Many gardeners enjoy the blue flowers of the summer-flowering hydrangeas. But some of us just can't seem to get any flowers at all." /> Many gardeners enjoy the blue flowers of the summer-flowering hydrangeas. But some of us just can't seem to get any flowers at all." />

CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
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Published on 02/24/05

Select hydrangeas for flowers all summer long

By Jim Midcap
University of Georgia

Many gardeners enjoy the blue flowers of the summer-flowering hydrangeas. Vigorous plants become covered with large mopheads of blooms. Established plants seem to bloom forever.

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However, some of us just can't seem to get any flowers at all. One year a late frost will blacken all the swollen flower buds on the ends of the stems. With all the buds killed, there will be no flowers this year.

The next year we covered the plants several times to protect them from the cold. Everything was looking good, with new leaves and fat flower buds, until a deer stopped by for a snack. She snipped off every branch tip. And there went this year's crop of blooms.

Aha!

Now, I have a solution to these problems. I've planted several remontant, or reflowering, hydrangeas. These big-leafed hydrangeas bloom on new growth as well as old wood.

When the weather kills the tender new buds and the flowers inside, the new growth will produce new flowers. Any time the flower buds are killed or removed by feeding or pruning, the new growth produces flowers. Removing the old flowers as they fade will help to keep flowers coming all summer and fall.

It's nice to have hydrangeas blooming in the fall.

Several hydrangea selections are remontant. Endless Summer and Penny Mac are the best known and are readily available. Both will have blue flowers when planted in our acidic soils, where there is lots of aluminum.

The flowers can change to pink when the pH is increased with lime or when grown in containers, where the mix is low in aluminum.

Proper care

These big-leafed hydrangeas do best when grown in partial shade. Protection from the hot afternoon sun will help prevent wilting. Keep the plants moist and fertilized to keep producing new growth and new flowers.

Hydrangeas need protection from feeding deer. Some of the newer deer repellents seem to work when applied as recommended.

Remontant hydrangeas can be pruned in spring for shape and after the first flush of blooms to control size. They're well-adapted to container plantings for partial shade. In large containers, they can be combined with annuals and perennials to create decorative pots of plants that flower all season long.

Using remontant hydrangeas in shady borders, beds or containers is sure to increase your enjoyment of the garden. Having hydrangea blooms from early summer until frost is guaranteed to reward your hard work and intrigue your gardening friends.

(Jim Midcap is an Extension Service horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)

Jim Midcap is a horticulturist specializing in woody ornamentals with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Jim Midcap
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