Holy Hydrangeas!!!

There are some plants that should be in every garden and Hydrangeas are at the top of our list ~ an absolute must-have! Nothing says summer like these beautiful blooming shrubs. In colors ranging from white to pink to blue, these softball-sized flowers brighten up any landscape. These shade-loving shrubs infuse color in the garden at a time when most spring-blooming plants are no longer flowering. Hydrangeas make a great addition as a stand-alone “feature” plant, or grown in rows to create a privacy hedge. Their blooms also make some of the best cut flower arrangements.

Here are a few of our favorite varieties:

Bloomstruck – rose-pink, violet, or blue flower heads on red-purple stems with glossy dark green leaves. Extremely strong stems, above average heat tolerance and great disease resistance, especially to powdery mildew. Grows 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide.

Nantucket Blue – a repeat-blooming Hydrangea with abundant blue flowers from spring through fall. Flowers will be pink in alkaline soils, and blue in acidic soils. A rapid grower reaching 4 to 6 feet tall and wide.

Endless Summer Original – this is a real Hampton Roads favorite! It’s a mop-head variety with the unique ability to bloom consistently on both old and new wood. The result is a plant that provides beautiful flowers all summer long. The flowers grow up to 8′ in diameter, with PINK blooms in alkaline soils or BLUE blooms in acidic soil. And, who doesn’t want an Endless Summer?

Enchantress – striking ruby-black stems support big mophead flowers on this exquisite re-blooming hydrangea. A superb border shrub for color throughout summer; blue in acidic soils and pink in more alkaline soils. Flowers age to a vintage cream-splashed green color. Prized for cut or dried flower arrangements.

Annabelle – Annabelle features stunning pure white flowers, much larger than the species- up to 12 inches across! Flowers appear in late spring to summer, often continuing into fall. Strong, straight stems hold the huge flower heads up well, despite heavy rain. This full, lush shrub needs plenty of room to show off its spectacular beauty.

PLANTING TIP: When planting Hydrangeas, dig the hole twice as wide and the same depth as the shrub’s rootball. Set the base of the Hydrangea at ground level. Fill with soil, water thoroughly and mulch to help the plant conserve moisture.