Fall color: Not all hydrangeas are created equal

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The majestic oakleaf hydrangea.

POSTED BY KIM — You’ll have to humor me.  It’s one of my last chances to write about hydrangeas this year, since they’re all getting ready to drop their leaves.  I’m always adding new hydrangeas to my garden (and this means pulling out and pitching hydrangea “dogs.” I recently gave ‘Penny Mac’ the heave-ho because it was the ugliest, mildew-iest, least-flowering hydrangea in my garden — and that’s saying a lot).

I’m also embarrassed to admit that I pulled out my ‘Lemon Daddy,’ a much sought-after cultivar because of its lemon-yellow foliage. I threw it out because earlier, I had been working in an area of that bed and I STEPPED ON IT, breaking every single branch. <picture me smacking myself in the forehead.>  It might have eventually recovered, in a few YEARS, but I decided I needed that spot for a new hydrangea (‘Invincibelle Spirit,’ natch), so I just threw it out.

ANYWAY, some of my hydrangeas are *spectacular* right now.  I always love a plant that gives me an extra season of interest, so it’s worth noting those hydrangeas that go above and beyond the call of duty.

Hydrangeas: I salute you. 

Not a shrub, but still a hydrangea! Hydrangea anomala petiolaris, the beautiful climbing hydrangea, showing its beautiful fall color. (Note: this specimen is 4 years old and still hasn't flowered. But it's worth the wait.)

Hydrangea 'Angel Smile,' a catalogue buy. Again, it's never bloomed -- it's probably a zone too cold in St. Louis. But I keep wrapping it in burlap hoping! And look at that fall color!

A mystery hydrangea, maybe 'Tokyo Delight.' When we installed the new rock wall along the drive at Sugar Creek Gardens, the girls took home a lot of the plants in the bed. There was a small stub of root from a hydrangea, and Roxanne handed it to me and said "Here, take this home and stick it in the ground." Voila!

A close up of 'Tokyo Delight.' Yes, that is a flower bud!

Again, the oakleaf hydrangea. Can't get enough of them...

Hydrangea 'Lady in Red.' NASTY! I don't know what happened here -- it's normally one of the most beautiful fall hydrangeas, but it looks more like 'Skanky Lady.'

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Filed under Fall/winter interest, Hydrangea, Shrubs