“The earth laughs in flowers,” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The earth must be laughing now, with so many flowers blooming among the lush greens, the roses, lilies, and sunflowers dancing on breezes at every turn. Oh joy! And what brings more joy to the senses than the big fluffy mopheads or delicate lacey layers of a hydrangea flower? They give an overwhelming sense that these beautiful warm sunny days, filled with color and fragrance, will last forever. And they can! Many hydrangea flowers can be harvested, dried and brought indoors to keep that sensation alive for the remainder of the year and beyond!
Hydrangeas were first cultivated in Asia thousands of years ago. In the United States they were introduced to gardeners in the 1730s by the self-taught botanist John Bartram, who travelled throughout the south documenting indigenous plants and gathering seeds. The white flowering native Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) was among the seeds he took back to plant at his farm near Philadelphia (now Bartram's Garden), which is the oldest botanical garden to survive in North America. Around the same time, Japanese Bigleaf varieties (Hydrangea macrophylla) with their blue flowers were introduced to Europe by Swedish naturalist Carl Peter Thunberg who acquired plants from Japan. They, too, were soon available in the U.S. and as availability grew, they became a garden staple by the 19th century.
Hydrangeas remain a popular plant in New England, especially along the seacoast. Images of mophead and lacecap hydrangeas, that bloom in an almost surreal celestial blue, seem to be synonymous with gray shingled cottages, white picket fences and sandy beaches. There are several varieties of hydrangea available here in Maine. The Bigleaf varieties mentioned above are probably the most common, with names such as 'Endless Summer,' 'Let's Dance,' 'Annabelle,' and 'Eclipse.' They range in height and width from three to six feet, typically with blue flowers, but depending on the acidity of the soil can range from purples to pinks. The naturally acidic soil here in New England keeps them blue – their change in color can actually act as natural pH indicator! They are hardy to Zone 3, but can die back completely to the ground during a harsh winter, preventing or delaying flowering for the following summer. Protecting with a burlap wrap or mulching is recommended. In June when they leaf out, any remaining dead stems should be removed. They bloom from July to frost on old wood (the previous year's growth), as well as on new wood that emerges each summer. These hydrangeas perform best in bright morning sun, with some shade in the afternoon. Too much afternoon sun can cause the plant to wilt on hot summer days. Too much shade may inhibit flowering.
Hydrangea paniculata (Panicle hydrangea), the most common being the 'Peegee' (Grandiflora), bloom later in summer through the fall. Their round or cone-shaped blossoms come in shades of white that age to bronze, pink and reddish tones. They can grow to be as tall as twenty feet with large white flowers up to eighteen inches long! They are excellent for drying and can be pruned to form a single stemmed tree. More compact varieties that grow three to five feet tall include, 'Lime Light,' 'Strawberry Sundae' and 'Pink Winky Prime.'
The native Oakleaf Hydrangeas have lovely exfoliating bark, which is an asset to the winter landscape. Their lovely leaves, that do resemble oak leaves, turn a rich burgundy in fall. They however, are only hardy to Zone 5. Another type altogether is the climbing hydrangea (animola ssp. Petiolaris). It is a vine native to Asia, and a very slow grower. With patience it can reach to 80 feet high! Their lovely lacecap flowers are white with a beautiful fragrance. They can grow quiet happily in full shade, but can take some sun, and make a marvelous companion to fences, arbors and even to the trunk of large well established shade tree.
There are lots to choose from and so many more than can be mentioned here. Local nurseries are a great resource for these plants and can provide information to ensure the best plant is selected for individual growing conditions. Why not add a little endless summer to the garden before it is too late?
