@CraighB … I cut mine back to about 1.5 - 2 foot, not much lower.. I find that's sufficient to keep it compact, but you could go lower even, that's not a problem.. ...this is 'Phantom' at the end of July again... nice compact plant..
...I also grow a clematis through its lower stems... here you can see the foliage is healthy, not chlorotic, so I sometimes think it's my very hard tap water from the hose that turns the leaves veiny later in the season... that may be more to the point..
..here's what the RHS said about it after the Hydrangea trials they did a few years ago... ''The stem has great quality, very stiff, supporting panicles well. Performed consistently well throughout the trial. A marvellous plant'' .....
….I do hope your Mum likes it as much as I do... we're probably of a similar age..
….I must apologise to Fairygirl for butting in here... I love those Oak leaf hydrangeas too..
No need to apologies to me @Marlorena- the more info people get, the better Lovely to see your pix too. When I bought those, I hadn't really intended buying them, but the foliage was what swung it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
@Marlorena Thank you for that information. I'm definately going to get Phantom for her. And my mum is 53 so not sure if that is a similar age to you or not I do know though that that she is definately not a gardener! She hasn't got the patience for it and the reason she has the small handful of plants she does own is probably because I have forced them upon her lol Maybe because I have ran out of room in my garden, I have decided to take over hers!
However she does have a couple of half dead pink hydrangeas in containers, which she does love! Not enough to keep them alive though she has said that she would love a white one so I am doing the front garden and Phantom will go in the border along with some roses that I am giving to her and I am going to do all the pruning etc until hopefully one days she takes an interest
@CraighB ... Craig... 53 was a good age... I remember it well... lol... best of luck to your Mum and I hope she likes the Hydrangea... great idea to take over her garden... I'm sure we can give you lots of planting ideas and spend your money like there's no tomorrow... ...but otherwise I think you've made a great choice...
...do let us know on the Roses thread which roses you'll be planting... we like all the names...
I'm also delighted you got the Hydrangea.... that looks a good nursery, not one I know, but I'm thinking of ordering a couple myself from their inventory... I've been wanting BOBO for some time, and the new one Dentelle de Gorron... they certainly offer a good range... ...I'm surprised they don't sell Schizophragma integrifolium though but that is more for a mansion...
I took a chance on them @Marlorena. The whole site was very professional, and I can't fault the packaging when they arrived, and the info etc. They seemed an excellent price too. I took a photo when they arrived [always a good idea in case of problems] but I can't find it just now.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Phantom looks like a cracker. I haven't noticed my Limelight (which I prune to about 2ft in winter) flopping but then it is on rather dry soil which prevents overly lush growth. General point with these hydrangeas that thrive on hard pruning, you can ignore the 'eventual size' given in the textbooks, as very few people let them grow that large.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
That's very true @WillDB - that's why they often put things like 'up to 1.6m' or similar. Your growing conditions have an impact on the size. I found the pic of the packaging - they were inside a good, sturdy cardboard box. They were planted the same day, in the two raised boxes [one is behind with the spade at the ready!]
I took this last week because of the red admiral, but you can see the lovely foliage colour
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
...this is 'Phantom' at the end of July again... nice compact plant..
...I also grow a clematis through its lower stems... here you can see the foliage is healthy, not chlorotic, so I sometimes think it's my very hard tap water from the hose that turns the leaves veiny later in the season... that may be more to the point..
..here's what the RHS said about it after the Hydrangea trials they did a few years ago...
''The stem has great quality, very stiff, supporting panicles well. Performed consistently well throughout the trial. A marvellous plant'' .....
….I do hope your Mum likes it as much as I do... we're probably of a similar age..
….I must apologise to Fairygirl for butting in here... I love those Oak leaf hydrangeas too..
Lovely to see your pix too.
When I bought those, I hadn't really intended buying them, but the foliage was what swung it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
However she does have a couple of half dead pink hydrangeas in containers, which she does love! Not enough to keep them alive though
...but otherwise I think you've made a great choice...
...do let us know on the Roses thread which roses you'll be planting... we like all the names...
So thank you both for that
It looks a lovely plant.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
...I'm surprised they don't sell Schizophragma integrifolium though but that is more for a mansion...
I took a photo when they arrived [always a good idea in case of problems] but I can't find it just now.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I found the pic of the packaging - they were inside a good, sturdy cardboard box.
They were planted the same day, in the two raised boxes [one is behind with the spade at the ready!]
I took this last week because of the red admiral, but you can see the lovely foliage colour
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...