Variety gives hydrangeas new allure

For a century at least, hydrangeas were a mainstay of the summer landscape throughout Southern California. Then, like bell-bottoms, they nearly disappeared. Fortunately, over the past few years, they have regained popularity and are again among the most planted shrubs in our coastal gardens.

Hydrangeas are hot, very hot. What has returned hydrangeas to fashion status is the new breeding and new varieties that are now available. Varieties that bloom nearly year-round. Varieties that stay under two feet. Varieties with leaves that turn burgundy in the fall. Varieties with multicolored flowers.

The biggest breakthrough in the history of hydrangea culture was the discovery in the 1990s of a repeat-flowering plant growing in a garden in Minnesota. It was the Holy Grail of hydrangeas. Until this chance discovery, all mop-head hydrangeas in the world, no matter how lovely, were once-bloomers.

Hydrangeas differ from other popular plants like geraniums, hibiscus, roses and bougainvillea. These plants bloom nearly year-round because they set flowers as they grow, growing and blooming almost continually.

The genes from this Minnesota plant would change hydrangeas forever. Two years ago, the first repeat-blooming hydrangea, appropriately named Endless Summer, was sold at Roger’s Gardens. It’s is now one of the top-selling plants in the country.

I am fortunate to have grown Endless Summer in my garden for five years now, and it flowers at least eight of the year. It’s a breakthrough, and it’s just the beginning.

I am also testing Blushing Bride, another repeat-blooming hydrangea, which will be introduced to the public in about two years. A very light pink, it may even out-bloom Endless Summer. I’ll keep you posted. Penny Mac is another repeat-bloomer I’m trying.

Although hydrangeas can be different colors, depending on their breeding and the soil acidity, along the Southern California coast they tend to be pink. For small spaces or small pots, Pink Elf is the hydrangea of choice. Growing about half the size of most varieties, it is a compact mound of flowers and is small enough that a few can be nestled into almost any landscape.

Lady in Red is another new hydrangea that offers a pleasant twist on an old favorite. In the fall, its foliage lights up the garden with a mild burgundy. Along the coast of Orange County, the color holds for months. Although this is the first year Lady in Red is being sold, I have been fortunate to have grown it in my garden for two or three years, and the fall color is beautiful.

No discussion about hydrangeas would be complete without a few words on pruning. Improperly pruned hydrangeas are common, if not the norm, in Orange County. Last week I visited home gardens in the communities of Laguna Beach, Tustin and Corona del Mar. These were extraordinary gardens, many with big, leafy hydrangeas. Unfortunately, there were very few flowers or buds on most of these. The reason was improper pruning ? specifically, pruning at the wrong time of the year.

Other than Endless Summer, mop-head-type hydrangeas must never be pruned during the fall, winter or spring. Unfortunately, most gardeners, wanting to tidy up their plants during the winter months, give a little trim. A cut here and a cut there doesn’t appear to do any serious harm, but it eliminates most of next year’s flowers.

During the fall, hydrangeas begin setting buds in the tips of their stems although you won’t be able to see these buds until the following year. Trim your hydrangea in November, December or January, and what do you get? A big leafy plant next summer, with flowers only on the few stems you missed when you pruned.

Hydrangea pruning is surprisingly simple ? it’s really just a matter of timing. As soon as this summer’s flowers fade, cut the stem below the flower to just above a healthy set of dormant buds. To keep the plant a bit smaller, cut further down the stem. For a bigger plant, cut higher. That’s it. Leave the plant alone until it blooms again next year, then repeat the process.

Remember, since Endless Summer blooms more than once, you can prune this variety almost anytime.

How about a re-blooming hydrangea that stands only 18 inches tall? It’s called Mini Penny, and it may be on the market by 2009. How about a re-bloomer with bi-colored flowers or one with brilliant fall color? How about yellow flowers? Hydrangea breeders are working on these now.