate walls, arbors, pergolas, withered trees, fences. These creepers also feel great on the ground as a groundcover. They can decorate, for example, the shore of an artificial reservoir. Along the way, with their sucker roots, they will strengthen the soil.
The Miranda variety (H.petiolarisMiranda), which has recently appeared, has already gained popularity, as it has more decorative leaves and grows quickly.

ground cover hydrangea

This species includes Bretschneider's hydrangea (N. Вretschneideri), which is deciduous shrub with dark red hairy branches and a wide rounded crown. The foliage is wedge-shaped with denticles along the edges of a dark green color. The leaves are smooth above and hairy below.
The sterile flowers of the umbellate inflorescences are white at first and turn purple towards the end of the season. Flowering is profuse and very decorative. It begins to bloom only in the fifth year.
This shrub is the most winter-hardy and drought-resistant of all types of hydrangeas, and also tolerates shading well.
Perfect for decorating green hedges, looks spectacular in group and single plantings.

Growing hydrangeas

Planting hydrangeas

To plant this warm and light-loving shrub, you need to choose a place on the site that would be closed from the winds and well lit. Light partial shade is also suitable, and for some varieties it is even preferable.
The soil is chosen fertile with an acidic reaction of at least pH 4.5, therefore, in its composition it should contain leafy soddy soil, high-moor peat, humus, and sand.
Landing pits measuring 50 x 50 x 50 are prepared in advance so that the soil mixture in them settles well and all the components “make friends” with each other.
Planting is done in early spring. The plant is planted so that the root neck is not deepened, but is above the soil level. After watering a newly planted plant, the root zone is sprinkled with peat or crushed coniferous bark.

Hydrangea Care

Hydrangea is very moisture-loving and requires regular watering. With a lack of moisture, it suffers greatly, loses color or does not bloom at all. In no case should the soil be allowed to dry out.
At the first spring top dressing use potassium sulfate or ammonium sulfate. Then they are fed at the beginning and at the end of flowering with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. The shrub responds well to monthly watering with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate, which helps to strengthen the tissues.
In spring and autumn, peat mulching of the soil in the near-stem circles is necessarily carried out in order to preserve moisture and acidify the soil. The thickness of the mulch layer should be at least 7 cm.

Formation of hydrangea bushes

The formation of bushes begins in the third or fourth year after planting.
Paniculate and tree hydrangeas bloom on current shoots, so in the spring they are cut off, leaving 8-10 buds, weak and old branches are cut out.
Of the panicled varieties, many form standard trees, for which biennial plant cut off all shoots except for one of the strongest. AT next year this shoot is cut by a third. Then, when a year later, young shoots grow out of it, two or three are left of them and shortened, and the rest are removed. And so on, for several years. The result is a branched, beautifully flowering tree.
On petiolate and ground cover species, light spring pruning is done, cutting off the ends of long stems at the buds. As a result, the shrub will begin to branch out more and bloom more abundantly.
Large-leaved hydrangea lays the buds of inflorescences on last year's branches. So spring pruning consists in removing old inflorescences, weak and damaged shoots.

Harmful insects and diseases

The plant may be affected spider mite . At the same time, the leaves turn yellow and dry out, as the insect settles on the back of the leaf and sucks all the juices out of it. They fight this scourge by spraying the hydrangea with special chemicals especially on the underside of the foliage.
If gradually yellowing and darkening oily spots appear on the leaves, this may be a sign downy mildew. In such cases, an aqueous solution of copper sulfate is used (a teaspoon per bucket of water) with the addition of 150 grams of green soap. It is important not to start the disease, but to start treatment on initial stages her appearance.
Plants can become diseased in alkaline soils chlorosis, this can also happen with an excess of humus in the soil. The leaves begin to lighten and thin, and their veins darken. In this case, the soil is shed with potassium nitrate (2 tablespoons per bucket of water), and after three to four days - iron sulfate in the same proportion.

