Hortensia large-leaved: winter-hardy varieties (review)

For many years gardeners of most of the Central European regions of Russia with envy admired the lushly flowering bushes of garden hydrangeas only in the southern regions and in European gardens. Not so long ago thanks to diligence and perseverance of breeders from different countries and in Russian gardens, a large-leaved hydrangea appeared, whose winter-hardy varieties are able to withstand in our rather difficult climatic conditions and please with abundant flowering.

History of dating

Europeans owe their acquaintance with the hydrangea to the French travelers, who at the end of the XVII century, circumnavigated the world, brought this plant from the island of Mauritius. The first version says that this beautiful flower was named in honor of the sister of one of the expedition members, Prince Charles Heinrich Nassau-Siegen - Princess Hortense. There is another version: this plant named in honor of his beloved Hortensia naturalist and naturalist from France Philibert Kommerson. There is also a completely prosaic version of the origin of the name: from the Latin word hortensis , which means "out of the garden", as the shrubbery was found in the gardens of the governor on the island of Mauritius.

Botanists called this plant hydrangea macrophylla, but the old name is also preserved in another name - garden hydrangea (Hydrangea hortensis). Hydragen is a Greek word and consists of two parts: hydor - water and angeion - a vessel. Thus, it turned out that the name means "vessel with water". Some researchers suggest that the plant received this name because of its seed boxes, very similar to small jugs. According to others, it highlights the high demand of hydrangeas in water.

Botanical description

In nature, large-leaf hydrangea is a shrub whose height can reach 4 meters. In our northern conditions, the plant rarely exceeds two meters. This kind of hydrangeas is also called colored, since the cultural forms can have petals of white, pink and blue color, collected in inflorescences of a globular and much more rarely flat thyroid shape with a diameter of up to 20 cm and more. Relatively recently appeared variety Avantgarde, the inflorescence of which can reach 30 cm in diameter. Flowers of this species hydrangea are simple, semi-double and double. The petals of the flowers of this plant usually have a simple rounded shape, but there are varieties whose fringes are petrified, corrugated and serrated. Rarely there are varieties with a two-tone color, for example Harlequin, Love you kiss or Ripple. In addition, hydrangea large-leaf (ornamental flowers and shrubs) has:

• Erect stems;
• Leaves of simple egg-shaped bright green color;
• Inflorescences of a spherical or flat shape formed at the ends of the shoots.

Flowering lasts from July to August. In each inflorescence there may be two kinds of flowers:

• Fruit-bearing and small in the center;
• External - beautiful and decorative, but sterile.

How do they tolerate the cold?

It is worth noting that for a long time only in the winter gardens and indoor floriculture was found hydrangea large leaf. Winter-resistant varieties of this plant, the appearance of which pleased the gardeners in the late 80s of the last century, differ not only in appearance but also in their negative temperature. So, the varieties of North American breeding tolerate temperatures as low as -15 ⁰ С, and created by European breeders - up to -20 ⁰ С. Regardless of what the developers or sellers say about the variety, in the European part of our country the bushes of this species are better to be sheltered for the winter, Than to survive until spring, they will survive or not.

Stability of varieties

As practice shows, all winter hardy varieties of hydrangea large-leaved can, of course, be conditionally divided into the following groups:

1. Flowering on last year's shoots: Mariesii Grandiflora (White Wave), Mariesii Perfecta (BlueWawe), Alpengluehn, Bouquet Rose, Red Baron (Schoene Bautznerin), Lilacina, Etoile Violette and others.

2. Ever-flowering or remontant. Unlike the first group, they form inflorescences on both last year's and new shoots. These include winter hardened large-leaf hydrangeas of the variety, such as Grant's Choice, for example, as well as Twist-n-Shout, Pink Wonder, Hamburg, Passion.

When buying varieties of this group on the labels, you are sure to find the inscriptions Persistence, Everyblooming or Re-blooming (RE).

Varieties and series

By the end of the 1980s, the first winter-resistant varieties of hydrangea, large-leaved, appeared in America, capable of growing and blossoming in regions with stagnant winters and long, cold springs. One of the "first-born" remontant hydrangeas became Endless Summer - Endless summer. Somewhat later, the Early Sensation grade was more frost-resistant than the Infinite Summer.

Endless Summer Series

An endless summer is a large-leaf hydrangea. Winter-resistant varieties on its basis were obtained with a variety of colors and amounted to the variety Endless Summer:

• Twist-and-Shout;
• Blashing Bride;
• Original (Baimer);
• Bloom Star.

