Martin’s Garden Notes
Hydrangeas are a staple of the summer garden and it is a pleasure to have so many varieties to choose from. Many visitors remark on how beautiful these plants are during the summer. Here is a guide to the varieties.
Endless Summer: New hybrid blue mophead blooms late into summer.
Nikko Blue: The large double blue “snowball” type grows to 5-6 feet tall.
Lacecap: lacy light blue outer petals with darker inner buds.
Glowing Embers: Lighter pink blooms will stay pink with a little lime.
Merritt’s Supreme: Carmine red blooms with greenish centers.
Pink Elf: Small mophead grows to 2 feet, pink to purple blooms.
Pink Lacecap: Turns purple in acid soil, lime to keep pink.
Tokyo Delight: White outer florets with purple/pink inner buds.
Arborescens Anna Belle: Pure white, does not turn pink, tolerates shade.
All these types will turn pink with lime or blue/purple in acid soil (use aluminum sulfate).
Climbing Hydrangea: climbs like ivy with white lacecap blooms.
Hydrangea Pee Gee: is an August bloomer with cone shaped blooms turning pink with age.
These also come in tree form.
Kyushi: is a lacy form of PG that blooms earlier and Limelight opens greenish.
Pink Diamond: has pink lacy blooms.
Oakleaf Hydrangea: has white blooms and oakleaf shaped leaves that turn purple-red in the fall.
Island Garden Shop, Inc.
54 Bristol Ferry Rd.
Portsmouth, RI 02871