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The garden classic has been cultivated for centuries. With their impressive flowers and striking leaf colors in autumn, the romantic garden beauties set special accents in every garden. With proper care, hydrangeas grow into magnificent subshrubs. They are suitable for cultivation in beds, but also as a container plant on the balcony and terrace. The garden perennials are considered to be very robust. However, the question often arises: are hydrangeas also hardy? Below are some explanations.
Are All Hydrangeas Hardy?
More or less all cultivated Hydrangea species are hardy. However, it is always advisable to provide the plants with a light winter protection during longer periods of frost. Hydrangeas are subshrubs. The fresh shoots only lignify at their base. In very cold winters, these can freeze back. Sometimes just a few nights with temperatures below - 20 °C are enough. Even cold easterly winds can quickly destroy the flowering splendor for the following year. However, it is not a problem if hydrangeas freeze back above ground because they keep sprout from below. They form new shoot buds in the same year. Frozen and dead flowering shoots can be cut back in early spring when frosts are no longer expected.
Hydrangea varieties need special winter protection in particularly cold regions of the country, for example in the low mountain ranges or in eastern Germany.
Overwinter hydrangea properly
It always makes sense to provide hardy shrubs such as hydrangeas with a light winter protection. It should be noted
- no more fertilization from late summer
- Shoots must mature by winter
- Cut out dried and too long shoots
- thereby avoiding snow breakage
- otherwise no further pruning
- pour properly
- Avoid waterlogging
- Root damage makes plants more susceptible to frost damage
If the temperatures then permanently fall below zero, winter protection should be provided:
- Spread bark mulch or leaves around plants
- Layer height 10 cm
- additionally pile up the root neck with garden soil or compost
- Height about 10 to 20 cm
- Protection of the shoots with a special fleece or linen bag
- then fix with rope
- alternatively use of a wire mesh
- cover this with brushwood
When applying winter protection, it should be noted that the plants can always breathe. Newly planted hydrangea varieties that have not yet spent a winter outdoors always receive winter protection. Peasant and plate hydrangeas are usually extremely hardy plants if they are in partial shade and the soil is very rich in humus. In this case, winter protection is not absolutely necessary. Are relatively hardy
- peasant hydrangeas
- climbing hydrangeas
- panicle hydrangeas
- Fastball Hydrangeas
- velvet hydrangeas
tip: Foil and other airtight materials should not be used. Condensation forms underneath and the shoots begin to rot.
In general, shade-loving hydrangea survive severe frosts relatively well. On the other hand, hydrangeas do not tolerate the sun as frost-resistant. Overwintering in the house would be appropriate here. They are also very suitable as potted plants.
Overwintering of potted plants
These plants are also often cultivated in large tubs. However, they then require a little more care and need good winter protection, especially if it rains frequently in winter and the temperatures are below zero for a long time. When cultivating in a bucket, it is important to ensure that the pot is large enough. Its diameter should never be less than 30 to 40 cm. Then hibernation outdoors with appropriate winter protection is also possible. Otherwise, the hydrangea must be brought into the house.
- a cold house or unheated greenhouse would be ideal
- shades against the winter sun are necessary
- if necessary, overwinter in the cellar
- optimal temperature 3 to 5 °C
Due to the cold and the lack of daylight, the metabolic cycle is shut down. The plants are in a kind of "hibernation", which favors the formation of buds. However, scale insects also have high season then.
However, when wintering outdoors, a few additional measures must be taken:
- Cover the pot surface with a layer of leaves
- Wrap buckets with several layers of bubble wrap
- then coconut mats or fleece over it
- Projecting 10 cm over the edge of the pot
- Place the bucket on a styrofoam board, insulating board or thick wooden board
- find a shady place protected from wind and rain
- ideally directly in front of a house wall
tip: Even in winter, a hardy hydrangea needs watering, but moderately. The best time is in the morning. Avoid waterlogging.
Hardy hydrangea varieties
The genus Hydrangea has a variety of species. They originate in North America and Asia. They are deciduous subshrubs with more or less conspicuous autumn foliage. They eventually shed their leaves in winter. As a rule, the plants are all hardy. There are also particularly hardy hydrangea varieties.
