The velvet hydrangea impresses with its voluminous silhouette, two-tone flowers and delicately hairy foliage. If the cultivation of this noble hydrangea species still raises questions, you will receive precise and understandable answers here.
What are the characteristics of the velvet hydrangea and how do I care for it?
The velvet hydrangea is a magnificent type of hydrangea that impresses with its voluminous silhouette, two-tone flowers and delicately hairy foliage. It prefers partially shaded locations, low-lime and moist soils, and needs to be watered and fertilized regularly. In winter, winter protection for the plant is recommended.
Planting velvet hydrangea correctly
Start planting by placing the root ball in a bucket filled with rainwater. Then rake the bed soil thoroughly and create a planting pit that is 1.5 times the height and twice the width of the root ball. Fill the pit with rhododendron soil or a mix of garden soil, ericaceous bed substrate and compost. Proceed as follows:
- Unpot the velvet hydrangea and plant it just as deep as before
- Watering and mulching with ferns, grass clippings, leaves or pine needles
If you form a 10 centimeter high watering edge, the fur hydrangea can better utilize irrigation and rain water.
Care tips
The velvet hydrangea constantly evaporates moisture through its up to 35 centimeter long leaves and countless flowers. In addition, the flowering tree consumes large amounts of plant energy. Therefore, pay attention to these aspects of care:
- Check the soil daily and water immediately if it is dry
- Preferably add collected rainwater or pond water directly to the roots
- From March to the end of August, fertilize with leaf or coniferous compost
- Alternatively, apply a slow-release fertilizer for hydrangeas in March
Before winter, cover the tree disc thickly with leaves, straw and coniferous twigs. To prevent the buds that have already formed from freezing, wrap the branches in felt, jute or breathable garden fleece. Ideally, you should leave the withered flowers on the bush until March so that you can prune them in time before the new shoots appear.read more
Which location is suitable?
The velvet hydrangea thrives in flawless beauty in a partially shaded location, spoiled by morning or evening sun. Avoid a location in the shade because only poor flowers will appear here. The elegant hydrangea should be protected from the blazing midday sun.read more
The correct planting distance
The velvet hydrangea likes to socialize with other types of hydrangeas or rhododendrons. To determine the appropriate planting distance, halve the expected growth width. If you place the fur hydrangea on the edge of the property, the distance to the neighbor should be 1 meter or more.
What soil does the plant need?
Rich in nutrients, low in lime – these are the central requirements for the perfect soil for a velvet hydrangea. Adequate moisture content is of similar importance, without the risk of waterlogging. If in doubt, check the pH value of the soil using a test set (€14.00 on Amazon) from the hardware store or garden center. A score between 4.5 and 5.5 is considered ideal.
What is the best time to plant?
The window of opportunity for successful planting opens twice a year. Plant the velvet hydrangea in the ground in April/May or September/October to give the ornamental tree the best starting conditions.
When is flowering time?
The flowering period of a velvet hydrangea extends over the summer months. Under normal weather conditions, it presents its brilliant flowers from June to September.
Cut velvet hydrangea correctly
The velvet hydrangea produces the buds for the next flower the previous year. We therefore recommend leaving the withered flowers on the bush for the time being as a natural winter protection. In March, cut off everything that has faded and thin out the bush thoroughly at the same time. If the tree is growing over your head, there is nothing wrong with careful pruning immediately after flowering or in early spring. However, the abundance of flowers in the following season is likely to be a little less.read more
Watering velvet hydrangea
The water balance of a velvet hydrangea should not be tilted, neither in one direction nor the other. Therefore, check the soil with a thumb test every 1-2 days and water when the surface is dry. However, it shouldn't be overdone, because the fur hydrangea doesn't want to be confronted with waterlogging. Ideally, you should water directly to the roots with lime-free rainwater or stale tap water.
Fertilize velvet hydrangeas properly
Pamper the velvet hydrangea every 2-3 weeks from March to September with leaf or needle compost and horn shavings. You can optionally fertilize with a special preparation for hydrangeas, which is only administered once in March due to its depot effect.
Wintering
The stable winter hardiness of a velvet hydrangea only develops over the years. Therefore, before the first frost, spread a thick layer of leaves over the roots, covered with pine fronds. Since the tree enters the cold season with buds already formed, wrap the branches with jute ribbons or put a felt bag over them.
Propagate velvet hydrangea
Propagate the velvet hydrangea on your own is fun and easy on the wallet. How good that there are several methods to choose from that are easy to carry out:
- Cut head cuttings in June/July, defoliate except for 2 leaves and let them root in peat sand
- Pull the sinker to the ground, bury the middle part, form the tip on a wooden stick and maintain it until next year
Dividing the root ball is also possible. To do this, dig up the fur hydrangea in spring or autumn, cut the roots in half and plant each segment in the new location.read more
How do I transplant correctly?
The best date for a change of location is in the fall. Since the velvet hydrangea doesn't have to bloom again straight away, do this on an overcast, mild day in August or September:
- Pick off the root ball all around in the radius of the growth height
- Dig up the fur hydrangea so that as much soil as possible remains on it
At the new location, the planting pit is first watered in order to plant the shrub at the same depth as before. Then water again and spread a 5 centimeter high layer of mulch.
Velvet hydrangea in pot
Since a velvet hydrangea reaches impressive dimensions of up to 3 meters, coupled with a rapid growth rate, we advise against cultivating it in a pot. Much more suitable for planters are delicate plate hydrangeas and delicate varieties of farmer's hydrangeas.
Yellow leaves
With yellow leaves, the velvet hydrangea signals a nutrient deficiency caused by soil that is too calcareous. A typical symptom of this leaf chlorosis are the green veins that run through the yellowed leaves. From now on, only water with soft water and fertilize specifically with a special iron fertilizer for the rest of the season.
The most beautiful varieties
- Macrophylla: the variety stretches up to 3.50 meters towards the sky, covered with countless flowers in purple and white
- Hot Chocolate: this velvet hydrangea owes its name to its chocolate-brown young shoots
- Kawakami: impresses with its tightly upright growth up to 2 meters and pink flowers surrounded by white
