In praise of Hydrangeas!

[dellzeqq]

I wouldn't have thought that anybody, outside of those newly retired to South Devon, has planted a hydrangea in the last thirty years. Rhodedendrons, or at least the dwarf ones, are almost rehabilitated. Hydrangeas are the living definition of 'infra-dig'. So, when we inherited a hydrangea in the front garden, we were kind of snooty about it...

But we're snooty no longer. Despite my pruning style being a bit on the brutal side, the hydrangea just keeps coming back for more. Right now the flower heads are just starting to get a tinge of pink. It's both welcome mat and defensive ring.

They'll be cerise by late July, and fade almost to white before being infused with colour again in Autumn. The leaves will go from green to vermilion.

It's both welcome mat and defensive ring. This is the suburban front garden plant that says 'yes, come round for a cuppa, but don't make a habit of it'. It's a sort of blousy, unsophisticated, 'let's just get on with it' kind of a plant. I love it.

 

[Landslide]

I like them for their ability to tell you if a soil is acid or alkaline. But that's about it.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Best year ever for my climbing ones. They must know they are for the chop later when I get my bike store. Stil I managed to get a small root on the back fence.

 

[ianrauk]

Have a Hydrangea in my front garden but no where near as big as yours......(oooh errr missus)
I am pretty brutal as well when it comes to prunning, but it keeps coming back and flowering every year. I was told to keep the dead heads on the plant for as long as possible before pruning

 

[accountantpete]

Mine's a bit temperamental and hasn't flowered for 3 years but looking good so far this year- it's a bit further north and should flower in a couple of weeks time.

 

[User482]

I have three in my front garden. I dig in ericaceous compost to change the colour of the flowers.

 

[Aperitif]

I rely on LSD. Still, each to his own.

 

[badkitty]

I'm still snooty. Hydrangeas are totally foul. It took me 4 years to kill off the one that was in my garden, but I did it and it gives me immense satisfaction everytime I put my bike in the shed that now occupies the space where it used to be.

 

[User482]

I'm still snooty. Hydrangeas are totally foul. It took me 4 years to kill off the one that was in my garden, but I did it and it gives me immense satisfaction everytime I put my bike in the shed that now occupies the space where it used to be.

Each to their own - I feel like that about ivy. It took considerable effort to rid my garden of that particular pestilence!

 

[ianrauk]

Ivy is the devils spawn.. everytime I think I have dug it out it defies me by growing again.

Each to their own - I feel like that about ivy. It took considerable effort to rid my garden of that particular pestilence!

 

[User482]

Ivy is the devils spawn.. everytime I think I have dug it out it defies me by growing again.

I resorted to poisoning it. Took a few goes, but it's not come back for 2 years now, so I might be safe.

 

[snakehips]

Who could not like something like this ....... ?

 

[dellzeqq]

Who could not like something like this ....... ?

that's very much at the refined end of the spectrum. Mine is now turning blowsy...

 

[rich p]

I dislike hydrangeas very much apart from petiolaris. Confine them to the history books, I say, along with buddleja (apart from globosa 0 and lilac.

 

[summerdays]

Who could not like something like this ....... ?

That's lovely ... mine had a severe haircut last autumn when we discovered that the side of the shed was rotten and we needed access to replace that side. I don't think we will get much in the way of flowers this year.