Hydrangea paniculata (lat. Hydrangea paniculata)- Not tall bush arnica, native to the Far East. Hydrangea paniculata reaches a height of about 1.5 meters. The inflorescences of the plant themselves are large, up to 30 cm long, which is quite impressive. The flowers of this hydrangea are either bisexual or sterile. On straight long branches the leaves are arranged oppositely. Inflorescences form on the current year's shoots, which is very important for proper pruning of hydrangeas. Paniculata hydrangea is widely popular among gardeners because it grows in almost any climate. This shrub grows quite quickly. Planting and caring for paniculate hydrangea is also quite simple and does not require serious effort.

Popular varieties of paniculate hydrangea

• Hydrangea Grandiflora - this variety has flowers originally white, but become pink over time;
• Hydrangea Limelight - pale lemon-colored inflorescences, this hydrangea blooms later than others;
• Hydrangea Kyushu is an early flowering variety with flowers that are initially white and eventually turn pink. The flowers are fertile and sterile;
• Hydrangea Vanilla Fries - very beautiful variety, flowers in inflorescences of white and pink color;
• Hydrangea Pinky Winky - this variety has mostly sterile flowers, some are fertile; the flowers are collected in pink-red inflorescences.

Watering paniculate hydrangea

The plant is very moisture-loving, so you need to remember that it’s better to water more than you need than not to water enough. It grows well even in wetlands, so you can draw your own conclusions about how to water paniculata hydrangea. If there is insufficient watering, the plant will not bloom well. During hot weather during the summer months, you should water your paniculata hydrangea several times a week.

Soil for paniculate hydrangea

Paniculata hydrangea requires acidic soil, so it is important to add soil to alkaline reaction add either ammonium sulfate or peat. Other application options are adding iron sulfate to the soil or covering it with pine bedding. Also, the soil should be clayey. On alkaline soils, paniculata hydrangea can develop leaf chlorosis.

Planting paniculate hydrangea in open ground

Paniculata hydrangea is so unpretentious that it can grow almost anywhere (considering what is written in the paragraph above). But there are still tips on location. In windy areas where there are drafts, it is still better not to plant these shrubs. The plants are sun-loving, so it will be a little dark for them under the trees. As for air quality, garden paniculata hydrangea is not picky and can grow along roads. It is better to cover paniculata hydrangea for the winter, especially for areas with severe frosts. But even without shelter, hydrangeas will survive the winter; some shoots may freeze, but they often recover quickly.

Pruning paniculate hydrangea (autumn or spring)

How and when to prune paniculate hydrangea? Hydrangea is pruned in late autumn after the leaves have fallen, or in early spring even before the start of sap flow. If you delay pruning in spring, the plant may not have time to bloom, and this also increases the likelihood of the bush becoming diseased. Light, gentle pruning is carried out if the goal is to grow the bush and increase green mass and shoots. For abundant flowering, you need to shorten the shoots of last year by at least a third, which will give the plant an incentive to produce young ones with inflorescences on them.

Feeding paniculate hydrangea

For the full development and growth of hydrangeas, fertilizers are needed. How to feed paniculata hydrangea? Starting from the end of March, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers twice a month. In the summer, once a month you need to feed them with organic ones. To keep the shoots strong, once a month you can water the bush with a weak solution of potassium permanganate - 0.5 g of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water. The last time fertilizer is applied is at the end of summer, after which the plant begins to prepare for autumn rest and wintering.

Growing panicle hydrangea in the garden

Propagation of paniculata hydrangea in the garden

How to propagate paniculate hydrangea correctly? There are two most popular and least labor-intensive methods that give best result– propagation by layering and cuttings. It is advisable to use root formation stimulants, since without them the result may not be immediate and may not be guaranteed at all.

Reproduction of paniculate hydrangea by layering

A healthy hydrangea shoot is bent to the ground and pinned in a previously made furrow, sprinkled with soil on top. The shoot should emerge from the ground almost vertically. To ensure this position, the top of the shoot can be tied up. It will take a year for the cuttings to take root and take root, so this procedure is done in late spring or early summer. Next spring, the paniculate hydrangea seedling can be separated from the mother plant and planted in a new location.

Propagation of paniculate hydrangea by cuttings

The easiest way to obtain planting material is by pruning hydrangea - when pruning is done in early spring, you don’t have to throw away the cuttings, but select the healthiest ones and try to root them. Only woody shoots are suitable for rooting.

Caring for hydrangea in the fall after flowering

Cut branches selected for cuttings are cut into pieces, each of which should have 3-5 internodes, after which each cutting must be placed in a container with water with the lower part (the one with which we will plant it in the ground). After this, we prepare the substrate - it is made up of equal parts of sand and high-moor peat. We take the cuttings out of the water, dust the lower end with a root formation stimulator and plant them in the prepared substrate, leaving only a third of the length of the cutting above the soil surface. Cover the cuttings with a jar or cut plastic bottle. It will take a long time for paniculate hydrangea to take root, so the cuttings should be stored in a dark place until spring, constantly moistening the soil. At the end of next summer, rooted cuttings of paniculata hydrangea can be planted in open ground. Young hydrangeas need to be covered for the winter so that the seedlings do not freeze. When paniculate hydrangea blooms, we can consider that the plant is an adult and there is no need to cover it for the winter.

