POSTED BY PEGGY: Hydrangea ‘Twist and Shout’ is the latest in the everblooming Endless Summer Series of Big Leaf Hydrangeas. Endless Summer Hydrangeas bloom on old wood (last year’s growth) and new wood (this year’s growth). This means if you accidently prune your Big Leaf Hydrangea or a cold winter kills last year’s growth, it will still bloom.
Endless summer Hydrangeas also repeat bloom. Old fashioned Hydrangeas like Nikko Blue, produce just one set of blooms. Endless Summer Hydrangeas continue to produce new flowers all summer.
What is so special aboout ‘Twist and Shout’? It is the first Lacecap re-bloomer. The Original Endless Summer and it’s sister ‘Blushing Bride’ have the big mophead flowers. Twist-n-Shout flowers have a lacy center of small flowers surrounded by larger blossoms of pink or periwinkle blue, depending on soil types. Twist and shout is a cross between H. ‘Penny Mac’ and H. ‘Lady in Red. The stems are sturdy and red (like it’s mother Lady in Red). Another bonus….the leaves turn red-burgundy in fall. It is easy to care for and hardy to zone 4. Twist and Shout grows 3-5′ tall and wide.
Twist and shout Hydrangea Lacecap Flower
Twist and Shout Lacecap Hydrangea
Just like the Original Endless Summer Hydrangea, Twist and Shout blossoms will be pink or blue depending on the acidity of your soil.
How to get Pink blooms on your Endless Summer Hydrangeas:
To have pink blooms you need to have an alkaline soil.
- To help raise your pH you can apply lime several times a year (Espoma makes a great organic lime) . Aim for a pH of about 6.0 to 6.2, if it goes above 6.4, your hydrangea may experience an iron deficiency.
- Use fertilizers with high levels of phosphorus such as 10-40-10. Phosphorus helps to prevent aluminum from being taken up in the plant’s system.
- Consider growing your hydrangea in a large pot where it would be easier to control the pH.
Endless Summer Original Pink
How to get Blue Blooms:
Lowering the pH of your soil to a pH level of about 5.2-5.5 will produce blue flowers. Using a soil acidifier ( Espoma also makes one) will lower your soil’s pH for blue blooms.
- Thoroughly water the plant before adding any acidifier. Follow the instructions on the bag.
- Adding large amounts of organic matter, such as peat moss and composted leaves, will acidify the soil as it breaks down.
Endless Summer Original Blue
Remember to check the pH of your water as well as your soil. If you are trying to turn your flowers blue and you have hard water, it will be difficult to achieve. Also remember that concrete foundations and walkways tend to leach lime, raising the pH in that area.
