Texas Gardening: Hydrangea, 1 by ehantel

ehantel wrote:
I have had incredible luck growning hydrangeas in Houston. Drive by the 1600 block of South Blvd and you will see them. I have many different species and the mopheads, lacecaps and oak leafs do the best. I have blue and pink mopheads growing in the same space (don't know exactly how that happened) and I have one lacecap that is half blue and half pink!

My hydrangeas love water, of course, and I have a spinkler system that waters them every morning. They receive morning sun and afternoon shade. I have a few in afternoon sun that need a drink of water in the afternoon.

I believe that the secret to hydrangeas in Houston is to pamper and baby them until they have been in the ground for three years. Then they are on their own. I believe that they are thriving this year because we had a cool spring.

While some people say that they prefer a northern exposure, I find that they grow well in every area of my yard as long as they get enough water. However, they especially love the shade canopy that our big old oak trees provide.

I hope this helps.

Elani Gray Hantel