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Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is a species of the genus Hydrangea. It is a deciduous shrub with a rounded crown, in favorable conditions it can reach a height of 4 m. The decoration is not only flowers collected in shields, similar to lace caps, but also large dark green elliptical leaves with a jagged edge. Varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas with names, descriptions and photos will help you get to know the culture better, and, perhaps, choose a new plant for your garden or greenhouse.
Varieties of large-leaved hydrangea amaze with diversity
Variety of large-leaved hydrangea varieties
Large-leaved hydrangea is very decorative. The inflorescences of the species plant reach a diameter of 10-15 cm and are colored pink. Along the edge of the shield there are large sterile buds, inside there are small ones, but capable of setting seeds.
Through the efforts of breeders, many varieties have been created that differ noticeably from each other in the shape and size of the inflorescence, color, and height of the bush. But in all cultivars you can easily recognize large-leaved hydrangea.
The inflorescence form is:
- flattened, like a species plant;
- hemispherical;
- spherical.
The “native” color of large-leaved hydrangea is pink. Varieties have been created in which the shields are painted in the following colors:
- white;
- red;
- from blue to violet;
- all shades of pink.
There are bicolor varieties with variegated flowers. Often during the budding period the shield is lettuce-like. Green shades may also be present in the color of a fully opened inflorescence.
The breeders did not ignore the size of the bushes. A plant several meters high is not suitable for every garden, and it is difficult to cover such a hydrangea for the winter. There are miniature varieties that can be grown in containers and in regular flower beds.
In cool climates, bigleaf hydrangea can be grown in containers.
The culture is capable of blooming profusely, sometimes the bush is completely covered with flowers. Buds often appear on unrooted cuttings during propagation. But the species large-leaved hydrangea is capricious and places too many demands on growing conditions and care to become widespread:
- prefers partial shade;
- grows only on acidic soils;
- requires frequent watering, with cold water;
- for abundant flowering and the formation of large buds, chemical treatments may be required at a certain phase of development;
- winters without protection in climate zone 6.
It is the last point that allows you to grow crops in open ground only in a limited territory of Russia. Zone 5 already requires well-thought-out protection of hydrangeas from the cold. Since the bush is rather large, the shelter can disfigure the winter landscape.
The best varieties of large-leaved hydrangea
Choosing the best from the many varieties of hydrangea is a thankless task. The tastes of flower growers differ, but the culture lends itself well to selection and is very beautiful. But it has a capricious character, strict requirements for planting site and care, otherwise large-leaved hydrangea would grow in every garden. It would have supplanted even roses, especially since remontant varieties have appeared.
The color of the hydrangea can be changed. Pink will turn blue or blue with regular feeding with alum, aluminum sulfate or iron sulfate. White will turn into red if the bush is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. When fertilizing with color-changing preparations is stopped, the color returns to its original color.
Pink miracle
A classic variety with large spherical shields of rich pink color. Large sterile flowers are clearly visible on them. The bush is large, beautiful, similar to a hemisphere, in favorable conditions it can grow up to 2 m. The leaves are oval, with a sharp tip and a serrated edge, large. In summer their color is bright green, in autumn – crimson.
Large-leaved hydrangea variety Pink Miracle can be considered a classic
Endless summer
Endless Summer is a famous American variety, the result of a natural mutation. The scutes are spherical, 10-15 cm in diameter, without color-changing drugs - pink. This is the first variety that can bloom well on the current year's growth. Remontant, which is why it got its name, is relatively winter-hardy. Flowering - from June to October.
Large-leaved hydrangea Endless summer - the first remontant variety
Maculata
Maculata, or Mariesi Variegata, is valued mainly for its large green leaves, decorated with white strokes. It forms a spreading bush 80-120 cm high, 1.8-2 m in diameter. It grows without problems in zone 8. In zone 7 you need to carefully choose the planting site; in cooler climates it requires extensive shelter for the winter.