Peasant hydrangea (H. macrophylla)
She is originally from Japan. The pseudo-flowers are sterile and are not used for seed propagation. The imposing inflorescences are spherical or flat like a plate. The color varies between white, pink and red. The flowers are already created in the previous year, in autumn. The growth height is 100 to 150 cm and the growth width is 100 to 130 cm. Depending on the variety, the flowers appear from June/July to September. Aluminum fertilization can cause pink and red flowers to change color to blue or purple
Endless Summer
- spherical inflorescences
- very willing to flower and reblooming
- fresh flowers until the first frost
- Colors blue and pink
- Flowering May to October
- blooms on old and new wood
- Shape cutting possible
- dense, compact growth
- Growth height 100 to 150 cm
- Growth width 80 to 100
- Sun to semi-shade
- winterized
- good container plant
Kanmara
- ball-shaped, large inflorescences
- Colours: delicate watercolor tones, pink, rose, rosé, champagne, white, lilac
- Flowering June to September
- deep dark green foliage
- very compact growth
- Growth height 100 to 150 cm
- good container plant
- hardy
Forever & ever
- smaller spherical flowers
- but many inflorescences
- growing variety
- Colours: blue, pink, red, white
- Flowering period June to September
- large, dark green leaves
- quite bushy, compact growth
- Height 70 to 90 cm
- hardy variety
- Use as a cut flower
Panicle Hydrangea (H. paniculata)
As the name suggests, the inflorescences are paniculate-lilac-like. They appear on one year old wood. The color varies between white and cream. It changes to pink or red as it fades. The flowers give off a delicate fragrance. Depending on the variety, they can reach a height of up to 300 cm. The width growth is similar. this hydrangea therefore needs sufficient space. She is quite fast growing. A pruning can be done in autumn or spring before they sprout. A vigorous topiary can promote compact and highly branched growth
grandiflora
- most common variety
- quite large, conical panicles
- reach a length of up to 30 cm
- Colors white and pink
- Color change to pink when fading
- Flowering period June to September
- extremely vigorous
- upright, loose, branched growing
- Leaves dull green, oval
- Height 200 to 250 cm
- Width 175 to 250 cm
- Support of the flowering shoots necessary
- sun and partial shade
- insect friendly
phantom
- imposing large panicles
- slightly compressed in length
- Colours: white, cream white, pink
- Flowering August to October
- upright, compact growth
- Height 250 cm
- Width 150 to 240 cm
- regular pruning advisable
- sun and partial shade
Limelight
- Panicles up to 30 cm long
- Color white to light yellow
- fragrant
- Flowers are suitable for drying
- Flowering July to October
- strong, upright growth
- Growth height 150 to 200 cm
- Growth width 160 to 180 cm
- Leaves up to 15 cm in size
- lanceolate-oval with serrated edge
- sun and partial shade
Snowball hydrangea (H. arborescens)
There are also hardy varieties among these hydrangeas. The flowers are very large, heavy and snowball shaped. They appear in multitudes. The shoots hang down due to the weight of the flowers. A support is advisable. The flowering period extends from June to September. The hydrangea, also known as forest hydrangea, is very robust and hardy. They love penumbra. Regular trimming is recommended. Propagation is by division. Foothills are formed. The growth height varies up to 300 cm.
Annabell
- most popular variety
- large umbellate flowers
- reach a diameter of up to 25 cm
- Colour: white, cream
- Petals initially green
- changing to white when fading
- fragrant
- Flowering period June to September
- Leaves medium green, oval
- many basic drives
- upright growth
- Growth height up to 200 cm
- Growth width up to 180 cm
- Cut back in spring
- good adaptation to different lighting conditions
Hayes Starbust
- newer breed
- star-shaped, very filigree pseudo-flowers
- flowers filled
- Colour: Creamy white with a greenish tinge
- vigorously growing
- Growth height 50 to 120 cm
- Flowering period June to September
Velvet hydrangea (H. sargentiana)
The hydrangea owes its name to the velvety soft hair on its leaves. It is also known as a fur hydrangea. It can reach a height of up to 200 cm. The flowers are flat umbels with a diameter of 10 to 30 cm. The pseudo flowers are white in color and the fertile flowers are violet, blue or pink. They emit a honey-like scent that attracts bees. The hardy hydrangeas love partial shade.
mauvette
- plate-shaped flowers
- Colour: white on the outside, mauve on the inside
- Flowering July to August
- dark green foliage
- Growth height 200 cm
- Growth width up to 200 cm
Macrophylla
- Flower umbels with a diameter of up to 25 cm
- outer petals pink to white
- inner petals red, pink
- Flowering July to August
- sparsely branched, upright growing
- Leaves up to 35 cm long, dark green, hairy
- Growth height 200 to 350 cm
- Growth width 175 to 300 cm
- penumbra
Climbing Hydrangea (H. petiolaris)
This hydrangea is characterized by its climbing growth. The marginal, white false flowers are plate-shaped. The flowers are already created in early autumn. They reach a diameter of up to 20 cm and exude a sweet scent of elderberry and jasmine. Bees and bumblebees are welcome visitors to these hardy hydrangeas. The summer foliage is glossy green. In autumn the foliage turns yellow. It clings to substrates with adhesive roots. Shady north and west walls can be greened.
Seminola
- single white flowers
- Flowering June to August
- Height 250 to 300 cm
- Width 100 to 150 cm
- evergreen
- in cold regions leaf shedding
- copper-red young shoots
- regular pruning in spring
- bee pasture
- Also used as ground cover
Hydrangea (H. serrata)
The inflorescences are large and plate-shaped. They usually appear in two colors, white pink or red. Often only a ring surrounds the fertile inner flowers. The buds of these hardy hydrangeas are established in early autumn. The hydrangea has a compact habit, but is rather small. It reaches a height of up to 100 cm. This plant is very easy to care for and extremely hardy. A cut is not absolutely necessary.
Lanarth White
- pure white marginal flowers
- Inner flowers pink
- Flowers larger than 10 cm
- Flowers flat and densely closed
- Flowering time July to September
- dense bushy growth
- Growth height 90 to 100 cm
- just as wide
- Foliage green, lanceolate, tapering
- loves penumbra
- do not cut
- Remove dry regularly
- very easy to care for and hardy
- good container plant
Bluebird
- reddish purple to purple inner flowers
- blue stamens
- Color marginal florets according to soil conditions
- Spectrum from purple, violet white to blue
- loose bushy growth
- Growth height 100 to 150 cm
- Growth width 100 to 125
- Flowering time July to October
- sunny to semi-shady
- do not cut
- Leaves tinged with red
