Growing Hydrangeas as Garden or Patio Shrubs

Hydrangeas are rightly popular deciduous garden plants, whose extravagant blooms find them a place in many garden designs, especially in shady gardens. They are hardy and easy to grow shrubs, with spectacular heads of bloom in a wide range of colours from white and pink to red purple and even blue. There are several different species and many different varieties in cultivation, and include both bush forms and climbers. A selection of Hydrangea species and varieties in general cultivation is given below.

Hydrangea Macrophylla

This is by far the most widely grown and flowers in mid to late summer. These are rounded bushes, generally growing to about 3-5 feet in height and spread. They divide into two types according to the structure of their flowers:

• Mophead hydrangeas, or Hydrangea hortensia. These have domed or rounded flowerheads up to 9 or 10 inches across, consisting of dense clusters of florets. New varieties are constantly developed , but popular cultivars include: Alpengluhen (crimson flowers), Amethyst (pink fowers), Mme Emile Mouillere (white flowers) and Blue Prince with either red flowers or blue flowers depending on the soil (see cultivation notes below).
• Lacecap Hydrangeas. These have flat heads consisting of tight clusters of small fertile flowers, surrounded by a ring of larger, infertile florets. Popular varieties include: Lanarth White (pink and white flowers), Mariesii (pink or blue flowers) and Tricolour which has variegated green/yellow/white foliage and pink white flowers.

Hydrangea Petiolaris

This is the most popular climbing form, with masses of creamy white flower heads and glossy green foliage on attractive red/brown stems, which provide colour in winter. It is self clinging once established, and shade tolerant and will grow well on a north wall.

Other Hydrangea Species

Other popular species, which may be found in nurseries and garden centres but are often only available from specialist growers, include:

• Hydrangea arborescens. Rounded 6 inch heads of white florets.
• Hydrangea paniculata. Creamy white conical flowerheads up to 8 inches long.
• Hydrangea Preziosa. Late flowering form mid summer to early autumn, with pink 6 inch mopheads, maturing to a rich red.
• Hydrangea quercifolia. Conical creamy white flowerheads from mid summer to mid autumn, and particularly attractive, deeply lobed leaves which produce brilliant autumn colours.

Cultivation of Hydrangeas.

• Although hydrangeas are generally easy to grow, they prefer moist conditions and rich soil. In most cases, they prefer to avoid full sun, but nevertheless make good patio plants provided they are not allowed to dry out.. They are particularly good shade plants.
• Enrich the soil well before planting with well rotted manure or compost, and top dress and feed annually with a multi purpose fertiliser.
• Although they will tolerate both normal and acid soil, the latter causes many hydrangea varieties to produce their flowers in varying shades of blue. Pink flowers become an attractive blue and red flowers turn purple.
• The same effect can be achieved in pot grown plants by using ericaceous compost, and in open ground by increasing the acidity of the soil. Do this by top dressing with ammonium sulphate or treating with a proprietary hydrangea blueing compound.

More About Shade Plants

Hydrgangeas are one of the most attractive and easy to grow shade plants, but there are many other shrubs for shady areas to choose from.