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Climbing hydrangea question
I have 2 climbing hydrangeas (petiolaris), I think, which I planted last year in early spring. They're a bit slow to get going, which I've read is normal.
One is climbing and looks as I expected (1st picture). The other (2nd picture) looks a bit odd and has thrown up a big stalk that looks suspiciously like a shrub hydrangea and not the kind that will "climb". (Ignore the plant to the left which is a regular mophead hydrangea)
Can you please advise.. firstly do you think this is really a climbing hydrangea and, if so, should I try to train that leading stalk against the support, or just ignore it, or even cut it off? Might it even be a sucker from the neighbouring mophead (do hydrangeas do that?)
One is climbing and looks as I expected (1st picture). The other (2nd picture) looks a bit odd and has thrown up a big stalk that looks suspiciously like a shrub hydrangea and not the kind that will "climb". (Ignore the plant to the left which is a regular mophead hydrangea)
Can you please advise.. firstly do you think this is really a climbing hydrangea and, if so, should I try to train that leading stalk against the support, or just ignore it, or even cut it off? Might it even be a sucker from the neighbouring mophead (do hydrangeas do that?)
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Once they get going they are HUGE see last 2 pics
I can see what you mean about second photo the leaf and growth does look a little different. There are flowers at the base that look like H petiolaris?
I wonder if long term you would be better of with just the one plant it is very strong growing when it does get going. You will need to take a look at how to prune[eventually]
The two plants are about 4m apart on the same fence; I had hoped to train them kind of in opposite directions. They won't run out of space; there's about 20m of exposed fence that I'd be happy to cover, and beyond that a further 10-15m both sides that's already obscured by trees and large shrubs (but not climbers).
But maybe 2 is still overkill? There's a nice old brick/stone boundary on the other side I could move one of them to.
But your pictures made me think - maybe that fence just won't be able to support even one of those? Unless there's some way for me to support the plant or reinforce the fence
In the sticks near Peterborough
My rogue shoot is in fact a weigela!
It did look a lot like a hydrangea stem - apologies @GardenerSuze and @Silver surfer for wasting your time!
You do have a positive you can now see from @Silver surfer photos of just how big it gets. I did see one fall off a wall one it was huge. It had split low down and it was a case of start again. Plus it hadn't been pruned correctly which didn't help.
One last thought, I did work in a garden where there was one growing on a South facing house wall, it was amazing must have found moisture from somewhere.
In the sticks near Peterborough
The new one has been slow to get going like the others have mentioned but once they do, they can grow very quickly but more vertically than horizontally, so you will have to tie it in to cover the fence and I think it will take many years to cover the area you want (but don't let that put you off, they are lovely plants).