Best of bunch: Hydrangea (From Worcester News)

Best of bunch: Hydrangea

9:46am Monday 8th September 2008 in Gardening

For some years these late-flowering shrubs have had a rather dated, oldfashioned image, but having just returned from Brittany, which was awash with them, I think it’s time for a revival.

In fact, hydrangeas are a valuable addition to the late summer border when most other shrubs are fading.

Their big globes of flowers in shades of blue, pink and white can cover almost the whole bush and they can even be grown successfully as hedging plants if you have enough space.

The most popular types are the mopheads, also known as hortensias, which grow to about 1.5m (5ft) and produce the round flowers.

I also like the more delicatelooking lacecaps which have flat flower-heads with large outer flowers and much smaller ones in the middle.

If you want blue flowers the plants will need acid soil, although you can buy blueing powder from garden centres.

Hydrangeas are most happy in rich soil in light shade and they like plenty of water. There is also some winter interest from their faded flowerheads, which shouldn’t be cut off until March, protecting new growth from harsh frosts.