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Can anyone tell me what these hydrangeas are? And if it's possible to buy mature shrubs?

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  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Yes, IIRC the 'blue in acid/pink in alkaline soil' thing relates only to mophead/Hortensia types  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - that's normal @Pete.8 - the colour changes in many of those whites due to the ageing of the flowers - just like clematis. It's different from them changing due to the soil. I have two in the back garden [macrophylla soeur therese] and I don't like the pastel pink colour change as the flowers fade in autumn. Such is life. 

    It's why I like the oak leaf ones - white, and nothing but white  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Fairygirl said:
    Yes - that's normal @Pete.8 - the colour changes in many of those whites due to the ageing of the flowers - just like clematis. It's different from them changing due to the soil. I have two in the back garden [macrophylla soeur therese] and I don't like the pastel pink colour change as the flowers fade in autumn. Such is life. 

    It's why I like the oak leaf ones - white, and nothing but white  ;)
    I know - that's why I bought them :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I just don't like pale pink - might have to get a Sharpie onto them :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    They'll be dark pink in a week or so - no need for a sharpie - tipex possibly :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd be happy if they went from white to dark - it's the bit in between I don't like!
    Mind you - since they were annihilated by frost after doing a prune in spring, there's not going to be any flowers anyway this year.  ;)
    Foliage is already orangey gold. Always next year...
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I try and keep mine small by hard pruning back to a frame of older branches in spring.
    Unlike the mopheads, the paniculatas don't seem to be affected by frost damage to the buds.
    Funnily enough, I like the lime green to white to pale pink. I'm less keen when they're dark pink - that's just me :)
    Each to their own

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Indeed @Pete.8. Interesting about the frost, but we do get rather a lot of those, even in mild winters. It's just one of those things though.  :)
    There's a house down near the nursery I use, and I used to stay nearby too, so I passed it regularly. They have a huge bank of them along the roadside. I think they're probably Limelight, and they look terrific in such a big space, especially as the season changes. It's a lovely woodland-y garden  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Sounds lovely @Fairygirl
    I was torn between Vanille Fraise and Limelight when I bought mine.
    Limelight has an RHS AGM, Vanille Fraise just missed out because the flowers heads drooped in the rain according to their trial results - and we've had a LOT of that recently.
    I think mine have held up well and should be better next year, as I've severely cut back a massive rhodo that was starting to swamp them. They were in nearly deep shade until about a week ago

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - some do a bit better with a bit of light, and some don't seem to care. The oak leaf ones tolerate a bit more sun too, so they might be good for your area. 
    I was just looking earlier at the one I have under the front window. I do absolutely nothing to it, apart from removing the odd dead or broken branch.  It's a fair old size now. Window cleaner's just been, so it's had a water  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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