Hydrangeas have long since shaken off their outdated image of only being shade bloomers in midsummer. Modern hydrangea varieties open the window wide for a flowering season that lasts months. Read here when the most beautiful hydrangeas bloom. These factors promote long-lasting blooms and great flower colors.
When are hydrangeas in season?
The hydrangea season now extends from spring to late summer. Early-flowering varieties such as ball hydrangea 'Endless Summer', climbing hydrangea 'Flying Saucer' and farmer's hydrangea 'Magical Revolution' open the season. Panicle, viburnum and plate hydrangeas follow in summer.
When are hydrangeas in season?
When the first hydrangea specimens arrived in Europe at the end of the 18th century, the hydrangea season extended from June to August. This status was maintained for a long time until the breeding of long-flowering varieties gained momentum in the 2000s. Since then, the flowering bushes have experienced a meteoric rise as highly valued flower beauties for beds and containers.
Assuming a clever combination of varieties, the hydrangea season now extends fromspring to late summer. Read the following sections for useful information about a long hydrangea flowering period.
Which hydrangeas bloom in spring?
Thanks to modern varieties, hydrangea flowers are now a familiar eye-catcher in beds and pots on Mother's Day. The following overview introduces you to three beautiful hydrangeas that open theseason in spring:
- Ball hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) 'Endless summer' bears blue or pink flowers from May.
- Climbing hydrangea 'Flying saucer' (Hydrangea petiolaris) shines with pure white, bee-friendly flowers from May to July.
- Farmer hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) 'Magical Revolution', whose spherical inflorescences develop a sensational blue-green-purple or pink-green-pink color from May to October.
Which hydrangeas bloom in summer?
In summer, the season of panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata), snowball hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) and plate hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) begins. Now hobby gardeners are spoiled for choice with more than 100 varieties. Three legendary premium hydrangeas for anextended summer season names the following overview:
- Panicle hydrangea 'Wims Red' with a furious play of colors in white, pink and bright red from July to September.
- Snowball hydrangea 'Annabelle' with huge, creamy white flower balls from July to October.
- Plate hydrangea 'Blue Bird' with delicate purple to blue inflorescences from July to November.
What is important for a long hydrangea bloom?
The combination of spring-blooming and summer-blooming hydrangeas is the first step on the way to a never-ending hydrangea season. Other factors contribute significantly to along flowering period:
- Location: partially shaded, nutrient-rich, fresh-moist, loose-drained, acidic pH value from 4.0 to 6.0.
- Care: water regularly with low-lime water, fertilize weekly from March to August with special hydrangea fertilizer (€8.00 on Amazon) or alum for an intense blue color of the flowers.
- Pruning: depending on the type of hydrangea and cutting group, simply clean it out in early spring (e.g. farmer's hydrangeas) or cut back heavily (e.g. panicle hydrangeas).
Tip
Hydrangeas in pots need winter protection
As potted plants, hydrangeas are only partially hardy. Equipped with the right winter protection, a hydrangea can overwinter outside in a pot. Cover the pot with foil and a thick coconut mat that extends 10 cm beyond the edge of the container. Mulch the root disc with leaves and coniferous twigs. Place the pot on a block of wood in a shady location protected from wind and rain.