Hydrangea Maculata's corymbs are small but cute. Small central lavender flowers are surrounded by large, almost white, sterile petals.
Hydrangea macrophylla Maculata has pretty flowers, but the variegated leaves are especially decorative
Blooming varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas
Large-leaved hydrangeas do not necessarily have pink flowers. And this applies not only to feeding with special preparations that change color. The shapes of the shield are varied, and the color can be delicate or rich. Particularly interesting are varieties that are variegated or change color depending on the phase of bud opening.
Foreva & Eva Peppermint
Forever & Ever Peppermint is striking in flower color. Without acidifiers, the petals are pink, with a white border.The shield of sterile large flowers forms a ball, reaching 25 cm in cross section. The bush is neat, with dark green shiny leaves, about 90 cm high and wide. Suitable for growing in containers.
The large-leaved hydrangea variety Foreva and Eva Peppermint, when covered for the winter, can be grown even in the Moscow region
Snowball
Snowball, or Snow Globe, forms large round snow-white inflorescences that turn pink in the fall. The edges of the petals are decorated with characteristic teeth, making it difficult to confuse the variety with another. Moreover, the white color of large-leaved hydrangea is rare. The plant forms into a highly branched, neat bush with a diameter of up to 1.2 m. It overwinters well in zone 5 under cover. Flowering is based on last year's growth.
Hydrangea largeleaf Snowball cannot be confused with another variety due to the petals with a serrated edge.
Tugese
Together is an original French chameleon variety from the You & me series. The flowers are double, green until the buds open, then turn pink. Gradually the color changes to more and more saturated and at the moment of wilting it acquires a pronounced red tint. With regular use of acidifiers, the color of the buds changes from blue to blue.
A young bush with a dozen inflorescences looks impressive. An adult will not leave indifferent even people who are not fans of the culture.
Bush 80-100 cm high, with strong thick shoots. Flowering occurs on the current year's growth from the end of June, the diameter of the scutes is about 20 cm.Frost resistance down to -25 °C under cover.
The color of double flowers of the large-leaved hydrangea variety Tugeze depends on the acidity of the soil
New varieties of large-leaved hydrangea
Selection of large-leaved hydrangea is carried out in several directions. Particular attention is paid to increasing winter hardiness and reducing the size of the bush. But the beauty of flowers is also improved.
Hopcorn
Hopcorn is a new variety, named because the flowers resemble popped popcorn kernels. Their petals have a clearly defined inward concave shape. Without feeding with special color-changing preparations, the flowers are first lettuce, then pink, and after treatments - violet. As it grows, a neat bush is formed, up to 1 m high, with a diameter of 70-100 cm. The variety is resistant to diseases, but places increased demands on soil fertility.
The large-leaved hydrangea variety Hopcorn has concave petals
Miss Saori
Miss Saori is the newest variety created by Japanese breeders in 2013. In 2014, it won the Chelsea exhibition and was named flower of the year. One of the most cold-resistant varieties that can withstand - 26 °C.
Forms a neat bush with vertically growing shoots up to 1 m high. It is distinguished by large, green leaves with a purple tint. The scutes are spherical, the flowers are double, white, with a pink border that spreads towards the center. The petals are pointed at the ends.
The new variety Miss Saori has unusual flowers, but the plant can easily be recognized as large-leaved hydrangea
Selma
Selma, unlike other varieties of large-leaved hydrangea, grows slowly, the bush is round, reaches 1 m without pruning. A distinctive feature is the bronze tint of young leaves.When the buds open, the shield takes on a hemispherical shape. The flowers are white in the center, red-pink on the periphery, with noticeable light veins. The tips of the petals are sharp. In buds that have just begun to bloom, white color predominates; as they open and age, it becomes more pink.
