Perfect for container gardening, hydrangeas take center stage with long lasting color. These stars are the quintessential elegance of summer. Big, bold flowers strike a pose all by themselves. In order for these shrubs to sustain container life in New England, the soil preparation, watering and overwintering required are very different than hydrangeas planted in the ground. Endless Summer Blooms has three easy pointers to ensure their survival.
There are several varieties within the hydrangea family that would be magnificant in a pot. Hydrangea Macrophylla, big leafed hydrangea, are suited best for shade, or morning sun, afternoon shade. Macrophyllas, ‘Boomstruck’, ‘Endless Summer’, ‘Blushing Bride’, tolerate the sun, but tend to get stage fright and act like they can’t go on!(actually they wilt). Boasting favored degrees of pink, blue, purple & white varieties all have equally stunning impact. Paniculatas, like ‘Bobo’, ‘Little Lime’, ‘Strawberry Sundae’, ‘Little Quickfire’ all worship the sun with huge cone-shaped, white blooms that are tinged either green & pink of varying degrees. Serratas are known as mountain hydrangeas and are similar to macrophylla except for their size – smaller plant, smaller flowers, ‘Tiny Tuff Stuff’ is a RG favorite. Arboresens, ‘Annabelle’ and ‘Incrediball’, the smooth leaf hydrangeas or wild hydrangeas, offer mostly fertile flower heads that provide nectar to beneficial insects and butterflies. They are best in part shade but tolerates a good deal of sun in the northern parts of its range. But Hydrangea Anomala Petiolaris, a strong heavy vine, would not suit the confines of a pot, but is a really worthy ground cover. Few know that they are actually prettiest as a ground cover rather than trying to grow them as a vertical climber.
Using a lightweight container or glazed vs. terra-cotta which is hard to keep watered, would be our recommendation. A well drained potting soil with some added organic compost and regular fertilizing should keep them flowering three or four months.