Hydrangea paniculate white, red, pink - the best winter-hardy varieties

The plant has gained popularity among flower growers due to its attractive appearance, the ability to periodically change color, lush shapes and ease of care. A distinctive feature is the good tolerance of winter cold, which is especially important on the territory of the Russian Federation. The garden panicle hydrangea has many varieties.

A special description is issued (the latest edition is now available), where all the features of various plant varieties are indicated. It can be very difficult to make a choice among them of tree-like, large-leaved flowers with different shapes.

Origin

For the first time in Russia, this plant appeared in 1890. His homeland is Japan. The flower was brought to St. Petersburg by the famous traveler and botanist K.I. Maximovich. Thanks to him and the German naturalist Philip Franz von Siebold, Europe learned about the hydrangea. The flower quickly spread in gardens and nurseries, and new varieties began to appear.

Hydrangea paniculata

Description of flowers of paniculate hydrangeas

Externally, panicle hydrangea is a bush up to 1.5 meters high, which is completely covered with flowers. They are pyramidal in shape. A feature of the plant is a long flowering period. It blooms in early summer, shedding flowers only in autumn. For this, gardeners love him very much and are often planted in their plots.

The color of the inflorescences can be different: from simple white to purple. In the process of hybridization, scientists have bred varieties in which the flowers change their palette from base to top. The length of the inflorescence is about 25 cm, the diameter of an individual flower is 2.5 cm.

What leaves look like

The plant is completely shrouded in foliage and inflorescences. This makes it the perfect garden decoration. Due to its appearance, hydrangea is often used in landscaping. The shape of the leaves of the flower is elliptical, oval. Their average length is 12 cm.

Hydrangea leaves

The most beautiful varieties of panicle hydrangeas

Thanks to the work of scientists, the choice of a variety is a rather difficult task. In Russia, there is a wide variety of these plants with different flower colors, bush lengths, flowering duration, and so on. Experienced gardeners recommend choosing a flower based on:

• The average temperature in the region where the hydrangea will be grown;
• Soil features;
• The landscape and the existing appearance of the garden.

Red and burgundy hydrangeas

The most popular varieties of this type are:

• Diamond Rouge. At the beginning of the flowering period (second or third decade of June), the flowers are white, gradually they turn pink and by autumn they become bright red. The spherical shape of the bush makes them especially attractive.
• Weems Ed.This variety was bred by breeders. A distinctive feature is the long flowering period.

Pink and crimson hydrangeas

The most popular varieties are:

• Daruma. Grows short. The flowers are creamy, turning dark pink by autumn. Before the end of flowering, the leaves turn bright red, and the plant takes on an unusual and very beautiful appearance.
• Matilda. The description of this variety indicates that it is special. The color of the inflorescences changes 4 times a year. At first, the flowers are creamy white, then gradually turn pink, by autumn they become green-red.

Red varieties

White hydrangeas

Gardeners prefer the following varieties:

• Great Star. The bush grows high, up to two meters. The inflorescences are absolutely snow-white, the flowers themselves are in the shape of stars, for which the plant got its name.
• Grandiflora. This is one of the oldest varieties. At the beginning of flowering, the entire bush is creamy, gradually becoming snow-white, by autumn - crimson. It is actively grown in the Leningrad region.

White and pink hydrangeas

The most popular varieties of hydrangea white and pink paniculate:

• Freise Melba. This is a fairly large plant. It can be up to 2 meters in height, but at the same time it does not lose its compactness. The shrub is very easy to care for. It does not require special efforts for crown and garter.
• Strawberry Blossom. Sprawling bush. A distinctive feature is good winter hardiness. Easily tolerates temperatures down to -35 degrees Celsius.

Yellow hydrangea

The Limelight variety got its name from the characteristic yellow color of the inflorescences. The bush itself is quite tall. The maximum length can be 3 meters. The leaves are green. The flowering period is short - from August to October, which is explained by the climatic features of the territory where the flower grows (it is very popular in Siberia and the Urals).

Hydrangea Paniculata

The color of the shoots of the plant is red-brown. Leaves are oval with a pointed end. Before flowering, the bush looks like it is strewn with beads in the form of flower buds. As soon as the Pankulata hydrangea blooms, under the weight of the pyramidal-shaped flowers, the branches tend to the ground. As a result, the plant takes on a rounded shape.

White varieties

Small panicle hydrangeas

One of the most popular dwarf varieties is Bobo. In 2011, at a prestigious flower show in Belgium, he received the award as the best variety. Due to the fact that the height of the bush rarely exceeds 70 cm, it can be planted on a balcony or terrace.

Lovers of small varieties often plant the Little Lime hydrangea. In appearance, she is the same as Lamilight. The only difference is in the height of the bush. Little Lime rarely grows taller than 70 cm.

High varieties of hydrangea paniculata

Lovers of large shrubs prefer Pinky Winky. It can often be found in the gardens of the Moscow region. It grows up to two meters, and its flowers are two-colored. At the top of the pyramids - white, closer to the base - purple-pink. This gives the plant additional attractiveness.

The Phantom variety is resistant to cold weather (it can winter without shelter) and large inflorescences up to 40 cm long. However, it needs regular feeding with various fertilizers.