Shelter for the winter

Basically, all types of hydrangeas are thermophilic and need winter shelters. The construction of shelters does not require much work, but it greatly increases the chances of plants that they will survive the cold.

The simplest thing is to mulch the tree trunks with a thick layer of peat, sawdust, straw, foliage or spruce branches at the onset of the first frost. In this way, tree-like and paniculate species are insulated.
Rigid branches can be wrapped with covering material or heat-resistant paper.
Flexible stems of large-leaved or petiole hydrangea neatly laid on boards or flat boxes, and then pinned to the ground through the cracks. Top cover with spruce branches or use any non-woven material. A frost-resistant layer is laid on the material. polyethylene film and fix it with stones or other heavy objects.
Around mid-April, as soon as the strong night frosts stop, the shelters are removed.

home garden

Home hydrangea can decorate the apartment with its magnificent flowering from May to the end of September.

Although the plant is photophilous, you should not expose it to the burning action of direct sun rays. Otherwise, the leaves will begin to burn out. The optimum temperature is considered to be up to 20 ° C.
In the fall, when the flower enters a dormant period, you will need to find a dark and cooler place for the pot with a temperature not higher than 8-10 ° C.
In winter, keep the soil slightly moist by watering about once every 10 days. When leaves begin to appear in February, the pot is placed in a bright place and the frequency of watering is increased. At the beginning of budding, fertilizing is carried out with a special complex fertilizer for hydrangeas.
Since the plant loves water, it is often watered and sprayed in summer. With a lack of moisture in the soil or too dry air, the tips of the leaves will begin to dry out. For more lush flowering every 10 days make mineral top dressing.
The plant should be transplanted annually after it has faded, cutting the stems in half. The soil must be acidic. You can purchase a ready-made soil mixture specifically for hydrangeas or rhododendrons. If the soil is not acidic enough, the leaves will begin to turn yellow.
For propagation of hydrangeas, freshly cut cuttings are used, which are stuck in wet sand and covered. glass jar before the appearance of the first leaf. When transplanting into a permanent pot, the seedling is pinched.

Bouquets in summer and winter

Hats of hydrangea flowers in bouquets look very nice. If, before placing in a vase, the tips of the branches are split and burned, and the foliage is removed, then the inflorescences will not lose their freshness for a long time.

Another trick for long-term preservation of the bouquet is to preserve the branches using a solution of glycerin in hot water in a ratio of 6:4. Freshly cut shoots are lowered into the solution to a depth of 5 cm, after updating the cut under water and splitting the ends. The stems should stand in this solution for about three weeks. Shoots and leaves after the procedure will become elastic and slightly change in color.
You can not part with hydrangea all year round, as excellent dry bouquets are made from its inflorescences. Cut for a bouquet produced in mid-September. The branches are placed for drying in a ventilated dark room, hanging with inflorescences down and removing the foliage. You can add other dried herbs to the compositions, they will only benefit from this. For example, dry mother-of-pearl lunaria will perfectly complement the bouquet and make it more original.

Hydrangea photo

Its variety of species and colors allows you to create a piece of paradise in any garden.

