TheMondayGarden.com

The Monday Garden, Eco-gardening at its best

August 6, 2005, Issue 176

Hydrangea pom-poms are as sub/urban as the rhododendron, and golden retriever. However, did you know that of the 5 hydrangea varieties most popular here in North American, two are natives and only one (an Asian) turns color depending on the PH? If you are a sub/urban denizen, it’s good to know something about this ubiquitous plant, if only for making small talk at parties.

Picture: close-up view of a big-leaf hydrangea flower. Bedford Street, Stamford CT August 2005

Hydrangeas, part of the large Saxifragaceae (“stone breaker”) family, come in about 100 varieties and countless hybrids. Interestingly, hydrangeas are native only to the Americas and Asia (including Japan, Korea, China, the Himalayas, and Indonesia), yet a good part of the hybridizing, particularly early on, took place in Europe.

GROWING HYDRANGEA

Growing conditions: Garden hydrangeas, like many popular things suburban, are dependable and forgiving so they are a good “starter” plant for a new gardener. It is said that fossils of hydrangeas have been found in North America that date back some 40 to 70 million years; and that those found in Asia date back at least 25 million years. Accordingly, hydrangeas can survive just about anything. All you need to do to continue this tradition is duplicate hydrangeas’ natural edge-of-forest growing conditions. Plant in sun or up to half-shade, with well-drained soil with good organic matter, and give them at least average moisture, more in full sun. They are fairly drought hardy but do best with adequate moisture.