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Hydrangea is great in Mississippi landscapes
Mississippi Gardens Newspaper and Web Column - June 14, 2004

The massive blooms of big leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophyla) have been spectacular this spring in south Mississippi. With a show like we've seen it's easy to explain the resurgence in popularity of this old garden favorite.

Shopping for big leaf hydrangea can be fun and challenging especially when you realize that there are more than 500 cultivars to choose from! It's really not difficult, though, because so many of them are really good and will do exceptionally well in Mississippi landscapes.

With its own unique appearance, lace cap hydrangeas provide attractive, delicate blooms that draw attention to the shrub border in early summer.

Big leaf hydrangeas are divided into two groups of cultivars with the most notable difference in their flowers.

The first group, Hortensias, is the most well known big leaf hydrangea. These rounded shrubs may grow three to five feet tall and as wide. The lustrous medium green leaves are ovate with serrate edges and up to nine inches long. The flower clusters are large and rounded, typically blue or pink and huge. They are typically six to eight inches long and four to six inches wide. Some cultivars feature larger flowers, like the one we measured this spring that was one foot across. It was about the size of a dinner plate!

The other group of big leaf hydrangea is the Lace Cap. The shrub size and leaves are very similar to Hortensias, but the flower clusters are attractively flattened and more delicate in appearance. Flowers are pink, blue or white. The dainty flower clusters of the lace cap consist of a center of subtle blooms surrounded by larger more showy flowers giving this hydrangea a unique look.

Most who are familiar with hydrangea know that flower color is affected by soil pH. An easy way to remember the soil pH and corresponding bloom color is to think of colors associated with boys and girls. Boys tend to have low pitched voices and their color is blue. So, to obtain blue flower color a low pH (5.0 to 5.5) is needed. Little girls tend to have high-pitched voices and, of course, their color is pink. To get pink hydrangea blooms, a high pH of 6.0 to 6.5 or more is needed.

Big leaf hydrangea is easily propagated with perhaps the best time being late spring and early summer. A little rooting hormone and moist environment will speed the process. Containerized plants should be transplanted into areas that will receive about a half day of sunlight. Morning sun, afternoon shade is preferred.

Hydrangea will grow and survive best when the soil has been amended with organic matter such as peat or compost and where it can be watered during dry periods. Mulching is good to conserve moisture. Prune hydrangeas immediately after flowering since flowers originate on buds formed on the previous seasons growth.

Hydrangeas are great for any Mississippi landscape. If you can't find one available now in garden centers, try rooting some cuttings from your neighbor's yard. Happy gardening!

Publications may download photographs at 200 dpi: Flower | Bush

These archived columns were written by Kerry Johnson, a hobby gardener, former weekly newspaper columnist and an Area Extension Horticulture Agent for 11 coastal counties in Mississippi.