Hydrangea varieties grown in Russian gardens

Anabel is the most common variety tree hydrangea. It's been out for quite some time. The bush grows small and compact, its height is about one and a half meters. The crown is sprawling and has the shape of a dome, reaches a diameter of 3 m. The stem is bare gray color. The leaves are very large, up to 30 cm long, bright rich green in color with a finely serrated edge. The foliage retains its color until frost. The flowers are white, round, about 2 cm in size, grouped in inflorescences-balls up to 30 cm in diameter. The flowering period is from early summer to September. The bush is characterized by rapid growth up to 10 cm per year. Frost-resistant. Prefers slightly shaded areas.
Grandiflora- a magnificent bush of tree-like hydrangea with spherical crown, up to 2 m high and up to 3 m in diameter. The leaves are green ovate up to 10 cm. It blooms in corymbose inflorescences of small flowers. During the entire flowering period from July to September, the color of the flowers changes several times. At first they are light green, then turn white, and towards the end they become creamy. The growth per year is up to 30 cm. The plant prefers sunny places with little partial shade. Grandiflora loves moist soil and does not tolerate drought. Moderately frost-resistant variety.
Shrub tree hydrangea varieties Sterilis has a rounded shape, reaches a height of 2-3 m. The foliage is green on top, and has a bluish tint on the underside. Leaves with small notches and up to 20 cm long. Its annual growth is about 20 cm. The inflorescences are dense in the form of a hemisphere about 25 cm in size. The bush blooms with sterile light green flowers, which turn white over time. The plant prefers well-drained fertile soils, Sunny areas with some partial shade. The winter hardiness of the variety is average.
Kyushu- grade paniculate hydrangea. The bush has a fan-shaped crown up to 3 m in size and grows up to 2.5-3 m. The stems are painted red-brown. The leaves, pubescent in rich green color on red petioles, are ovoid in shape. White flowers are collected in a wide panicle 15-25 cm long. Sterile flowers up to 2-3 cm consist of 4 white petals, which later turn pink. Honey shrub. The plant does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil and strong dry winds. Fast growing variety, prefers partial shade. Frost resistance is good up to -25 degrees.
Vanilla Fraze- a very effective variety of paniculate hydrangea. It is a low shrub with dark green foliage. Leaves ovate, rough. It has very beautiful cone-shaped inflorescences up to 30 cm, which stand out for their color. At the beginning of flowering, they are white, and by September, the bottom of the cone-inflorescence acquires a pink-strawberry hue, and the top remains white. A fast growing plant, it recovers well after freezing. The shrub is able to withstand low temperatures up to -40 degrees.
Lime Light- a fairly popular variety of paniculate hydrangea, memorable for its lime-colored inflorescences. Gradually, the color of cone-shaped inflorescences becomes light lemon or white shade, and by autumn it turns slightly pink. The foliage is velvety dark green. The bush has very strong stems capable of supporting the weight of large inflorescences. The variety does not require various supports and tying. The plant grows up to 2 m in height and width. The growth per year is about 25 cm. It prefers sunny and moist areas. It is frost-resistant, young bushes should be covered in winter.
Pinky Winky- Belgian variety of panicled hydrangea. The variety is famous for its bright color of flowers and leaves. An important feature varieties are strong shoots, so the plant does not need support. The bush of this variety is small compact, the crown has a rounded shape. Inflorescences are cone-shaped panicles of white color by autumn, acquiring purple tones. The change in their color occurs gradually, which allows you to observe flowers of different tones in one panicle. The leaves are dark green and hairy along the veins. The foliage also turns red-purple in autumn. Young bushes need shelter in the cold season. Mature plants tolerate frosts down to -25 degrees.
White Ball frost-resistant bush of a large-leaved variety up to a meter high. It blooms in spherical inflorescences of snow-white color. The foliage is rich green, large. Flowers appear on young and shoots previous year. Prefers sunny places with some partial shade.
Romance Blue – winter-hardy variety large-leaved hydrangea. The plant grows up to 1.5 m. It blooms on the shoots of the new and last season. spherical inflorescences about 25 cm in diameter. The flowers are terry blue-blue. Leaves, elongated green. Likes sun, moisture and well-drained soil.
Endles Summer- "Endless summer". The name is given due to the peculiarity of blooming not only on the shoots of the last season, but on the shoots current year. The bush is small, compact, up to 1.5 m. Depending on the acidity of the soil, the color of spherical inflorescences varies from blue to pink. The variety has good winter hardiness and does not require shelters.

How to distinguish types and varieties of hydrangea?

