August: Hydrangeas

Late summer-blooming hydrangea shrubs have arrived with their fresh and extravagant blooms. These woody-stemmed hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) mature into large plants that thrive and prosper in full sun an part sun. When planting, make sure to allow extra space for these larger shrubs to mature. The shrub, ‘Limelight,’ with its recognizable, conical panicles of pale-green flowers can grow up to eight feet tall and wide. The flowers of many of the other H. paniculatas range in color from pure-white to cherry to smoldering, burgundy as autumn draws near. The enormous blooms of the hydrangea ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ are piled high like generous scoops of white and pink ice cream.  With such a beautiful selection of gorgeous and hardy plants, it can be difficult to decide between ‘Quick Fire’, ‘Pinky Winky’ and the elegant, Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia). When planting in summer, remember to water deeply to establish a good root system before the winter. In addition, mulch these hardy shrubs to keep them blooming from summer through fall.                          

Try a few of these summer and fall-blooming favorites:

1. ‘Quick Fire’ (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Quick Fire’): This ‘easy-to-grow’ variety blooms a month earlier than most paniculatas, so it will extend the bloom time from early summer until fall. The flowers emerge white and then quickly change to a darker, pinky-red. It is very hardy and adaptable to urban environments—maturing to 6-8 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide in full sun to part sun. Medium green leaves change to yellow or reddish purple in fall.

2. Pinky Winky (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’): Two-toned flowers of white and deep pink mature up to 16-inches long at the end of red stems. It blooms from mid-summer until frost and is drought hardy. The Horticultural Society gave this plant an Award of Garden Merit, their highest rating. It matures up to 6-8 feet tall in sun or part sun.

3. Tardiva or Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Tardiva’): This is a cold-hardy, late-flowering species that blooms in fall. Pointed, white flower heads emerge white and turn purplish-pink with age. Here‘s a hydrangea that isn’t fussy about pruning times—anytime is fine, except right before it blooms. It is a fast-growing shrub that will reach 6-10 feet tall in sun to part shade.

4. Limelight (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’): A large hydrangea known for its light-green flowers that emerge in mid-summer. Blooms change to a blushed pink as autumn closes in. (The blooms are not affected by the ph of the soil like the Big Leaf Hydrangeas (H.macrophylla). This plant thrives in full sun or part sun but blooms more with more sun. It matures from 6 to 8 feet tall and wide and can be pruned into a small tree or standard. It is more tolerant of urban conditions and more drought tolerant than most hydrangeas.

5. Little Lime (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’):  This is a compact version of H. ‘Limelight.’ It grows from 3 to 5 feet tall with full, light-green flowers that become dusted with pink when cooler weather arrives.

6. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): The Oakleaf Hydrangea is one of the few hydrangeas native to the United States. The large, lobed, green leaves with silvery undersides will change into deep-red, bronze or purple tones in the fall, if planted in a sunny location with a little afternoon shade. Strong stems support large, white, conical flowers that bloom from June—fading to pink and then drying to brown on 6-8 feet tall plants. The cinnamon-brown, peeling bark offers texture and color during the winter months along with the dried flower heads. Mulch to retain moisture in soil.

For more information about hydrangeas, visit our website at www.pasquesi.com