Diseases and pests of paniculate hydrangea

Of the pests, hydrangea is most often affected by spider mites or aphids. They are dealt with in the usual way - by treating them with insecticides, for example, with phytofarm. Snails are another pest, but they are usually collected by hand.

In general, hydrangeas rarely get sick in open ground, and pests are more of an exception. Like any other plant that has just been purchased, when planting seedlings it is advisable to carry out preventive treatment. Don’t forget about quarantine so that the disease does not spread to neighboring plants if the newly purchased one turns out to be sick or affected by pests.

Hydrangea paniculata (lat. Hydrangea paniculata) is a species of the genus Hydrangea of ​​the Hydrangeaceae family, widespread in nature in Japan, China and the south of Sakhalin. This attractive and fast-growing crop is widely used in landscape design.

Planting and caring for paniculata hydrangea

• Bloom: from mid-June to October from four to five years of age.
• Landing: in the spring before the buds swell or during leaf fall.
• Lighting: bright light or partial shade.
• The soil: fertile, neutral, without any admixture of lime or other alkalis, clay soils or red soil are preferred.
• Watering: abundant and regular: the soil in the tree trunk circle should be moist all the time.
• Feeding: Fertilizers are applied 4 times per season: in early spring - organic matter with a high nitrogen content, during budding and in mid-summer - full mineral fertilizer, and in autumn - potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
• Trimming: Sanitary and formative pruning, and, if necessary, rejuvenating pruning is carried out at the end of March.
• Reproduction: most often by layering and cuttings.
• Pests: aphid, spider mite and, root-knot nematodes, snails.
• Diseases: white and gray rot, powdery mildew, downy mildew, septoria, chlorosis, ring spot virus.

Read more about growing paniculata hydrangea below.

Hydrangea paniculata - description

Hydrangea paniculata is a shrub or tree up to 10 m high with shallow roots, the distribution area of ​​which significantly exceeds the projection of the crown. The leaves of Hydrangea paniculata are ovate or elliptical, up to 12 cm long. Honey-bearing inflorescences are densely hairy, wide-pyramidal panicles up to 25 cm long and consist of large sterile flowers with a diameter of up to 2.5 cm, the greenish-white petals of which gradually turn pink, and small fertile white flowers with early falling petals. Hydrangea paniculata blooms for the first time at the age of 4-5 years. The fruit is a capsule that cracks at the top when ripe and contains numerous small but extremely viable seeds.

Planting paniculate hydrangea in open ground

When to plant paniculata hydrangea

The best planting material is four to five year old seedlings that take root well and can bloom within the year of planting. Hydrangea paniculata is planted in the spring, before the sap begins to flow, or during leaf fall. Seedlings planted in the spring will almost certainly bloom soon, but if planting is carried out in the fall, it is necessary to insulate trunk circle plants for the winter.

Hydrangea paniculata can grow in partial shade, but in bright sun its flowering will be longer and more lush. It is very important that the plant is protected from strong cold winds.

Hydrangea paniculata prefers soil that is fertile, neutral, without any traces of lime or other alkaline compounds, due to which it may, at best, bloom poorly, and at worst, simply die. Keep in mind that the plant's roots extend far from the trunk, so do not add chalk, dolomite flour or ash to the soil within a diameter of 5-6 m from the intended planting site. Do not plant bulbous flowers in this space that require annual digging of the soil - tulips, gladioli, hyacinths. Brown peat can be added to acidic soil to neutralize it. coniferous land or sawdust. Hydrangea paniculata grows poorly in sandy soil.

How to plant paniculata hydrangea

The landing site is prepared in advance. The pit for paniculata hydrangea should be spacious: depending on the size of the seedling, from 50x50 to 80x80 cm with a depth of 40 to 60 cm. The distance between two hydrangeas or between the hydrangea and other plants should be 2.5-3 m. Fill the hole with 2- 3 buckets of water so that the moisture saturates the ground well. The next day, fill the hole almost to the top with the mixture. fertile soil, sand, peat and humus (2:1:2:1), adding 25 g of urea and potassium sulfate and 65 g of superphosphate to it and mixing thoroughly. Allow the soil to settle and settle.

The roots of seedlings are slightly pruned before planting, and in tree-like forms of paniculata hydrangea, annual shoots are also shortened, leaving no more than 3-5 buds on them. Only large-leaved hydrangea seedlings are not pruned, since the flower buds of this plant are located at the ends of the shoots.

Lower root system seedling into the hole, straighten its roots and bury the plant so that the root collar is slightly above the surface of the area. Water the seedling well, and when the water is absorbed and the soil settles a little, the neck will be where it belongs - at the level of the surface of the site. Mulch the tree trunk circle with pine needles, leaf humus or acidic peat and at first shade the plant from the bright sun.

Caring for Hydrangea paniculata

Planting paniculata hydrangea and caring for it is not labor-intensive. Hydrangea paniculata garden can grow about highways and in other unfavorable places, however, if you want to see it in better shape, do not neglect to perform simple plant care measures.

Hydrangea paniculata, like other species of the genus, is extremely moisture-loving, so the soil in its trunk circle should be slightly moist all the time. Do not allow the soil to dry out on hot days. Water the plant once a week, pouring at least 3 buckets of water under each adult bush. It is good to add potassium permanganate to the water for irrigation from time to time. In order to retain moisture in the soil as long as possible, the tree trunk circle is regularly mulched with leaves or sawdust.