In reality, this is quite difficult to do. Species should be determined at the time of flowering, when all parts of the bush can be evaluated. Paying attention to the structure of the inflorescences, the ratio of sterile and fertile flowers, the color, shape and pubescence of the leaves, the degree of lignification of the stems, you can correctly determine the type of shrub and correctly select agricultural practices.

Positive qualities of hydrangea:

due to the large species and varietal diversity, you can choose the most suitable shrub for your conditions;
a bunch of various kinds allows you to use the plant as a hedge, in mixborders and flower beds of various types;
hydrangeas are quite resistant to pests and diseases;
after damage, the plant quickly recovers;
can grow on soils of various fertility, tolerates close occurrence ground water, loves acidified soils;
long flowering period;
collected inflorescences can be used in dried flower arrangements;
decoctions and tinctures from the leaves and root of hydrangea have medicinal properties.

Unfortunately, not all types of this beautiful shrub tolerate cold and can be grown in Russia. When keeping a hydrangea, you must strictly follow the rules of care, and then this beauty will delight you with chic flowering.

Kinds

Hydrangea

The place of origin of this species is North America. It is a shrub growing up to 3 m tall. The leaves are large, without pubescence, serrated, green above and gray below. Inflorescences appear on annual twigs, have a flat shape or the shape of a ball 15-20 cm in size. At first, the flowers are colored green, when fully bloomed, they turn white or cream. Prefers to grow in shady places, does not tolerate drought.

This variety is quite unpretentious, it is not afraid of frost and shading of the site. Thanks to rapid growth this variety quickly grows new shoots. In temperate climates, the plant blooms from July to November. The species is not very rich in varietal diversity.

Popular varieties of tree hydrangea:

« Annabelle» large sprawling shrub, tolerates wintering well, has beautiful lush white inflorescences. Leaves reach 15 cm, retaining their green color until frost.
« White Anna"- inflorescences from pale pink to purple.
« Grandiflora"- large snow-white inflorescences.
« Invisibell Spirit"- has large bright pink inflorescences that brighten over time.
« Incrediball"- white inflorescences, surprising with their large size, the bush reaches 1.5 m.
« Sterilis"- spherical white inflorescences.
« Pink Pication"- inflorescences are pale pink.
« White House"- a dense bush about a meter, an inflorescence is a shield in the center, of which fruit-bearing flowers are located, and sterile along the edge.
« Hayes Starburst"- double light green flowers in the form of a ball with a diameter of up to 25 cm. A bush up to 1.3 m high.

Hydrangea paniculata

Its distribution area is Japan, China, south of Sakhalin. It has the appearance of a shrub about 2 m tall, and can reach 5 m. The stems of the shrub quickly become woody, which allows the plant to endure wintering well. The leaves are elongated and pubescent. Flowers are formed on new shoots and look like a pyramid.

The inflorescence is a mixture of fertile and non-fertile flowers. At the beginning of flowering, they are painted in a greenish tint, then turn white, and by autumn they become terracotta or light purple.

The saturation of the color depends on the weather and the degree of illumination. The warmer and sunnier the weather, the brighter the hydrangea flowers.

The flowering of the shrub begins at the end of summer and lasts all autumn.

This species prefers slightly shaded areas in strong sunlight, the flowers become smaller. The species is not picky about the conditions, it tolerates frosts well even without shelter. The variety has a rich varietal assortment.

Varieties of panicled hydrangea:

To grow plants in pots, breeders bred low-growing varieties no more than a meter high:

"Pinky Winky";
"Brussel Leys";
"Bomshel";
"Last Post";
"Darts Little Dot";
"Bobo" (lemon-green flowers, turning pink over time).

Hydrangea large-leaved or garden

It grows wild in Japan, Sakhalin. The height of varietal forms is about 2 m. Low-growing varieties for pot growing have a height of up to half a meter. The bush winters poorly, the shoots become woody in the second year. Garden hydrangea does not tolerate limestone. Intense green foliage. Flower buds form in autumn.

