Content
Hydrangea Limelight is a true living bouquet that blooms most of the summer and early autumn. Maintenance is easy. Judging by the impressive landscape in the photo, Hydrangea paniculata Limelight is highly valued in landscape design due to its picturesqueness.
History of selection
Arriving from Japan in the 19th century, paniculata hydrangea, or hydrangia, as its name is pronounced in Latin, quickly took root in the gardens of Europe. In the last century, Dutch breeders brought out a real treasure in the family of beautiful flowering shrubs - the Limelight hydrangea with strong shoots that confidently hold lush inflorescences. The variety was awarded prizes at various flower exhibitions.
Description of Limelight hydrangea
The super-hardy and vigorous variety of hydrangea paniculata Limelight is impressive in size with shoots up to 2-2.5 m long.In diameter, an adult plant reaches the same values. Over the summer, the shoots grow to 25-30 cm, forming a round, dense crown. A special feature of the Limelight hydrangea is its shallow root system, which can spread much wider than the circumference of the crown. Erect shoots are brown in color, with a small edge. They are durable and capable of holding huge caps of Limelight hydrangea paniculata inflorescences at a height of 2 m without bending. Limelight paniculata hydrangea bushes do not require staking.
The leaves are medium-sized, oval-shaped, with a pointed tip and a finely toothed edge. Dark green leaf blades serve as a contrasting background for the original greenish-white inflorescences of Hydrangea paniculata Limelight. By autumn, the leaves acquire a less saturated shade, then turn yellow.
The inflorescences of Hydangia paniculata Limelight also change color, blooming soft green in July and remaining decorative until October. They are wide pyramidal in shape, up to 30 cm, dense, and consist of many sterile flowers. If the bush grows more in the shade, its panicles will be greenish until September. In the sun, the flowers of the Limelight paniculata variety are white, but from mid-August they take on a pink tint. At the same time, remaining fresh and beautiful in appearance without a hint of wilting, as can be seen in the autumn photo of Limelight hydrangea.
But the paniculate variety Limelight blooms profusely in full sun if its surface roots are mulched and do not dry out.
Hydrangea paniculata is grown in the south and in the central regions of the country. Hostas and shade-loving ground covers are planted in the trunk circle of an adult plant: saxifrage, sedum.In the northern regions, the paniculate variety Limelight is grown in greenhouses.
Frost resistance, drought resistance
Paniculate hydrangea can withstand frosts down to -29 °C. You need to take care of a cozy place, protected from the north wind and drafts. Then the plant will not be afraid of autumn temperature changes, and flowering will continue until October. Young bushes of the Limelight variety suffer from frost and must be covered. Just like adults, if the winters are snowless.
Hydrangea Limelight is moisture-loving, which is reflected in its Latin name, which comes from the Greek language (hydor - water). Water regularly. In the southern regions, if plant in the sun, the soil is mulched with a thick layer of grass. So the roots, which are located very close to the surface, protect from drying out until the next watering. In drought conditions, Hydrangea paniculata Limelight plants lose their splendor. Flowers become small.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Limelight variety is not susceptible to diseases and, with proper agricultural practices, is rarely affected by pests. Very young plants can be threatened by slugs. If there are many gastropods, they eat the leaves and the hydrangea may die. Before planting the exotic Limelight, the area is carefully cleaned so that slugs have nowhere to hide. In greenhouses, the plant can be attacked by mites and aphids, against which pesticides are used.
Methods for propagating hydrangea
Cuttings are the most convenient way to propagate Hydangia paniculata Limelight. Cuttings select woody ones during spring pruning or green ones in summer:
- you need to take fragments that show 2 nodes;
- cut diagonally from the bottom, directly under the bud;
- The branch can be cut straight from the top, stepping back a few centimeters from the bud;
- the rooting substrate is prepared in equal parts of sand and peat;
- the cuttings are placed in a mini-greenhouse, treated with root formation stimulants;
- when planting, the lower bud is deepened;
- water with warm water.
Cuttings of paniculata hydrangea take root in 30-40 days. Plants bloom in 2-3 years of development.
Planting and caring for Limelight hydrangea
You should choose the right time and place for the paniculate variety Limelight.
Recommended timing
The best time to plant hydrangea is spring, the last ten days of April or the first of May. Seedlings in containers are transferred to the site later. In the south they are planted in September.
Choosing a suitable location
According to the description, Limelight hydrangea is a shade-tolerant, but also light-loving shrub. It will grow well and bloom luxuriantly in an open area. The main requirement is protection from the north wind. For the paniculate variety, select a substrate with low acidity, within the pH range of 4-5.5. It is prepared in advance and placed in a hole, since such soil content is not found in all areas.
It is better for the plant to stay in one place all the time.
Selection and preparation of planting material
Seedlings of the paniculata variety Limelight are purchased in gardening centers in containers. Make sure that they are swollen and that the buds and trunk are without damage. If there are already leaves, their plates should be unaffected by pests. Before planting, place the pot with the seedling in a large container of water so that you can easily remove the lump of earth without damaging the delicate roots of the paniculate hydrangea.
Planting paniculate hydrangea Limelight
For the Limelight variety, lay a hole with a diameter of 50 and a depth of 35 cm:
- below – drainage layer;
- substrate made of humus, peat, garden soil and a mixture for coniferous species;
- the Limelight seedling is placed so that the root collar is at ground level;
- The tree trunk circle is slightly compacted, watered and mulched on alkaline soils with peat, sawdust from coniferous trees or pine needles.
Hydrangea aftercare
There is not much work to do with the Limelight bush.
Watering
The soil should be moist. The soil under paniculata hydrangea is not allowed to dry out. Sprinkling is used in the evening.
Top dressing
The Limelight variety is fertilized with special complex preparations: Green World, Pokon, Fertica, Valagro, diluted according to the instructions. Feed three times during the season.
Mulching and loosening the soil
The soil around the trunk is loosened after watering. In times of drought, mulch of grass, bark or perlite is laid out. Be sure to mulch Limelight hydrangea growing in open space.
Trimming
The inflorescences of the variety are created on new shoots, so pruning is necessary for abundant flowering, which is what attracts Limelight hydrangea in garden design. In the fall, faded flowers are removed, and in early spring the shoots are shortened by 2/3, forming a bush.
Preparing for winter
Limelight is well watered in October. Then the wide circle around the trunk is mulched with peat and humus, and later hilled up. Remove broken branches if preparing shelter for the winter.
Sheltering shrubs for the winter
In areas of the middle climatic zone, Limelight hydrangea is covered with thick spunbond or burlap. Afterwards they throw snow towards the bush.
Diseases and pests, methods of control and prevention
Limelight hydrangea is disease resistant. Sometimes the leaves turn yellow due to chlorosis, which develops in alkaline soil. The tree trunk circle is acidified with iron sulfate, citric acid, and mulched with pine needles.To protect the plant from leaf spot and powdery mildew, prevent it with fungicides Horus, Maxim, Skor.
Spider mites are controlled with acaricides. Against aphids and bugs, which also suck the juice from the leaves, spray with Fitoverm or insecticides Match, Enzhio, Aktara.
Hydrangea Limelight in landscape design
Hydrangea paniculata Limelight is beautiful in landscape design in different versions:
- near the entrance;
- as a soloist on the lawn;
- hedges to separate garden areas;
- mixborder element made of shrubs;
- a bright accent among conifers.
A popular version of Limelight hydrangea on a trunk in the form of a spectacular tree.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Limelight will add a charming twist to the garden. She's a bit of a hassle. Organizing drip irrigation, through which fertilizing is also supplied, will make caring for this magnificent exotic plant easier.
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