Hydrangea paniculata is fed four times a season. In early spring, at the very beginning of sap flow, organic matter is added to the soil - a solution of mullein or bird droppings, for example. The next feeding is carried out during the budding period: a solution of 35 g of potassium sulfate, 35 g of superphosphate and 25 g of urea in 10 liters of water is added to the tree trunk circle - this amount is enough to fertilize 1 m². In mid-summer, hydrangea is fertilized with a solution of 25-35 g of granular complex mineral fertilizer in a bucket of water. Consumption – 2-3 buckets per adult bush. The fourth feeding is applied when preparing the plant for winter: in this case, use a special fertilizer for hydrangeas that does not contain nitrogen.

To form an ideal bush or tree it is very important correct pruning hydrangea, which is usually carried out at the end of March. When forming a bush, leave from 5 to 10 developed shoots and shorten them to 3-5 buds. The remaining shoots are cut to the base. Old hydrangea is subjected to anti-aging pruning, shortening all shoots to 6-7 cm from the surface of the ground: next year the old plant will produce young shoots.

Hydrangea paniculata, like any other plant, can suffer from diseases or pests. Most often, powdery mildew and aphids cause trouble for her. To get rid of powdery mildew you need to treat the plant several times every 10-12 days with one percent Bordeaux mixture or a solution of 20-25 g of Fundazol in 10 liters of water. Ordinary garlic will help you cope with aphids: 250 g of crushed cloves are poured into a bucket of water, left for two days, after which 50 g of grated garlic is added to the infusion. laundry soap, dissolve it, stirring, and treat the bush, trying to ensure that the solution wets not only the upper, but also the underside of the hydrangea leaves. Treatments with garlic infusion should be carried out once a week until the aphids disappear. If garlic does not cope with the task, you will have to resort to the help of acaricidal drugs - Akarin, Aktar or Actellik, for example.

With the onset of cold weather, paniculata hydrangea in Siberia and the Urals needs shelter. Sometimes you have to cover the hydrangea and middle lane, if weather forecasters predict a frosty and snowless winter. The root zone is covered with a layer of rotted manure, peat or dry leaves at least 20 cm thick. As soon as snow falls, throw a snowdrift under a bush or tree.

Propagation of hydrangea paniculata

Most often, paniculata hydrangea is propagated by cuttings and layering. The remaining cuttings with 4-5 buds after spring pruning are placed for two days in a weak Kornevin solution, after which they are planted on a school bed, burying the lower cut in loose acidic soil for two buds. Cuttings of paniculata hydrangea must be protected from bright sun, and the soil in the garden bed should be regularly moistened, not allowing it to dry out. As soon as young leaves appear on the cuttings, the shading is gradually removed. For the winter, the cuttings must be covered with spruce branches. Next summer, it is better to remove the first flower stalks so that the plant can devote all its energy to growing the root system. On permanent place cuttings are planted at the age of 4-5 years.

It is very easy to propagate paniculate hydrangea by layering: in the spring, a low-growing shoot of a young plant is bent to the ground, pinned to it and the place of fixation is covered with fertile soil or peat. The cuttings are watered throughout the season, covered with spruce branches for the winter, and then next spring it is separated from the mother plant and transplanted to the school bed for growing.

Varieties of paniculata hydrangea

We are sometimes asked to list the “names of paniculate hydrangeas”, the most popular in cultivation and at the same time the least capricious to care for, and are also asked to recommend varieties of paniculate hydrangea for the Moscow region. Actually, any variety of this species is winter-hardy enough for moderately frosty winters, but in conditions of abnormal cold, they all need shelter for the root zone.

We offer you the most the best varieties Hydrangea paniculata.

Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora (large-flowered)

A shrub that over time takes the form of a tree up to 3 m high. It is distinguished by later flowering than other varieties. Collected in wide pyramidal inflorescences up to 30 cm long, the large sterile flowers of this variety are creamy when blooming, pure white in full bloom, and then pinkish - becoming greenish-red closer to autumn. The lifespan of plants of this variety is about 30 years;

Hydrangea paniculata Vanilla Fraze

The plant is up to 150 cm high and has a crown of the same diameter. The inflorescences are large, similar to lilac clusters. The flowers are creamy at first, then they turn pink, and towards the end of flowering they become dark red. One bush can have snow-white and bright crimson flowers at the same time. Plants of this variety can withstand frosts down to -29 ºC;

Hydrangea paniculata Phantom

A plant up to 2 m high with a crown diameter of the same size. The inflorescences of this variety are large, dense, round-pyramidal. The flowers are light cream in color when opening, but become pinkish over time;

Hydrangea paniculata Pink Diamond

The inflorescences of this variety, up to 30 cm long, consist of creamy white flowers that gradually acquire a dark pink, almost red color;

Hydrangea paniculata Limelight

A plant extremely popular among designers because of its strong shoots that can easily withstand heavy greenish inflorescences, which turn white in bright sun and pink towards the end of flowering. The leaves of this variety are green in spring and summer and turn purple in autumn;

Hydrangea paniculata Pink Lady

A fan-shaped shrub up to 2 m high with a spreading crown, straight brown shoots that become reddish tint, and white inflorescences up to 30 cm long. Over time, a light blush appears on the fragrant white flowers, then the flowers gradually become soft pink;

Hydrangea paniculata Magical Candle

A plant with a spreading crown and large pyramidal inflorescences of light cream and green fragrant flowers, which turn pink in summer and crimson in autumn;

