June's Plant of the Month
Our plant of the month for June is the beautiful Hydrangea! A common sight in most gardens, I am sure you are familiar with this beautiful flowering shrub. Hydrangeas can grow to impressive sizes and are perfect for making a statement in your garden. Create a beautiful feature with one of these hardy shrubs, just find a shady spot that's nice and moist and let it flourish.
What are Hydrangea plants?
Hydrangeas are perennial shrubs that flower in both spring and summer, producing enormous flowerhead clusters in a variety of shades. You can get Hydrangeas in whites, pinks and even blues.
Origin: Native to Asia and the Americas
Characteristics: Large green bushes with "pom-pom" style flower heads Preferred neighbours: Taller plants and medium trees to provide shade Top Tip: Water in the morning on hot days to prevent wilting
Fun fact: The colour of the flowers can change depending on elements present in the soil Are Hydrangeas easy to grow? Yes, Hydrangea shrubs are hardy and easy to grow. They can thrive in most types of soil, as long as they have plenty of moisture and are kept out of direct sunlight. Younger plants can be prone to damage from frost, so make sure not to transplant them until after the last frost in the spring.
When do Hydrangeas flower? The flowering months of a Hydrangea can vary between varieties, and they will flower any time between the middle of spring to the later summer months.
Are Hydrangeas good for wildlife? Many common Hydrangea varieties are considered to be sterile and do not provide any food for pollinators. Types that do provide nectar and food for bees are Hydrangea quercifolia, Hydrangea mycrophylla, Hydrangea arborescens, Hydrangea anomala petiolaris, Hydrangea paniculata (grandiflora) and Hydrangea aspera.
Did you know? A species of Hydrangea won the Plant of the Year award at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2018. The winning plant was named "Hydrangea Runaway Bride Snow White". A little History... Hydrangeas can be dated back as far as 23 million years ago through fossils!