Hydrangea largeleaf Selma is unusually beautiful, grows slowly
Frost-resistant varieties of large-leaved hydrangea
Unfortunately, large-leaved hydrangea varieties can only be called relatively frost-resistant. In Russia, without shelter, they can grow exclusively in the southernmost regions. Even those varieties that can withstand fairly low temperatures have difficulty withstanding periodic frosts and thaws. Hydrangeas also react poorly to cold winds. This means that even frost-resistant varieties have low winter hardiness.
This must be taken into account when selecting varieties for cultivation in open ground for residents of the Middle Zone.
Mars
Hydrangea Mars forms a small bush about 1 m high. The scutes are a hemisphere with downward curved edges, up to 30 cm in diameter. The flowers are sterile, with rounded, overlapping pink petals. Along the edge they are edged with a clear white stripe. The minimum temperature that the variety can withstand is - 28 °C.
Large-leaved hydrangea variety Mars is distinguished by especially large inflorescences - up to 30 cm in diameter
Bavaria
The new Bavaria variety can withstand frosts of -23°C. A bush 1.5 m high with erect shoots is formed. The scutes are hemispherical, up to 20 cm in diameter.The buds are not salad green, but lime green, and retain their color after opening. True, it is much less pronounced, and by the time the flower ages, it disappears. The petals, rounded at the ends, are deep violet inside, with clear white veins and a border of the same color along the edge. Flowering occurs on the shoots of the current and last year.
Hydrangea largeleaf Bavaria is a real chameleon with flowers that constantly change color
Twist and Shout
Twist and Shout is a very beautiful variety, the shape of the shield is close to natural. It is flat, 10-16 cm in diameter, and consists mainly of small pinkish-purple flowers capable of setting seeds. Large, sterile, they are located sparsely, along the edge of the scutellum.
The Twist and Shout hydrangea bush reaches a height and diameter of 90-120 cm. The variety can withstand temperatures of -29 °C for a short time.
The shape of the shield of the Twist and Shout variety is similar to the inflorescence of the species large-leaved hydrangea
Miniature varieties of large-leaved hydrangea
Large-leaved hydrangea varieties whose height does not exceed 1 m are considered low-growing. To obtain a truly miniature bush, it is restrained by pruning. Just be careful not to overdo it with shortening the stems, so as not to damage the flowering, giving the hydrangea attractive growth for a small area.
Mini Penny
Mini Penny is formed into a bush with a height of 60 to 90 cm with relatively small leaves for hydrangea - 7-15 cm. The scutes are hemispherical, with a diameter of 15-20 cm. On alkaline soils, the color of the flowers is pink, when planted in acidic soil it changes to blue. The buds bloom from late July to September. Winters well in zone 5 under cover.
Mini Penny forms into low bushes
Mireille
Mirei - variety 60-90 cm high, rounded bush. Dark red spots are clearly visible on the leaves in spring and autumn. The shape of the shields is a clear hemisphere. The flowers are of original color - white inside, with a crimson edging and the same dot in the middle of the corolla. Petals are rhombic. Overwinters in zones 5 and 6. Can be grown in pots.
The Mireille variety is one of the most beautiful bicolor hydrangeas
Tovelit
Tovelit grows up to 50-80 cm, sometimes, in particularly favorable conditions, the height of an adult bush can reach 1 m. Flowering occurs on last year's shoots. On alkaline soils, the color of the buds is classic pink. When treated with appropriate preparations and on acidic soils - blue or dark blue. The scutellum is flat-rounded, up to 12 cm in diameter. Petals are ovate to rhombic, with a blunt, elongated tip. The minimum temperature is 23 °C.
The Tovelit variety has relatively small flowers, only 10-12 cm in diameter
Conclusion
Varieties of large-leaved hydrangeas with names can only give a general idea of the plant. The culture is very beautiful, prefers partial shade, blooms profusely, each shield does not lose its decorative effect for a long time, which is why the bush seems covered with openwork balls. It’s a pity that hydrangea is too heat-loving and capricious.