Hydrangea paniculata Vims Red

A plant with inflorescences up to 35 cm long, conical in shape, emitting a honey aroma. During the season, the flowers turn from white to pink, and at the end of flowering - deep red;

Hydrangea paniculata Diamond Rouge

A compact upright shrub with inflorescences up to 40 cm long, the flowers of which are initially white and then acquire a rich crimson-red color;

Hydrangea paniculata Sunday Fries

Dense compact bush with red-brown shoots, pubescent leaves along the veins and white flowers, which become lilac-pink by the end of summer;

Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky

A variety that was bred more than 10 years ago, but still has not lost its popularity. This is a small tree or bush with a wide-rounded crown and shoots that grow up to 30 cm annually. Powerful stems bear paniculate inflorescences of white flowers, which change color to pink-purple during the season;

Hydrangea paniculata Melba Fraze (Fraiz Melba)

A new variety, which is a tall bush with dark burgundy shoots with a brown tint and dense pyramidal inflorescences 45-55 cm long, consisting of milky white flowers, gradually acquiring at first a soft pink, and towards the end of flowering a rich wine-red hue.

In addition to those described, the following varieties of hydrangea paniculata are grown in culture: Silver Dollar, Little Lime, Kyushu, Bobo, Tardiva, Presox, Unique, Floribunda, Matilda, Darts Little Dot, Brussels Lace and others.

Hydrangea paniculata in landscape design

Hydrangea paniculata, due to its loose conical inflorescences, brings airiness to the landscape. Its cultivation next to mock orange, lilac and spirea is justified, since its lush inflorescences replace the withered flowers of these shrubs. Effective combinations of hydrangea paniculata with clipped plantings of boxwood, spirea or cotoneaster: this combination can enliven any corner of your garden. And climbing varieties of paniculata hydrangea will help create decorative verticals on the site, for which hydrangea is planted near the walls of buildings or large trees, away from drafts. Such plantings attract the eye not only during the flowering period, but also in the fall, when the hydrangea leaves acquire a variegated color.

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Hydrangea paniculata is an unusual plant of amazing beauty, which has many species. It can be grown both at home in large pots and in your garden. Today we will tell you everything about planting and caring for paniculata hydrangea in open ground.

When growing wild, paniculate hydrangea is found in the form of shrubs and small trees up to 10 m in height. Natural habitats are the southern shores of Sakhalin, China and the islands of Japan. Here hydrangea grows in the form of trees.

In our latitudes, hydrangea also grows well, but no more than 3 m in height. She got used to the heat of the south of the country, and to the frosts of the Urals and Siberia. However, the territory of central Russia, the Moscow region, is especially well suited for its cultivation. With proper care, the bush will add 25-30 cm every year.

Paniculata hydrangea in the garden looks very picturesque. Flowering begins in early July and lasts until the first frost. Inflorescences up to 30 cm long resemble panicles in shape. Small flowers grow on them, which can be of 2 types:

• bisexual (small in size, after pollination the petals quickly fall off);
• sterile (about 3 cm, do not fall off for a long time).

In many species of this plant, the petals change color. At first they are creamy, then gradually become pink, then turn green or red.

The leaves are oval in shape, quite large - reaching 10-12 cm in length. They have a velvety texture and are also slightly pubescent. Leaf blades abundantly cover the branches.

Hydrangea paniculata is considered a long-liver. On average, it grows for about 60 years.

The following varieties of paniculata hydrangea are most suitable for growing on our territory:

• Pinky-Winky;
• Grandiflora;
• Polar bear;
• Kyushu;
• Tardiva;
• Limelight;
• Vanilla fries;
• Phantom;
• Mega Pearl.

Every year, hydrangea varieties are updated. You can always pick up suitable variety and plant it on your site. However, before doing this, you should definitely find out whether it is suitable for growing in your climate or not.

Hydrangea propagation occurs by seeds, cuttings and layering. This can be done at home, but keep in mind that planting in open ground will not occur earlier than two years. This is a very labor-intensive and slow process. It is best to buy ready-made seedlings for planting.

Getting ready to land

Planting hydrangea paniculata, as well as subsequent care for it, does not require special skills. The shrub grows quickly and begins to bloom within 2-3 years. But you should still familiarize yourself with the basic rules in order to properly plant hydrangea in open ground. These include:

1. Landing place. Choose areas that are protected from strong winds and have good lighting. It should be borne in mind that it blooms best in partial shade, that is, it will be great if a shrub or tree grows nearby. It is best to plant on the east side of the garden.
2. Hydrangea planting dates. In cold climates, seedlings should be planted in early May, in the southern regions - in September.
3. Soil and acidity. Hydrangea grows very well on fertile and clay soils which are rich in humus. It grows worse on red soils. Completely contraindicated sandy soils. The optimal acidity indicator is pH 5.3-6.0. That is, the soil should be slightly acidic, this way you can ensure maximum brightness of the inflorescences. On neutral soil the inflorescences are pale in color, and the bush grows slowly.
4. Purchase of seedlings. Give preference to seedlings only with a closed root system, as they are less likely to be susceptible to any diseases. Seedlings can be bought at garden stores and flower fairs.

