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Hydrangeas have been a colorful attraction in many gardens for years. They are especially wonderful as they bloom in mid summer when some of the spring garden flowers have faded. Native to Asia and North America, these shrubs come in a variety of colors and sizes. Recent breeding programs have made even more varieties available to us.
Allan Redfern from Morningstar Nurseries showed us some new varieties and shared a few tips on caring for these showy shrubs. Hydrangeas prefer a moist but well drained soil and do best with morning sun and afternoon shade.
Hydrangeas flower color is strongly influenced by the soil. The flowers turn blue as a reaction to aluminum in a slightly acidic soil pH of 5.2-5.5. Hydrangeas will turn pink as you raise the pH to 6.0-6.5, depriving the plant of the aluminum. You don't want a pH higher than 6.5. Use sulfur or Aluminum sulfate to lower pH and ground limestone to raise it. White hydrangeas are not influenced by these changes in pH.
Some of the recommended varieties are:
Nikko Blue
Ayesha
Sister Theresa
Endless Summer
Limelight
Pink Beauty
Nigra
Special Thanks:
Allan Redfern
Morningstar Nurseries
www.morningstarnurseriesri.com