For many years, gardeners in most of the Central European regions of Russia enviously admired the lush flowering garden hydrangea bushes only in the southern regions and in European gardens. Not so long ago, thanks to the efforts and perseverance of breeders from different countries and in Russian gardens, large-leaved hydrangea appeared, winter-hardy varieties of which are able to withstand in our rather difficult climatic conditions and please with abundant flowering.
Dating history
Europeans owe their acquaintance with hydrangea to French travelers who, at the end of the 17th century, having circumnavigated the globe, brought this plant from the island of Mauritius. The first version says that they named this beautiful flower in honor of the sister of one of the participants in the expedition, Prince Karl Heinrich Nassau-Siegen - Princess Hortense. There is another version: this plant was named after his beloved Hortense by a naturalist and naturalist from France Philibert Commerson. There is also a very prosaic version of the origin of the name: from the Latin word hortensis , which means “from the garden”, since the bush was found in the gardens of the governor on the island of Mauritius.
Botanists called this plant large-leaf hydrangia (Hydrangea macrophylla), but the old name was also preserved in another name - garden hydrangea (Hydrangea hortensis). Hydrogenia is the Greek word and consists of two parts: hydor - water and angeion - vessel. Thus, it turned out that the name means "vessel with water." Some researchers suggest that the plant received this name because of its seed boxes, very similar to small pitchers. According to others, it emphasizes the high need for hydrangea in water.
Botanical Description
In nature, large-leaved hydrangea is a shrub whose height can reach 4 meters. In our northern conditions, the plant rarely exceeds two meters. This type of hydrangea is also called colored, since cultural forms can have petals of white, pink and blue color, collected in inflorescences of spherical and much more rarely flat thyroid shape with a diameter of up to 20 cm and more.
Avantgarde variety has appeared relatively recently, the inflorescences of which can reach 30 cm in diameter. Flowers of this type of hydrangia are simple, semi-double and double. The flower petals of this plant usually have a simple rounded shape, but there are varieties in which the petals are fringed, corrugated and serrated. Varieties with a two-tone color, such as Harlequin, Love you kiss or Ripple, are quite rare. In addition,
large-leaved hydrangea (ornamental flowers and shrubs) has:
- erect stems;
- leaves of a simple egg-shaped bright green color;
- inflorescences spherical or flat in shape, formed at the ends of the shoots.
Flowering lasts from July to August. In each inflorescence, the presence of flowers of two types is possible:
- fruiting and small in the center;
- external - beautiful and decorative, but sterile.
How is the cold tolerated?
It is worth noting that for a long time only in winter gardens and indoor floriculture did hydrangea large-leaved occur.
Winter-hardy varieties of this plant, the appearance of which pleased gardeners in the late 80s of the last century, differ not only in appearance, but also in the negative temperature they withstand. So, varieties of North American selection calmly tolerate temperatures up to -15
0 , and created by European breeders - up to -20
0 . Regardless of what the developers or sellers say about the variety, in the conditions of the European part of our country it is better to cover shrubs of this type for the winter, than to survive until spring, they will survive or not.
Resistance varieties
As practice has shown, all winter-hardy varieties of large-leaved hydrangea can, of course, conditionally be divided into the following groups:
1. Blooming on last year's shoots: Mariesii Grandiflora (White Wave), Mariesii Perfecta (BlueWawe), Alpengluehn, Bouquet Rose, Red Baron (Schoene Bautznerin), Lilacina, Etoile Violette and others.
2. Everblooming or remontant. Unlike the first group, they form inflorescences both on last year's and on new shoots. These include winter-hardy repairing large-leaved hydrangea varieties such as Grant`s Choice, for example, as well as Twist-n-Shout, Pink Wonder, Hamburg, Passion.
When buying varieties of this group on the labels, you will definitely find Persistence, Everyblooming or Re-blooming (RE).
Varieties and series
By the end of the 80s of the 20th century, the first winter-hardy varieties of large-leaved hydrangea appeared in America, capable of growing and blooming in regions with cold winters and long, cold springs. One of the "first-born" of maintenance hydrangeas was the Endless Summer variety - Endless Summer. A little later on the market, a more frost-resistant variety, Early Sensation, was introduced than Endless Summer.
Endless Summer Series
Endless summer is large-leaved hydrangea. Winter-hardy varieties based on it were obtained with a variety of colors and made up the Endless Summer variety group:
- Twist-and-Shout;
- Blashing Bride
- Original (Baimer);
- Bloom Star.
