Hydrangea

Some gardeners think of hydrangeas as boring shrubs for old ladies, used to fill up the dark side of the house. I admit I was less than committed when I first took some cuttings from the one existing plant here.

There were no obvious places to grow hydrangeas here in the early days of the garden, and if my cuttings hadn't been successful I might have forgotten hydrangeas completely.

blue hydrangea flower head

The existing plant was happily thriving by the path outside the laundry. Its blooms start off blue and then changed in Autumn to a mottled wine colour. It enjoys morning sun only. I don't prune this hydrangea until spring, and use its flower-heads in dried flower arrangements.

Lacecap Hydrangeas

Now I have some different varieties, and one of my favourites is a blue lacecap hydrangea which lives with some others in the Apple Tree border under the old fruit trees. Also in here is a white one which has huge flower heads that glow at dusk. There is just enough water for the hydrangeas to be happy, and dappled shade to protect them from the midday sun.

Lacecap Hydrangea

Recently I found some pot bound specimens of the oak-leaved hydrangea "Quercifolia" at a plant sale, and brought them home. I've planted these in the proposed woodland area over the water race, and am already enjoying the cream flowers and the beautiful leaf form.