Step-by-step instructions for planting paniculate hydrangea

The technology for planting garden paniculata hydrangea is as follows:

1. 2-4 weeks before planting, completely clear the area of ​​plant debris and dig up with a shovel.
2. Dig holes 40-50 cm deep and 70*70 cm wide. If you plan to make hedge, then dig a continuous groove of the same dimensions. The distance between the holes can be from 1 m to 2.5 m - it all depends on the specific variety.
3. Prepare the soil mixture. The composition includes leaf soil, turf soil, peat and humus in equal quantities. You should also enter there nutrients: 25 g potassium sulfate, 70 g superphosphate and 25 g urea. Under no circumstances should you add chalk, lime and wood ash.
4. Fill the planting holes with the prepared soil mixture.
5. After 2-4 weeks, dig the holes again. For planting, 3-4 year old hydrangea seedlings are taken. If they were with open roots, then they should be shortened a little.
6. Place the seedling on the cone of soil mixture at the required depth and carefully fill the hole. The root collar should be located at ground level, maximum 1-2 cm lower. Compact the soil with your palms.
7. Water the bush with 10 liters of warm, settled water and mulch. Sawdust, bark or peat work well as mulch.

Below is a photo of planting hydrangea paniculata:

Garden hydrangea is a heat-loving plant that needs fertile soil and sufficient moisture. If you want to grow a strong and healthy shrub, do not neglect these instructions.

Care after landing

It is impossible to grow paniculata hydrangea without proper care. It includes several factors, each of which we will examine in more detail:

1. Watering. Hydrangea is a moisture-loving flower. With absence sufficient quantity moisture, development is disrupted, so drought is strictly contraindicated. It is recommended to water once every 2 weeks with 20 liters of water, in hot weather - once a week, and in rainy summers - once a month.

You can add 2-3 g of potassium permanganate to the water for irrigation to prevent the development of rot. Watering should be done in the tree trunk circle in the morning or in the evening, when it is not necessary. scorching sun. Do not forget to loosen the soil 5 cm deep after each watering and remove weeds.

2. Mulching. After watering, sprinkle the soil with peat chips or pine needles. This will prevent rapid evaporation of moisture.

3. Feeding. It should be applied quite often, since the shrub is a fast-flowering one. In spring, water the hydrangea with a urea solution (20 g per 10 liters of water). Under large bushes, at least 20 liters should be poured.

At the beginning of the growing season, a good result can be achieved by adding nettle infusion, and then immediately a bucket of water. Mullein solution should be added every 2 weeks. It is prepared simply: fill a bucket of manure with 3 liters of water and let it brew for 3 days, after which dilute 1 liter of infusion in 10 liters of water and water the bush. When the first buds appear, apply 2 mineral fertilizers (70 g superphosphate + 45 g potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water) with a two-week break between each feeding.

4. Pruning in spring and autumn. All varieties of paniculate hydrangea require pruning. In November, all dry inflorescences should be cut off so that they do not create additional weight on the branches in winter. In the spring, before sap flow begins, you should completely get rid of incorrectly located and weak shoots. Frost damage should be pruned back to a healthy location. Annual shoots should be shortened by a third. When pruned on time and correctly, hydrangea blooms very profusely.

5. Shelter for the winter. After removing faded inflorescences, you need to prepare for winter. paniculate hydrangeas tree type does not need to be covered. They are winter-hardy - simple mulching is enough for them. In the conditions of the Moscow region, the Middle Zone, the North-West, Siberia and the Urals, hydrangea must be covered.

To do this, the bush is covered with soil, and the tree trunk circle should be mulched with pine needles, rotted manure or peat. Afterwards, bend the branches extremely carefully to the ground so that they do not break. Cover them with spruce branches, sawdust or dry leaves. Place a box or box on top of the bush. Carefully tie up large bushes, make a frame shelter (a kind of “hut”) and add dry leaves there. The winter shelter should be dismantled gradually, you can start in April.

Caring for hydrangea is not as difficult as it seems at first glance. The main thing is to water and feed on time, then the risk of disease and pests will be minimized. Don't forget about pruning, then lush flowering will be provided.

Paniculata hydrangea can fit into any landscape design. You can grow a hedge from it, plant it in pairs. It will look great as a single plant.

Delicate and bright airy hydrangea inflorescences will give the garden its own style and a mood of comfort. Ideal option to realize your design fantasies is paniculata hydrangea. In addition to the fact that the plant blooms profusely and is very unpretentious, it lends itself perfectly to shaping. From bushes of this species you can even create standard forms that will last for many years. This feature of paniculata hydrangea makes it ideal for decorating any garden plot. In this article we will look at the best varieties of flowers and talk about the features of growing them in open ground.

Description, photos and types of hydrangeas

Today, there are more than eighty species of hydrangeas, of which more than one hundred have been bred by breeders. hybrid varieties. There are erect and climbing, evergreen and deciduous, tree-like and dwarf, heat-loving and frost-resistant hydrangeas.

The leaves of the plant can be oval or round, with jagged edges or wavy. Depending on the type and variety, the inflorescences are formed in the form of a panicle, cone, umbrella or ball. Along the edges of each inflorescence are sterile flowers with four petals, and in the center are fruiting flowers. Hydrangea blooms for a long time with white, red, lilac, blue, purple, bright crimson or deep pink flowers. Their palette may have transitional shades or consist of two colors.

The most popular is large-leaved hydrangea with spherical inflorescences, which in the 18th century came from Japan to Europe, where it created a sensation. This plant was grown only at home because it was heat-loving. Since then, breeders have bred widest choice varieties and types of hydrangea that are frost-resistant and can grow in open ground at almost any latitude.