Hydrangeas Sunday Freise and Vanilla Freise

Vanilla Fraze is one of the most popular hydrangea varieties. The shrub height of this variety can be up to two meters. The inflorescences are very heavy, under their weight, the branches fall down and give the plant a ball shape. The flowering period for Vanilla Freis is from July to September. At first, the flowers of the plant are white, then they acquire a pink tint.

Sunday Freise is a variety bred by breeders.It differs from Vanilla Fraz in size (less than a meter in height), in lighter color of leaves and saturation of colors in inflorescences.

Hydrangea paniculata Alex Schumacher

Alex Schumacher is the founder of the eponymous company that produces panicle hydrangeas. The products of this enterprise are characterized by:

• High quality;
• Resistant to climatic factors;
• Resistant to low temperatures.

Hydrangeas by Alex Schumacher

Hydrangea Spocky

This variety belongs to the small category. Its height is less than a meter, which makes it possible to grow it on a balcony or indoors. The plant blooms beautifully over a long period of time. The variety is winter hardy. It can withstand temperatures down to -25 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to prune it in the spring.

Hydrangea paniculata Mustela

The distinctive features of this Finnish variety are:

• Early onset of flowering;
• It reaches a height of 3 meters;
• Openwork type of inflorescences that do not incline branches to the ground;
• Fast growth;
• Cold resistance.

Hydrangea panicled terry

In addition to the unique and attractive shape, the inflorescences of this variety are also pleasant to the touch. The flowers are usually pale blue, but there are varieties with pink and white inflorescences. The height of the bush is average, about 1.5 meters. In care it differs in that it requires a lot of moisture and sunlight.

The difference between hydrangea tree and paniculate

The features of these two plant species are as follows:

• Treelike hydrangea is a small tree, and panicle hydrangea is a shrub.
• Panicle hydrangea is hardy.
• For the wintering period, all shoots die off in a tree hydrangea.

If we compare panicle hydrangea and tree hydrangea, then, in addition to the differences, you can find many similarities. Both species are an excellent decoration for the garden plot, they can change color during flowering. This allows you to combine them in various ways and create a unique landscape on the site.

Tree hydrangea

Transplant after purchase in open ground

It is recommended to plant the plant in the ground in the spring. First of all, you should choose the place where to plant the hydrangea.

After choosing a place, you will need to dig a hole of about 60 by 60 cm, it is recommended to put coniferous opal on its bottom, sprinkle it with a small amount of garden soil on top. After that, take humus and sour peat in equal quantities and also pour it into the pit. The final stage of preparation is the addition of superphosphate. Then a seedling is placed in the pit, watered abundantly, the roots are covered with earth.

Reproduction of paniculate hydrangeas

There are three ways to grow a new shrub:

• Cuttings. To do this, during the period of swelling of the kidneys, the stalk is cut at an angle of 45 degrees. It must be placed in a moist soil made from a mixture of peat and humus. Further, you only need to water the plant and ensure its stable illumination.
• With the help of air layers. A healthy shoot is taken, bends down to the ground and digs in a little. After a year, the shoot can be cut off and transplanted to a new location.
• Reproduction by seeds. This method requires special skills and knowledge, therefore it is rarely used at home.

Breeding procedure

Caring for paniculate hydrangeas

The plant does not require careful care and adherence to special recommendations. It is enough to choose the right soil (moderately acidic and rich in humus), a place for planting (it is necessary to protect the shrub from the wind and provide it with enough sunlight) and follow simple rules of care so that the plant regularly pleases with its flowers.

Watering mode

Despite the fact that the shrub is resistant to lack of moisture, at high ambient temperatures it must be watered regularly and abundantly.

Additional Information. The ideal option is to collect rainwater and use it to water your hydrangea. If this is not possible, it is recommended to simply stand for plain water. / Alert]

Top dressing

It is recommended to apply fertilizers during the following periods:

• In the spring - for the formation of shoots;
• June - for good flowering;
• During the flowering period - to support the plants themselves;
• In the fall, it is recommended to add superphosphate.

During flowering

In order for the panicle hydrangea to bloom well, several rules must be followed:

• It is recommended to water the plant once a week;
• At least three times a season, you should weed the bush, loosen and mulch the soil around the roots;
• For feeding in the spring, use nitrogenous fertilizers, in the summer - potash;
• Pruning regularly - remove dry shoots and form an attractive crown.

During the rest period

Hydrangea does not require special care in winter. If the preparation for the dormant period was carried out efficiently, in accordance with the recommendations of specialists, then there will be no problems with wintering. In early spring, when the juices begin to move, the plant should be gradually opened for short periods for airing.

Preparing for winter

First, it is recommended to remove all dry inflorescences in order to reduce the stress on the branches of the bush. Also, sanitary pruning of the plant.

Secondly, despite the resistance to cold (some varieties of hydrangeas can tolerate frosts down to -35 degrees Celsius), it is recommended to cover the bush. This will protect the plant from wind, which it doesn't like very much.

Pruning hydrangea

Thus, there are no special difficulties in planting and caring in the open field panicle hydrangea. It is enough to follow a few simple recommendations regarding watering, feeding and timely pruning so that the plant blooms for a long time and pleases gardeners.