All varieties have voluminous and beautiful, round inflorescences, with the exception of Twist-and-Shout, in which it is flat.
Forever & ever
Over time, the commercially successful Forever & Ever series was created on the basis of the Early Sensation variety, which includes the following varieties:
- Peppermint;
- Blue heaven;
- Red sensation;
- Pink / Blue (Early Sensation);
- White Ball.
The labels before the name of the variety must indicate the series, for example Forever & Ever Red Sensation.
You & Me Series
Those who like terry large-leaved hydrangea, frost-resistant varieties can be found in the Japanese series You & Me:
- Together;
- Romance
- Expression
- Forever
- Symphony
- Eternity;
- Love is the pink novelty of 2015.
Leafy hydrangea: a review of new varieties
Every year, the number of repairing winter-hardy varieties of large-leaved hydrangea is increasing. Let's talk about some of the new products.
Endless Summer Bloom Star was created on the basis of the Endless Summer variety so beloved by many. This hydrangea blooms with large spherical inflorescences of blue or pink color, the diameter of which can reach 18 cm. The color of sterile flowers depends on the acidity of the soil: in more alkaline the color will be pink, and in acid - violet-blue. Not only inflorescences are decorative, but also burgundy shoots.
Hovaria Hanabi Rose blooms in large, flat inflorescences of 18-25 cm in size. The flowers are terry, light pink, but if you acidify the soil, they change color to blue.
You & Me Love is the novelty of this year with delicate pink and double flowers, the inner petals of which are painted in a creamy yellow hue. Color may vary depending on soil acidity.
Endless Summer Blushing Bride is a very interesting variety, characterized by a change in the color of the petals. The buds of this hydrangea open in semi-double white flowers, which are gradually painted with a light pink “blush”.
Avantgarde - the variety is already new, but still quite rare in our gardens. The huge size of spherical and dense inflorescences with a diameter of up to 30 cm is what distinguishes this large-leaved hydrangea from others. Winter-hardy varieties with such large "caps", and even represented by five colors - green, white, blue, lilac and pink - have not yet been created.
Shelter or not?
Most gardeners, having read that under our conditions large-leaved hydrangea (frost-resistant varieties) do not need shelter for the winter, a serious discussion was launched both on the Internet and on the pages of magazines. But practice, as it usually happens, put everything in its place.
If a gardener wants to enjoy flowering from the beginning of summer and right up to frost, then it’s worth sheltering, of course. In that case, if not very long and plentiful flowering from mid-summer to autumn will please, then you can not hide. Many who bought seedlings of large-leaved hydrangea are perplexed: "How is it written that it hibernates without shelter, but experts say otherwise?" The fact is that last year's buds not protected from negative winter temperatures will die, but new shoots must still grow before they form inflorescences and bloom. Therefore, before you get this really beautiful plant, think about whether you can create the most favorable conditions for it.
How to prepare for winter?
In central Russia, the preparation of large-leaved hydrangea for winter should be taken up in September. The condition for a good wintering of the bush will be reduced humidity. In order to prevent moisture from entering the plant, a frame is erected above it and covered with a film on top. Around the hydrangea, special grooves are dug to drain water and, accordingly, stop watering. At the beginning of October, faded inflorescences, all foliage along with petioles are removed. In the center of the bush, experts advise, it is best to pour garden soil or peat, you can mix. The stems are tied and stacked on low wooden boards, boxes or bars. From above, the entire structure is closed with several layers of covering material, for example, lutrasil. The tips of the shoots can also be sprinkled with a peat-earth mixture or sawdust, after which they cover the entire plant with a thick plastic film.
Some practical tips
First, let us once again draw your attention to the fact that, when choosing a particular variety, first of all, see how it is adapted to our climatic conditions and is resistant to diseases. Perhaps you need knowledge of some features of growing large-leaved hydrangea in the garden:
- it is advisable to plant plants in loose soil, so that it wakes up faster in the spring;
- plant a plant in an elevated area, since it is better to hibernate at low humidity;
- Before sheltering the bush for the winter, it is imperative to saturate the earthen hydrangea with water and feed it with potash and phosphorus fertilizers;
- Do not rush to take shelter in the spring, as this shrub can hardly tolerate spring return frosts, more difficult than winter frosts;
- after the spring cold has passed, do not immediately remove the spanbond or lutrasil hiding the hydrangea, because the bright sun can burn delicate shoots.