Hydrangea
The hydrangea originally comes from Japan, but the flower spread as early as the 18th century across large parts of Europe. Hydrangea is a beloved ornamental plant with large flowers in many different and often very bright colors. You can keep hydrangeas in pots indoors or plant them in the garden. A hydrangea bush blooms for a long time and helps create a good habitat for butterflies and pollinators, for example.
Hydrangea - care
One of the reasons why hydrangea has become so popular is that it is not a very demanding plant. Here are some tips on how to grow hydrangeas outdoors in Sweden with good results:
- Hydrangeas thrive best in partial shade in a place protected from strong winds.
- Hydrangeas do not thrive in soil that is too alkaline. A pH value of 5.5-6.5 is ideal. The pH of the soil affects the color of the flowers.
- The soil should not dry completely between waterings.
- Water more often if you have planted hydrangeas in a sunny position.
- When hydrangea is in bloom, it needs fertilizer once a month. Ferrous fertilizer prevents the flowers from turning pale.
- By pruning the hydrangea after it has flowered in spring, you can promote growth. It can then flower twice in one season.
- Watch out for spider mites and aphids, which can affect hydrangeas.
Note that these are general tips and that specific varieties, such as Hydrangea Annabelle, may have preferences that differ slightly from each other. If you plan to grow hydrangea in pot indoors, the above tips apply. It is important to keep the hydrangea cool in winter, 10-15 degrees is usually fine. You can also overwinter hydrangeas that are outside during the summer in a frost-free garage, for example.
There are many different types of hydrangea
There are many varieties of hydrangea on the market. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Hydrangea Annabelle
- Wicker hydrangea
- Garden hydrangea
- Climbing hydrangea
Hydrangea Annabelle
Hydrangea Annabelle is very popular in Sweden. It is known for its large white inflorescences that bloom during both summer and fall.
White hydrangea
Hydrangea is a bushy hydrangea that can have blue, pink or white flowers. The hydrangea can grow up to three meters high.
Garden hydrangea
Garden hydrangeas are ideal for the garden, but also for bouquets and other flower arrangements. The flowers can have different colors depending on the pH of the soil, among other things.
Climbing hydrangea
Climbing hydrangeas can grow up to 20 meters tall. This variety has white flowers that are relatively small and arranged in elongated inflorescences. For those who love hydrangeas, there are many more varieties to discover and grow than these. The fact that hydrangeas can have flowers in several different colors gives you the opportunity to match a variety with other details in the home or garden. Remember, however, to base your decision on the conditions where you intend to plant your hydrangea. Not all varieties are suitable everywhere.
Hydrangeas contain small amounts of cyanide
Cyanide is a highly toxic substance that can be found in hydrangeas. However, the amount is so small that you would need to ingest an unreasonable amount for it to be dangerous. There are no known cases of poisoning after consumption of hydrangea in Sweden. However, horses can ingest so much hydrangea that they become ill from it.
Author: Johanna DammFact checked by Erik HoekstraLast updated 2024-01-09
