Hydrangea

The fluffy, full, bright blooms of many Hydrangea varieties serve well to fill out decorative floral arrangements. They are used classically by many florists and are keenly fit for this purpose. Hydrangeas are hardier than most cut-flower blooms, and the blooms last for a while after being snipped from the bush. They also produce many blooms, leaving you with a still very beautiful plant after you have taken your bouquet.

Tips For Growing Hydrangea Cut-Flowers

When planting hydrangeas specifically for cut-flower use, protect them from drying winds and hot sun that might stifle flower production. Plant on the eastern side of a building, allowing for afternoon shade. Make sure your plant has good drainage and nutrient rich soil – for the fullest, healthiest blooms amend your soil with rich compost and fertilizer.

Cut your blooms just as they reach there fullest size to ensure a long life in the vase. Cut at an angle to allow for optimum water intake. Arrange as you like, and enjoy your bright playful garden display.

Hydrangeas are a great choice for containers! With their
interesting foliage, beautiful blooms, and enticing fragrance, they're a lovely,
low-maintenance selection for the small-space garden.

One variety that performs particularly well in containers is the
dwarf marvel, Hydrangea CitylineTM Venice. Venice's compact habit
contrasted with huge leaves and bright pink blooms makes for a pronounced look
that works really well in patio gardens. It produces more flowering stems than
your average hydrangea, and the leaves maintain their beautiful deep green from
spring until frost.

If you were wondering what's going to be hot in gardening this spring, January is always a good indicator. Everyone has gotten their catalogs and they are eager to start digging.

Our best seller this month, by far, was the Hydrangea 'Incrediball' – you can't help but be impressed by the look of this beautiful plant. It's like growing clouds in your garden with its enormous, fluffy clusters of pure white blooms. Hydrangeas usually do well – everyone loves the 'Endless Summer' and the Angel Collection, but Incrediball has really been a hit so far this year.

Other big hits have been the incredibly florific Syringa 'Bloomerang' and the brilliant Paeonia 'First Arrival, our number 2 and 3 top selling plants. For the complete list of Wayside's top-selling plants check here: Wayside's Most Popular Plants For January.

For many years now Hydrangea has been one of the most popular perennials in American gardens.  The variety of these great shrubs that is available now is quite impressive, far from being just the one-colored puffballs that you remember from your grandmother’s garden.  There are 23 species of Hydrangea, but of these only five are widely available in the US.  The five that are available, though, represent a great variety of flowering perennials, with an option that is right for almost any American gardener.

Hydrangea are some of the best flowering shrubs around.  They're remarkably easy to grow and bloom reliably with great displays.  However, because they're prevalent and mostly display showy blooms, they don't appeal to a lot of younger gardeners who associate them with their grandmother's garden.  There are, though, a lot of Hydrangea choices that are much different from the "pink puff" style hydrangeas that many gardeners think of these days. 

The Halo™ Hydrangea series is one of the best of these interesting Hydrangeas  The flowers have lovely creamy color that is rare on shrubs, but it is the unique picotee edge that really sets these shrubs apart.  My favorite of these is the Hydrangea Angel Song, which features a sharp pencil-thin white picotee.