For overwintering, the plant should be covered with straw, spruce branches or nonwoven fabric. Be sure to remove the shelter in time in the spring, otherwise the plant may overheat.

Flowering begins in mid-summer. Flowers are about 3 cm.

Varieties of large-leaved hydrangea:

« Japanese"- inflorescences in the form of an umbrella;
« fickle"- flowers in the form of a hemisphere and change color depending on the reaction of the soil and the presence of metal ions in it. Due to this specific property of the changeable hydrangea, there are many varieties of this species. On soils with an acidic reaction, the flowers are blue or blue color, on neutral and alkaline - pink or red. For a brighter color, you can artificially change the reaction of the soil by adding iron sulfate or alum.

Frost-resistant varieties are remontant. The flowering of such varieties begins with buds on the shoots of the second year and continues on the stems of the current season.

Frost-resistant varieties:

"Blue Haven";
"Firewox Pink";
"Mini Penny";
"White Ball";
"Coco Blanc";
"Endles Summer" - white or blue flowers;
"Romance" - double flowers;
"Expression" - terry bright pink jagged flowers in the form of shields;
"Ever Peppermint" - the flowers are light on the edge, and the middle is pink or blue;
"Red Sensation" - red inflorescences and burgundy-colored stems.

petiolate hydrangea

Lianoid shrub up to 25 m long. For flowering, he needs a support to which it is attached with the help of aerial roots. The foliage is dark green, smooth and heart shaped. fragrant flowers collected in umbrellas 15-20 cm in size, the color varies from green-white to lilac.

Liana is frost-resistant, but in very coldy may be damaged. To avoid freezing young plant should be removed from the support and covered for the winter. Can grow without support groundcover, forming a dense "carpet". Prefers a shady place. It is used for gardening arbors, decorating various slopes and walls.

Hydrangea variegated or variegated

This species is also called groundcover, Bretschneider hydrangea or Himalayan. The plant has strong woody shoots, milky-white viburnum-shaped inflorescences and elongated ovate leaves. The shoots are reddish in color and have hairs of exfoliated bark.

By autumn, the flowers turn pink-purple. The shrub is shade-tolerant, hardy and can tolerate dry times. It reaches a height of up to 3 m. Cut inflorescences look beautiful in dried flowers.

hydrangea oak-leaved

The species is named so because of the similarity of its leaves with oak. The foliage is rich green above, velvety and whitish below. By September, the leaves turn red. The bush grows no more than 1.5 m. The plant blooms with panicle inflorescences. In the cold season, it freezes and does not bloom. By cutting off the shoots in the fall, and covering the root system, the plant can be grown as an ornamental shrub with luxurious leaves.

Hydrangea ash or gray

The bush has good winter hardiness, moisture-loving. It grows up to 2 m. Inflorescences are corymbose from small sterile flowers. The leaves are oval in shape and pale green in color. Looks good as a hedge.

Hydrangea Sargent

An uncommon species that blooms with light lilac flowers collected in corymbs. The stems are reddish in color. The leaves are large up to 25 cm in length. After freezing, it builds up young shoots well and can bloom.

serrate hydrangea

Plant up to 1.5 m high with large inflorescences balls. Grows well in sunny areas. Inflorescences are bicolor. The shade of flowers will change depending on the acidity of the soil. The bred variety of this species "Blue Bird" or bluebird has blue-colored flowers and leaves. View when sheltered can tolerate frost.

Hydrangea radiata

Fast growing shrub about 2.5 m tall. It blooms in white clusters of flowers in the form of an umbrella. Leaves are lanceolate-oval. Flowering lasts no more than a month.

For growing shrubs Russian gardens it is better to take species and varieties adapted to the climate of Russia. The plant must have good winter hardiness. Otherwise, the bush will not please you with luxurious flowers.

In our climate zone feel great tree-like and paniculate varieties of shrubs. garden view is more moody and is better suited for pot growing.

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