Heavenly Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are a favorite with gardeners all over the country, and with good reason. They are lush, attractive, and once established, easy to care for.

The Hydrangea macrophylla (big-leaf, garden or french hydrangea) is a deciduous shrub native to Asia. The word hydrangea comes from the Greek hydor meaning water and aggeion meaning vessel, so named because the seed capsules resemble a small water pitcher. H. macrophylla is also known as H. hortensia, H. opuloides and H. otaksa. Its many names are the result of the difficulties 18th century botanists had in attributing specimens to a particular family -- the early specimens imported to Europe from China and Japan produced little sterile flowers which did not have any stamens that could be counted or seed capsules that could be studied.

Other species include the climbing hydrangea (H. anomala), the smooth hydrangea (H. arborescens), the roots of which are used in botanical medicine, the peegee hydrangea (H. paniculata 'Grandiflora’) and the oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia).

The big-leaf hydrangea is the familiar, "mop-headed" blue, pink or white species that is frequently seen. Its enormous blossom clusters look like pom-poms and may be 8-10 inches across; each cluster is composed of a mass of 1-1 1/2 inch flowers that are sterile, that is, unable to produce seeds. A special category of big-leaf hydrangea is called lacecap because the flat 4-8 inch flower clusters are composed of fertile central blossoms surrounded by a "lace" of large, flat sterile blossoms. The big-leaf hydrangea has a symmetrical, rounded growth pattern and can reach 3-6 feet tall in the garden. They are, however, perfectly happy to live in a container. Their growth will be slower, but you will still need to repot them every couple of years.

Hydrangeas generally bloom from early summer through fall. The big-leaf hydrangea remains attractive even after blooming, because the flower clusters do not fall but remain on the plant until early winter. They often change to lovely shades of red, pink and green, and can easily be cut and dried for indoor use.

Hydrangeas are easy to grow in the right conditions, and once established, are quite robust. They perform well in areas where winters are fairly mild, such as seaside gardens. The big-leaf hydrangea will grow in full sun on the coast, but it is particularly suitable for shade. Give it good organic potting soil; keep it constantly moist but make sure it is well-drained.

These easy-to-care-for plants require no regular pruning, except to remove dead flower heads and any dead wood. In the fall, after blooming, prune stems that bore flowers to just above the nearest outward facing bud. Any weak or badly formed growths and branches that seem too crowded together in the center of the plant can be removed, thus allowing light and air to penetrate. It is a mistake to cut big-leaf hydrangeas down to soil level or even to prune them severely.

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