Hydrangeas: types and varieties for Russian gardens

In the gardens of our climate zone, hydrangeas are widespread and winter well: tree-like, paniculate and serrate.

Tree or wild hydrangea is a bush up to 2.5 meters high with pointed leaves and huge dense inflorescences of different colors. The species is considered winter-hardy and unpretentious, which is why it is widely used for decorating garden plots in the middle latitudes of our country. Does not need shelter, prefers semi-shaded and shady areas.

Hydrangea serrata is medium-sized tree-like spreading shrub up to one and a half meters high. Its bright green oval leaves are pointed towards the top. The inflorescences in the form of a ball consist of flowers of blue shades. The brightness of their color depends on the acidity of the soil. As the petals fade, they turn pink. Hydrangea serrata flowers bloom in mid-summer and bloom until September. The species is suitable for cultivation in the central zone of our country, but requires shelter for the winter. Loves moderate watering and tolerates any transplants well.

Hydrangea paniculata is an incredible beautiful plant and is one of the most popular types in garden culture. A small tree in open ground will grow from two to five meters. It is resistant to cold by its shoots, which quickly become woody. The pubescent leaves are up to 12 cm long and have an elliptical shape. The panicle-shaped inflorescences consist of fragrant flowers that are excellent honey plants. Flowering begins in June and lasts until frost. The species is suitable for cultivation in the central and northern parts of Russia, since without shelter it can withstand frosts down to -25C. Hydrangea paniculata has a large number of a wide variety of varieties, including:

1. Variety "Grandiflora" - This is a massive shrub with oblong velvety leaves and large, white inflorescences that turn pink over time. On fertile, light and well-moistened soils it grows up to two meters. Does not love strong wind, but tolerates frost well.
2. Variety "Vanilla Fries" is a spreading bush up to two meters high. Lush inflorescences consist of white flowers, which later turn bright pink. It begins to bloom late. Loves light and moisture. Tolerates severe frosts without difficulty.
3. Variety "Great Star" distinguished by oval shiny leaves and small inflorescences with large flowers. Their four petals create a propeller-like appearance, and bloom in the second half of summer. The variety is frost-resistant, but requires shelter for the winter.
4. Variety "Bobo" refers to dwarf forms, which do not grow up to one meter. It blooms in the second half of summer with lush inflorescences of pink, white and light yellow shades. In winter it is mulched with leaves. Suitable for decorating flower beds and small front gardens.
5. Variety "Unique" grows up to two meters and decorates gardens with its exquisite appearance. The spreading bush is covered with boiling snow-white inflorescences, which turn pink towards the end of flowering. Young plants take shelter for the winter.
6. Variety "Phantom" represents so abundantly flowering bush Arnica, which due to its large white inflorescences and cream flowers, leaves are practically invisible. To make the flowering even more magnificent, the shoots are pruned short in the spring.

Different varieties of hydrangea paniculata

Planting hydrangeas in open ground

Hydrangeas are planted in well-lit areas without direct sunlight. They grow best in partial shade in well-drained, loamy, textured soils. The soil must have an acidic or neutral reaction, since in alkaline soils the plant gets sick, grows poorly and practically does not bloom due to a lack of iron.

Flower seedlings are planted just before the buds are set. A mixture of manure and bone meal is added to the holes prepared according to the size of the root system. or ready-made fertilizer for hydrangeas. The plant is carefully taken out of the container and, together with the earthen ball, is placed in the hole. The roots are sprinkled with soil and pressed lightly. After planting, hydrangea must be watered abundantly.

The color of flowers directly depends on the acidity of the soil. To obtain bright blue inflorescences, aluminum salts are added to alkaline soil. IN acidic soil pink flowers can be obtained after adding limestone.

Paniculata hydrangea: care

The shrub is unpretentious, so special knowledge and skills are not required when caring for it. Translated from Greek, the name of the flower means “vessel of water,” which speaks of the main conditions of its life. Therefore, it is necessary to water the hydrangea quite often and abundantly. The soil should be constantly moist, but that's how it is. So that there is no stagnation of water in it.

To facilitate planting care You can add moss or hydrogel to the hole along with the root system. They are able to retain moisture and prevent the soil from drying out during the hot season.

Hydrangea fertilizer

When caring for a plant, do not forget about its fertilizer, on which active growth and flowering depend. Three feedings are done per season:

1. In the spring, at the beginning of the growing season, plants and bushes are fed with nitrogen fertilizers. Young bushes are fertilized a few days after planting.
2. Just before flowering, around June, nitrogen fertilizers are applied again.
3. In September, when the plant begins to bloom, garden hydrangeas fed with potassium salt.

Bush pruning

Pruning bushes is a very important part of care, since an incorrectly performed procedure can damage the bush or lead to poor flowering.

Features of pruning hydrangea:

1. Old inflorescences are removed to healthy and strong buds.
2. In paniculata hydrangea, last year's shoots are cut off by only a third.
3. Branches that are too dense and weak are cut at the root.
4. In relatively mild climates, pruning is recommended before the active growing season begins in the spring. This is explained by the fact that dried hydrangea inflorescences not only look beautiful in winter garden, but also protect new buds from frost.

Preparing paniculata hydrangea for winter

The frost-resistant shrub survives frosts well. However, in regions with harsh winters it needs to be covered. Frostbitten shoots quickly recover and grow back in the spring, so only the root system can be covered. To do this, the base around the bush is hilled and covered with mulch.

