Plant of the Month

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs that provide elegant flowers to any southern garden during the summer months.  There are numerous varieties and types of hydrangeas with ranges of colors.  Though there are too many varieties to mention, you can generally look at hydrangeas in three groups, Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea quercifolia, and Hydrangea paniculata. 

Hydrangea macrophylla include ones commonly called bigleaf, mop head, lacecap, and French hydrangeas.  The big leaf types are among the most common of the hydrangeas.  The flower color of this group of hydrangeas can be changed to blue (acidic soil) or pink (alkaline soil) depending upon the soil pH.

Hydrangea quercifolia are known as oakleaf hydrangeas.  Oakleaf hydrangeas provide a showy display of white flowers and have leaves that are similarly shaped to an oak leaf.  Oakleaf hydrangeas not only provide an attractive flower display in the summer but also provide in interest during the other seasons through fall foliage color and attractive bark. 

Hydrangea paniculata is a group called PeeGee hydrangeas.  PeeGee hydrangeas can be 10 to 25 foot tall.  Instead of ball-shaped blooms, PeeGee hydrangeas have panicle-shaped blossoms.  A popular PeeGee hydrangea cultivar is ‘Limelight.’

Hydrangeas are a plant that should be considered in the landscape for showy color throughout the summer season.

Jessica Strickland is an Agriculture Extension Agent, specializing in horticulture for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.  Forward any questions you would like answered from this month’s column to Jessica.Strickland@waynegov.com.