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Home, home with the hydrangea
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Thursday, 26 January 2012
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 Okay so we have no deer or antelope playing here in New Zealand and, this summer anyway, the skies have been cloudy all day. But despite all this we do have a little ranger that’s definitely made itself at home in our gardens.
If you’ve been out and about this summer, you’ve bound to have noticed hydrangeas as they flourish with vibrant colours. Flowering from early spring right through to late autumn, hydrangeas (or ‘dry rangers’ as referred to by one Garden-NZ reader!) are in fine form and blooming marvellously.
Natives of southern and eastern Asia, as well as the Americas, hydrangeas are found worldwide. Although there are evergreen varieties, the deciduous shrubs are most widely cultivated.
A genus of approximately 75 species of plant, the most common variety of hydrangea here in New Zealand is the pink or blue Hydrangea macrophylla, also known as the mophead.
Mophead flowers are round in shape, rather large and are reminiscent of the head of a mop. Other hydrangeas, commonly known as lacecaps, have flowerheads with less pronounced, flatter flowers.
 If blue is for you try dropping a little acid… into the soil that is! The bright, brilliant colours characterising hydrangeas are directly related to soil conditions. By applying an acid fertiliser, ammonium sulphate or aluminium sulphate, you can enhance those blue hues. Alternatively, if you’d prefer your hydrangeas to be pretty in pink, try adding lime.
While raindrops keep falling on our heads it’s important to ensure your hydrangeas do not receive too much of what’s good for them as overwatering can lead to root rot. If the rain is staying away in your area monitor plants regularly to ensure they are not drying out. A light misting with will help if the leaves begin to wilt.
Available from garden centres, hydrangeas should ideally be planted in early summer, ensuring they won’t fall victim to frosts. Choose an area in your garden where the plants will benefit from partial shade. Although they can thrive in sunny conditions, the flowers will live longer and develop better with a little shade.
Hydrangeas have become favourites in gardens throughout New Zealand due to their abundant beauty and ‘easy growing’ nature! So don’t be a stranger, plant a ‘ranger and enjoy its lush, good looks next summer in your garden.
A range of 'rangers
For more detailed information regarding a few specific varieties of
hydrangea previously featured on Garden-NZ, follow the links below:
Dichroa Round Blue
Hydrangea Birbeck Blue
Hydrangea Emotion
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