During winters with temperatures below -35C, the entire bush is insulated. Adult plants are tied and wrapped with spunbond or lutrasil. Then a frame is built around them, the inside of which is filled with dry leaves or straw. Young plants are pressed to the ground and covered with roofing felt, which is pressed down with bricks or boards.

Caracas are removed from the bushes in April, and covering material is removed only after the last frost has passed.

Propagation of hydrangea paniculata

Reproduction is carried out in three ways:

• layering;
• cuttings;
• shifts.

Cuttings

When pruning a plant, there are pieces of shoots left that can be rooted. To do this, they are first placed in water for several days, and then the cuttings are cut. In soil consisting of sand and peat, cuttings are planted two-thirds of the entire length. The container is covered with polyethylene and placed in a cool place. Caring for cuttings involves keeping the soil moist. It shouldn't dry out. In this way, the cuttings take root and are stored until spring. Young plants planted in open ground must be covered for the winter for three years.

Green cuttings cut in summer are rooted in an earthen mixture with top layer sand. The branches should not reach the peat.

Reproduction by layering

To get a young plant, a depression is made in the soil next to a large bush. The soft young shoot is bent down and sprinkled with a layer of earthen mixture. Placed next to support to which the middle part of the retracted shoot is tied. It will be possible to separate a young plant from the mother bush only after the branch gives roots and begins to grow. This will happen no earlier than in a year.

In order for layering and shoots to take root well and quickly, it is recommended to use a growth stimulator when rooting them.

Seed propagation

Species hydrangeas are propagated by seeds. Sowing is carried out in the fall in seedling containers filled with an earthen mixture consisting of leaf soil, peat and coarse sand (4: 2: 1). The seeds are sprinkled with a small layer of soil and moistened with a sprayer. In order for the seedlings to sprout together, it is recommended to cover the containers with film or glass. The mini greenhouse is placed in a warm place with an air temperature in the range of 14-20C. The film or glass should be removed every day for half an hour, ventilating the substrate. At the same time, you must ensure that it is always wet.

The first shoots appear no earlier than a month later. The film is immediately removed and the containers are placed in a well-lit place. When the first true leaves appear, the seedlings prick for the first time. The second time they are planted in separate pots at the end of spring.

As soon as young plants get stronger, they need to start hardening off. On warm days, the bushes are exposed to fresh air in a place protected from direct sunlight, wind and rain. To prevent young plants from being weakened by flowering, the emerging buds are removed. Hydrangea grown from seeds is planted in open ground only two years after sowing.

In the garden of a real owner who will love the plant and take care of it with pleasure, paniculata hydrangea will certainly take root and give the flower garden a unique look.

Planting paniculata hydrangea will decorate problem areas of the garden. Caring for crops certainly requires certain skills and effort. However, you just have to look at the photo of this beauty to be convinced that the game is worth the candle!

Hydrangea paniculata is a genus of shrubs and trees from the Saxifraga family. Originally from Far East. The height of the paniculata hydrangea bush reaches 3 meters (some varieties up to 10 m). Shoots are upright, spreading. From the second year of growing season, the stems become woody. The leaves are opposite, large, finely toothed.

Hydrangea pleases gardeners with a long flowering period

Hydrangea paniculata differs from other species in the shape of its inflorescence. Many small graceful flowers are collected in pyramidal panicles. Spike-shaped inflorescences reach up to 30 cm in length and 20 cm in width. It blooms very profusely, forming a luxurious crown, from June to October. The first flowering occurs in the 3-4th year of growth. The color of the flowers is chameleon: by autumn the white color will be replaced by pink.

An adult paniculata hydrangea bush is completely winter-hardy. It grows on acidic and polluted soils, in shaded areas, and is very moisture-loving. Long-lived - grows up to 60 years. Hydrangea paniculata is an excellent honey plant and will decorate any, even the most specific area of ​​the garden.

Popular varieties of paniculata hydrangea

1. Grandiflora(“Grandiflora”) is a common popular variety. Fast-growing bush with large inflorescences. During the flowering period, it changes color four times: when the inflorescences bloom - cream; full bloom - white, turning into pink; in autumn – red-green. Blooms slightly later than other varieties.
   Planting hydrangeas is very easy

   Hydrangea paniculata is planted in early spring and autumn. The planting hole should be wide, up to 70 cm in diameter, to evenly distribute the roots. The recess is filled with a portion of mineral or organic fertilizers and moisturizes. When planting a hydrangea seedling, the root collar should not be buried. The planting hole, filled with soil and compacted, needs to be watered generously.

   Advice. In autumn, planting paniculata hydrangea can only be done in the southern regions. In all others - only in the spring.

   The distance between planted bushes is at least one and a half meters. In group plantings of hydrangeas, to achieve rapid closure of the crowns, seedlings can be planted at a shorter distance from each other. As they grow, such plantings are thinned out.

   Care for hydrangea paniculata

   Hydrangea paniculata is a rather demanding and capricious plant. Proper care will help to achieve bright, abundant flowering on a powerful, healthy bush.

   Watering. Abundant and regular (during drought at least twice a week). After watering, the soil must be loosened, avoiding cracking of the top layer. The solution to the problem will be mulching with pine needles or peat.