All varieties have bulky and beautiful, round inflorescences, with the exception of Twist-and-Shout, in which it is flat.

Forever & Ever

Over time, the commercially successful Forever & Ever series was created based on Early Sensation, which includes varieties:

• Peppermint;
• Blue Heaven;
• Red Sensation;
• Pink / Blue (Early Sensation);
• White Ball.

On the labels before the name of the variety must indicate a series, for example Forever & Ever Red Sensation.

You & Me Series

Those who prefer a double-leafed large-leaf hydrangea, frost-hardy varieties can be found in the Japanese series You & Me:

• Together;
• Romance;
• Expression;
• Forever;
• Symphony;
• Eternity;
• Love is a novelty of 2015.

Hortensia large-leaved: an overview of new varieties

Every year the number of remontant winter hardy varieties of large-leaf hydrangea increases. We will tell about some novelties.

Endless Summer Bloom Star was created on the basis of the so endless variety Endless Summer. This hydrangea blossoms with large globular inflorescences of blue or pink, whose diameter can reach 18 cm. The color of sterile flowers depends on the acidity of the soil: in more alkaline the color will be pink, and in acidic colors it will be violet-blue. Decorative are not only inflorescences, but also burgundy shoots.

Hovaria Hanabi Rose blooms in large, flat inflorescences 18-25 cm in size. Terry flowers are light pink, but if the soil is acidified, the color changes to blue.

You & Me Love is a novelty this year with delicate pink and double flowers, the inner petals of which are painted in a creamy yellow tint. The color may vary depending on the acidity of the soil.

Endless Summer Blushing Bride - a very interesting variety, characterized by a change in the color of the petals. The buds of this hydrangea are opened in semi-double white flowers, which are gradually colored with a slight pink "blush."

Avantgarde - the variety is not new, but still quite rare in our gardens. The huge size of spherical and dense inflorescences up to 30 cm in diameter is what distinguishes this large hydrangea from hydrangea. Winter-resistant varieties with such large "caps", moreover, and represented by five colors - green, white, blue, lilac and pink - have not yet been created.

To shelter or not?

Most gardeners, having read about the fact that in our conditions does not need shelter for the winter large-leaf hydrangeas (frost-resistant varieties), the discussion unfolded serious both on the Internet and in the pages of magazines. But practice, as it usually happens, put everything in its place. If the gardener wants to enjoy flowering from the beginning of the summer and up to frosts, then, of course, it is worth sheltering. In that case, if you enjoy a very long and abundant flowering from the middle of summer to autumn, then you can not hide. Many who bought large hydrangea seedlings wonder: "How is it written that it hibernates without shelter, and experts say the opposite?" The fact is that the kidneys of the past year, which are not protected from negative winter temperatures, will die, but new shoots, before forming inflorescences and bloom, should still grow. Therefore, before you buy this really beautiful plant, think about whether you can create the most favorable conditions for it.

How to prepare for the winter?

In the central zone of Russia, the preparation of large-leaved hydrangeas for winter should be done already in September. The condition of a good hibernation of the bush will be low humidity. In order that moisture does not fall on the plant, a frame is erected above it and covered with a film from above. Around the hydrangea, special grooves are drilled to divert water and, accordingly, stop watering. In early October, faded inflorescences are removed, all the foliage along with the petioles. In the center of the bush, experts advise, it is best to pour garden soil or peat, you can mix. Stems bind and stack on low wooden shields, boxes or bars. Above, the entire structure is closed with several layers of covering material, for example lutrasil. The tips of shoots can also be sprinkled with peat mixtures or sawdust, after which they cover the entire plant with a polyethylene film.

A few practical tips

First, let us once again draw your attention to the fact that when choosing this or that variety, first of all see how it is adapted to our climatic conditions and is resistant to diseases. Perhaps you will need some knowledge of the particular features of growing large hydrangea in the garden:

• It is advisable to plant plants in loose soil, so that it will wake up more quickly in the spring;
• Plant the plant on an elevated site, since with lower humidity it hibernates better;
• Before sheltering the bush for the winter, it is necessary to feed the earth hydrometry unit with water and feed it with potassium and phosphorus fertilizers;
• Do not hurry in the spring to take shelter, since this shrub hardly tolerates recurrent spring frosts, more difficult than winter frosts;
• After the spring cold passes, do not remove immediately covering the hydrangea spunbond or lutrasil, because the bright sun can burn the tender shoots.