Hydrangea Plant

Providing a profusion of white, pink, lilac or blue flowers, as well as two-toned varieties, the hydrangea is a popular, easy to grow landscape plant.

They can be used as foundation plantings in groups, or become the focal point of a garden bed.

Hydrangea Care

Grow hydrangea in partial shade to full sun. In warmer climates, provide some shade, and water more often when in full sun to keep the plant from drying out.

The plant prefers evenly moist, rich, well-draining soil. Add compost at planting and mulch annually for moisture retention and to provide nutrients.

Lush growth and large flowers depend on adequate and consistent watering. For bigger flowers, thin some of the stems. Remove spent flowers to promote additional flowers.

The color of your hydrangea flowers can change. The amount of aluminum in the soil affects the flower color. The pH level of the soil affects the plant's ability to utilize the aluminum.

Soils that are high in aluminum are acidic, making the flowers blue. Soils that are low in or lacking aluminum are alkaline, making the flowers pink.

Neutral soils can produce flowers that are a combination of pale blue and pink, or pale purple. Add lime to reduce acidity for pink blooms, and aluminum sulfate to increase acidity for blue blooms.

Pests and Diseases

Red spiders and aphids will occasionally attack a hydrangea plant. An insecticidal soap or mild spray should alleviate this problem.

Blight, leaf spots and powdery mildew are common diseases in hydrangea and can be eliminated with a fungicide.

Pruning Hydrangea

In early spring, the plant should be pruned to maintain the size and shape desired. Dead or winter damaged stems should be cut back to the ground. Older branches can be cut to the ground as well. Flower clusters will grow on the current season's new wood growth.

Propagating Hydrangea Plants

Take cuttings from new growth anytime from April through August. Take a cutting, with two or three pairs of leaves, about six to eight inches long from a non-flowering stem. Remove the lower set of leaves and plant in a pot of sandy soil in the shade.

Cover with clear plastic wrap and keep the soil moist until roots have formed. Transplant the cuttings to the garden or larger containers.

You can also collect seeds from the flower heads, but this will take quite awhile to grow to a shrub-sized plant.

Hang a flower head upside down until it is dry. Place it into a bag and shake it, loosening the fine seeds.

Scatter the seeds on the surface of a pot of soil and mist it to moisten the soil and the seed.

Keep the pot in a warm, sunny area for about two weeks, until germination, keeping it consistently moist.

Although this process will take longer, with patience it can provide you with multiple plants.

Hydrangea plants have been a favorite of gardeners for many years.

They are long-lived, easy to grow and provide beautiful flowers that are each as big as a bouquet.

They dry beautifully and are great in a vase or basket, fresh cut or dried. They offer varieties that can suit any gardener's needs.