Description

Hut 2 Big leaf hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs with a rounded habit featuring dark green leaves and large clusters of long-blooming summer flowers in either lacecap form (flattened flower clusters of small fertile florets with scattered showy sterile florets around the edge) or mophead form (spherical flower clusters of mostly showy sterile florets). Avoid pruning bigleaf hydrangeas, except to remove any dead wood. These hydrangeas cannot be cut back or trimmed at any time of the year without impacting the bloom for either the current season or the next. To minimize the risk of loss of flower buds and possible die-back to the ground in an extremely harsh winter, site in a sheltered location and consider additional winter protection (burlap wrap or leaves in chicken wire cage). Prefers moist but well drained soils. Per the Missouri Botanical Garden, the ‘Cityline’ series of dwarf hydrangeas was developed in Germany, and are noted for having compact form, strong stems, showy mophead flowers, glossy green leaves and good mildew resistance. ‘Cityline Venice’ has big, bright fuchsia-pink flowers which are long-lasting and change to an attractive green with age. So cute in a container! The bloom color may be affected by altering soil pH. Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to make the flowers bluer or add lime to the soil to make the flowers pinker. Begin soil treatments well in advance of flowering, as in late autumn or early spring. Height: 2-3 ft. Spread: 3-4 ft. Family: Hydrangeaceae Bloom time: July to August Sun: full sun to part shade Water: medium Rabbit resistant According to Rutgers University, Hydrangeas are in the category “occasionally severely damaged by deer.” photo credit: Proven Winners a Proven Winners plant