   
   Mulching hydrangeas

   Feeding. Hydrangea is very responsive to fertilization. At the beginning of growth, it will be useful to add a diluted infusion of nettle. Mineral fertilizing is applied carefully, without excess, but regularly (every 10 days). It is preferable to use water-soluble fertilizers and apply them along with watering. From organic matter, slurry and diluted bird droppings are excellent.

   Important! The interval for fertilizing hydrangea should not exceed 15 days. Otherwise, flowering will be sparse and faded.

   Trimming. Every year, hydrangea bushes need to be pruned short. This way they will retain their attractiveness for a long time and bloom profusely.

   In autumn, all remaining inflorescences, old and weak shoots, and branches growing inside the bush are cut off from the bush. It is recommended to leave 10-12 strong shoots in winter.

   
   Pruning hydrangea

   Spring pruning is carried out before the buds open. The shoots of an adult bush are cut to 2-3 buds, young ones - to 3-5. This pruning will allow the bush to gain strength over the summer and meet the winter fully armed. Flowering becomes more luxuriant.

   Important! Pruning is required for paniculata hydrangea. Otherwise, the bush develops poorly and does not bloom.

   Old bushes need to be rejuvenated from time to time. To do this, the shoots are cut under the stump. The bush is completely restored in two years. Standard methods of growing paniculata hydrangea require more gentle pruning.

   Shelter. Young seedlings require winter cover with spruce branches or other materials. In regions with harsh climates, mature bushes also need to be covered.

   
   Do not neglect covering the bushes for the winter

   A photo of paniculata hydrangea in the garden conveys all its beauty and inspires to overcome difficulties when growing.

   Hydrangea propagation

   Hydrangea paniculata reproduces in the following ways:

   1. Seeds.
   2. By cuttings.
   3. By layering.

   It is immediately worth noting that propagating hydrangea by seeds is not justified. The seeds are very small, they produce unfriendly shoots, the quality is lost, and a flowering bush can only be obtained after four years.

   
   Hydrangea seeds

   The most common method of propagation is cuttings. Cuttings are taken from one-year-old mature shoots. Typically, ripening occurs in June, when hydrangea produces buds.

   Important! Cuttings cut in spring and autumn do not root well.

   Rules for cutting cuttings:

   • the cutting must have at least three pairs of buds;
   • the lower section under the kidney at a distance of 2 cm;
   • the upper cut above the bud at a distance of 5 cm (if the shoot is small, the upper cut can be omitted);
   • the lower leaves are removed, leaving 1-2 leaves at the top;
   • the remaining sheets are cut in half.

   The chopped shoots need to be soaked in water for several days. Hydrangea is very capricious when propagating, so to achieve the desired result, it is recommended to treat the cuttings with a growth stimulator.

   
   Cutting hydrangea cuttings

   The cuttings are rooted in containers with a sand-peat mixture (1:2). The planting material is buried 2/3. The soil mixture is covered with a layer of sand on top so that the bottom of the cutting does not reach the peat mixture. The seedlings are covered with jars and placed in the shade.

   It is very important to maintain constant humidity in the containers, otherwise the cuttings will not take root. Spraying and watering should be done every day. The first roots will appear after three weeks. Now you can remove the jars and continue to water the seedlings regularly.

   For the winter, containers should be placed in a cool but frost-free place. During this period, you need to monitor the condition of the plant and prevent the appearance of fungus.

   
   Using the cutting method you will get a young plant by next year

   Seedlings are planted in open ground in August next year. By this time, the cuttings will already have young shoots. If flower buds appear during this period, they need to be cut off so that the plant can gain strength. A young seedling needs to be covered for the winter, and only after the first flowering is the bush considered winter-hardy.

   Obtaining layering of paniculata hydrangea is quite simple. One-year-old mature shoots are bent into a dug ditch 20-25 cm deep. Shallow cuts are first made on the stem at the intended location of root germination. In the ditch, the layer is pinned or fixed with a stone. Top part the shoot must be above the ground, always in a vertical position. The ditch is filled with earth and moistened.

   
   Hydrangea is easily propagated by layering

   Already next spring, the layering will produce young shoots. There is no need to rush to separate them from the mother bush. This can be done in a year, when the young animals have gained enough strength. All varietal properties of the mother bush are preserved.

   Diseases and pests

   Hydrangea in the garden is affected by many diseases and pests. The most dangerous diseases include:

   
   

   Disease control must be carried out in a timely manner special drugs and do not forget about preventive measures.

   
   Snails can cause significant damage to hydrangea leaves.

   Pests of hydrangea paniculata:

   • snails - feed on leaves;
   • aphids and spider mites - located on the underside of the leaf, they feed on the sap of the plant;
   • pennies and bedbugs are larger sucking pests;
   • leaf beetle, leaf roller, weevil - gnaw and twist leaves;
   • nematodes - live in root tissues.

   Important! During the flowering of paniculata hydrangea, spraying with chemicals is not recommended.

   Weak plants cannot resist diseases. Growing zoned varieties, following agricultural practices, preventive spring spraying with Bordeaux mixture, removing dried branches - these are the measures that will help avoid the scourge of most diseases.

   
   Weevil

   Plants damaged by nematodes and viral infections, are subject to removal.

   Hydrangea paniculata is a very capricious beauty. Growing it involves many difficulties. But when the first huge inflorescences appear, all the difficulties are forgotten, and you just want to enjoy this incredible miracle of nature.

   Blooming hydrangea paniculata: video