Hydrangeas at Dawn Gardens

Hydrangeas are some of my favorite plants but unfortunately the summer weather in Grass Valley is not conducive to growing them. There are many days in July and August when the temperature reaches over 100 degrees and the Hydrangeas wilt.

I have installed a mister for each plant that increases the humidity. The plants do better with higher humidity and plenty of water.

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ new flower above and old flower below. One of the best white Hydrangeas.

Hydrangea ‘Annabelle’ in January
This is a good dried flower that will last for years inside.

Hydrangea ‘Pistachio ‘

Hydrangea grandiflora new, blue and old over a period of 2 months.

You can change the color of many Hydrangeas by changing the soil PH. By applying different fertilizers. Acid soils produce blue flowers and alkaline soils produce pink flowers. Aluminum sulfate will produce acid soils and lime will produce alkaline soils. Purple is the transition color.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Cityline Paris’

Lacecap Hydrangeas have an outer ring of petaled sterile flowers surrounding a mass of tiny fertile flowers.

A new double pink Hydrangea

Hydrangea flowers last a long time as cut flowers and also outside on the plant. The photo below was taken in December after blooming on the plant since July.

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) has beautiful branches with flaking bark and great fall color.

Before and after pruning Oakleaf Hydrangea.

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Pee Wee’

Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Ruby Slippers’

Fall color of Hydrangea ‘Hornli’

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ in July.

‘Vanilla Strawberry’ in September.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘BoBo’

Hydrangea semanii is a slow growing vine.

Hydrangeas are usually pruned in December or January along with roses. This is an example of a properly pruned Hydrangea. Some varieties may not bloom the following year if pruned this severely. For those H. grandiflora varieties just remove the stem with the flowers; the other stems will bloom the next year.