Hydrangea Sunday Fries (Sundae Fraise) - description of the variety and its cultivation
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Hydrangea Sunday Fraise (Sundae Fraise) belongs to the paniculate variety of culture. This variety is distinguished by exquisite compact inflorescences, for which it received universal recognition. As a result, he was awarded a silver medal at the Plantarium International Exhibition, which was held in Holland in 2010. In terms of its appearance, the shrub is in many ways similar to the well-known variety Vanilla Freise. But at the same time it has some differences.
Description of the variety of hydrangea Sunday Fries and its characteristics
Hydrangea Sundae Fraise belongs to the category of new varieties. But at the same time it has already gained wide popularity not only among landscape designers, but also among amateur flower growers. This was due to the high decorative qualities of the plant and the relative ease of care.
Hydrangea Sunday Fries is characterized by compact shrubs
Hydrangea paniculata Sunday Frize has French roots. It was bred thanks to the efforts of Jeannot Reno. His goal was to obtain a compact perennial shrub with delicate, elegant inflorescences. And he managed to do this about 10 years ago.
Features of the variety
Sundae Fraise hydrangea is described as a deciduous perennial shrub with upright shoots. The height varies within 1.0-1.2 m, and the width of the rounded crown is 1.2 m. The plant is characterized by strong branches that easily withstand the load during the flowering period.
The leaves of the plant are elliptical, reaching a length of 12 cm. The plates are slightly pubescent from above, and stronger on the back. Their shade is light green. The shoots of this variety are brown-brown with long internodes. The root system of the Sunday Freise hydrangea grows in width, therefore it is located superficially.
Inflorescences have the shape of a panicle, consist purely of sterile flowers. When the buds open, they have a rich white tint, but later they turn pink. Therefore, on the shrub, there can be inflorescences of different colors at the same time, which gives a special charm to the plant.
The flowering period of the Sanday Fries paniculata hydrangea begins in the second half of June and lasts until October. The variety is suitable for outdoor cultivation.
Winter hardiness
This hydrangea variety does not suffer from frost and easily tolerates temperatures as low as -35 degrees. But, despite this, the plant needs shelter, since young shoots do not differ in increased frost resistance and can freeze over in winter, and also suffer from spring return frosts.
Planting and further care of the panicle hydrangea Sundae Fraise
For the full development of the shrub and lush flowering, it is necessary to properly plant and provide further care. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself in advance with the basic requirements of the culture, and pay attention to some features of the variety.
Site selection and preparation
Hydrangea Sand Fraz, as domestic gardeners sometimes call it, must be placed in places with openwork penumbra and protection from drafts. This variety does not tolerate direct sunlight, since when they hit the leaves, burns are formed, and the inflorescences are significantly smaller.
The shrub prefers well-drained soil with an acidity level of 4 to 6.5 pH. The intensity of the shade directly depends on this indicator.
2 weeks before planting, it is recommended to dig up the site, and also prepare a planting hole 50 by 50 cm.It must be filled with a nutrient mixture of humus, topsoil and leafy earth in a ratio of 1: 2: 2. Additionally, 40 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulphide should be added.
How to plant
Planting this type of hydrangea must be carried out according to the standard scheme. It is recommended to do this in mid-April - early May.
Procedure:
- Make a small elevation in the center of the landing pit.
- Put a seedling on it and spread the roots.
- Sprinkle them with earth, shaking the plant periodically to fill the voids.
- Compact the surface at the base and then water liberally.
When planting, the root collar should be at the level of the soil
Watering and feeding
The Sunday Fraise hydrangea does not tolerate drought well. Therefore, it is necessary to water the plant as needed so that the soil is always slightly moist.
At the same time, moisture stagnation should not be allowed.
Pruning
It is not recommended to do cardinal pruning of this shrub, since its flower buds are located at the tops of the shoots.
In the fall, wilted inflorescences should be removed, and in the spring, frozen sections of the branches.
Preparing for winter
Despite the increased frost resistance of the variety, the plant needs to be covered for the winter in order to preserve the flower buds.
- It is recommended to bend young seedlings to the ground, laying spruce branches under them, and cover them with agrofibre on top.
- For adult bushes, a wooden frame is required, which should subsequently be wrapped in non-woven material.
Reproduction of hydrangea Sunday Fries
To obtain young seedlings of this panicle hydrangea, it is recommended to use cuttings or layers.
Cuttings need to be cut into a length of 10-15 cm
The first breeding method should be used in early June, when buds are formed on the bush. Cut the cuttings with 2-3 leaves. In this case, remove the lower ones, and cut the upper ones in half. Planting in a mixture of peat and sand. The seedlings take root in 3-4 weeks.
The second method is recommended for use in early spring before bud break. To do this, it is necessary to loosen the soil at the base of the bush and make furrows 5-7 cm deep. Put side shoots in them, sprinkle with earth, leaving only the top at the top.
Diseases and pests, means of combating them
This variety of panicle hydrangea is highly resistant to diseases and pests. But if the acidity of the soil does not match, the shrub can suffer from chlorosis.
To prevent this disease, it is recommended to mulch the soil with coniferous litter and peat, and periodically water the bush with any preparation containing iron chelate.
During the active growing season, the plant may suffer from aphids and spider mites. To destroy pests, it is recommended to spray the hydrangea with Aktellik or Fitoverm.
The use of varieties in landscape design
Hydrangea Sunday Fries is a self-sufficient plant, so it looks good in single plantings against the backdrop of a green lawn. Conifers can also be used as a background for it, which will only emphasize the beauty of the hydrangea bush.
When using the variety in group compositions, astilbe, cuffs and hosts can be the best neighbors for it. The shrub is able to decorate not only a luxurious garden, but also a small personal plot.
Due to its high decorative qualities, the Sundae Fraise hydrangea variety has managed to compete with many common types of culture. At the same time, its compact form was to the taste of many flower growers, as it greatly facilitates the process of shelter for the winter.
