Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata) is a tall, winter-hardy flowering shrub or tree from the Hydrangea family. In nature, the plant grows in China, Japan and Sakhalin. Almost all of its species and varieties of panicle hydrangea are attractive fast-growing crops that are popular in landscape design.
Description of hydrangea paniculata
Panicle hydrangea can reach a height of 2-3 m, and some varieties even 10 m. The main distinguishing feature of the shrub is its lush and fragrant panicle inflorescences, reminiscent of a pyramid in shape. The plant consists of a powerful root system, lying at a shallow depth, ovoid leaves of about 12 cm in length, melliferous inflorescences of white, pink and greenish shades and fruit-capsules with very viable seed material.
The period of abundant flowering with a huge gorgeous crown of many inflorescences begins in June and lasts about 5 months. Paniculata hydrangea is a long-liver plant that can fully grow and develop for 60 years.
Growing hydrangea paniculata
The most effective and therefore the most common way of growing panicle hydrangea is planting seedlings with an earthen clod at the age of 4-5 years with a strong and strong root system and a high-quality aboveground part. Before planting, it is recommended to trim the roots and shoots a little, and soak the dried underground parts in warm water or in a biostimulant solution.
The sun in the selected area should illuminate the culture only in the morning. The rest of the time, hydrangea should grow in partial shade conditions, without direct sunlight and without drafts.
The composition of the soil should be chosen clay or loamy, fertile, neutral in composition and with a high level of acidity. In sandy areas, hydrangea feels negative and develops slowly. During preliminary digging, the soil is mixed with peat, a small amount of sand and needles or sawdust.
The pit must be prepared 2-3 days before planting. Its size depends on the size of the root system of the seedling and can be from 50 cm to 80 cm in diameter, and from 40 cm to 60 cm in depth.
First, the recess is filled with 2-3 buckets of water and allowed to soak. Then, drainage from expanded clay or small stones about 10-15 cm thick is poured into the pit, and after it, almost to the top, a nutritious substrate. Its composition is two parts of garden soil and peat, one part of sand and rotted humus. You can simply mix the soil from the hole with mineral or organic fertilizers. When the soil mixture in the pit settles a little, you can start planting.
Planting hydrangea paniculata in the open field
When to plant
The timing of planting panicle hydrangea depends on the climate of the area. In warm regions, seedlings can be planted in early spring or late autumn, and in temperate and cold parts of the country - only in spring. The most favorable time for planting panicle hydrangea in open ground is the end of April or the beginning of May, when the ground becomes really warm and frosts stop at night.
A moisture-loving shrub does not like the same moisture-loving neighbors in a flower garden or garden, but it gets along well with ground cover crops. Do not plant panicle hydrangea next to bulbous plants.
How to plant correctly
A seedling is placed on a mound in the center of the pit, the roots are spread throughout the space, covered with soil mixture and lightly tamped. After that, add the required amount of soil, carry out the first abundant watering and mulching with a thickness of about 5 cm. Peat or humus is taken as mulch. It is very important to leave the root collar at ground level or a few millimeters higher.
In group plantings, it is necessary to leave at least 1-1.5 m between plants.The distance of hydrangeas from other crops is about 2-2.5 m.
Care for hydrangea paniculata in the garden
Caring for panicle hydrangea is quite difficult, a capricious culture requires a lot of attention and time. To obtain a bright and abundant flowering, all plant preferences must be fulfilled.
Watering
The trunk circle of a hygrophilous panicle hydrangea should always be slightly moistened. It should not dry out, especially in the hot summer period with high air temperatures. Every 7-10 days, it is recommended to pour about three buckets of water under each plant, sometimes it is possible with a small addition of a solution of potassium permanganate. In dry periods without precipitation, watering should be carried out 2 times a week. It is better to water the panicle hydrangea with settled rain water or tap water (without chlorine). Water is applied only under the root, leaves and flowers do not need to be moistened, as this will negatively affect the decorative qualities.
Top dressing
Paniculata hydrangea begin to feed only from the second year of life. Organic fertilizers (in liquid form) are recommended to be applied to the soil together with irrigation water every 2 weeks. For this, herbal infusions from nettle, chicken droppings or liquid manure are suitable.
If gardeners prefer mineral fertilizers, then it is worth using a complete mineral complex for horticultural crops at the stage of the emergence of young shoots, during the formation of buds and at the end of the flowering period. Before wintering, panicle hydrangea is fertilized with a nitrogen-free nutrient solution.
The soil
Caring for the soil consists in mulching the trunk circle or, in its absence, in regular loosening and weeding. Fallen leaves and sawdust mulch should be renewed periodically. It is advisable to remove weed vegetation after irrigation, when the ground is wet. Loosening should be shallow - about 6-7 cm deep. The frequency of loosening is once every thirty days. The diameter of the trunk circle is 1-1.2 m.
Pruning
Regular pruning of panicle hydrangea is necessary for rejuvenation, crown formation and shape, for more lush and abundant flowering. It is advisable to carry it out before bud break, in early spring. With formative pruning, large shoots are removed, as well as frozen, dried and damaged ones. A haircut for the purpose of rejuvenation is carried out at the root or 80-90%.
Hydrangea paniculata in winter
In temperate and warm climates, a shelter is built only for young panicle hydrangeas, and in cold climates, for adult specimens. In autumn, it is recommended to spread a thick layer of fallen leaves or peat (about 20-25 cm) in the near-trunk circle, and with the arrival of real winter, a high snowdrift is added to this area.Around tall plants, supports are erected from stakes, on which spruce or pine spruce branches are laid, and covering material on top.
Reproduction of hydrangea paniculata
Propagation by cuttings
Only annual shoots are suitable for cuttings, they are cut in the summer season or before bud break. Cuttings are planted at an angle in sand or peat and covered with a jar or plastic bag. Before rooting, they must be kept in greenhouse conditions.
Reproduction by layering
The lowest branch of the bush is buried in early spring before the leaves appear and fixed with a wire bracket. Care consists in timely moisturizing, hilling and weeding. The next spring, the layers are separated and planted separately.
Seed propagation
The seed method of reproduction is rarely used for panicle hydrangea, since it requires a lot of time and effort, and the result is not always positive, and flowering occurs only after 3-4 years.
Diseases and pests of hydrangea paniculata
Hydrangea paniculata is not endowed with resistance to pests and diseases, therefore it is often affected by many dangerous diseases.
Possible diseases are gray and white rot, powdery mildew, spotting, wilting. Spraying with Bordeaux liquid or Fundazol will help get rid of powdery mildew. The fight against fungi and infections can be crowned with success only with the timely use of special drugs.
Possible pests of panicle hydrangea are aphids, spider mites, bugs, nematodes, snails. For their destruction, various methods are effective - folk (using garlic, wormwood, laundry soap) and special (using drugs such as Akarina, Vermitek, Tiofos).
Varieties of hydrangea paniculata with photo
- Pink Lady is a shrub variety with pale pink fragrant inflorescences and a spreading crown.
- Vanilla Freise is a frost-resistant variety that can survive frosts of more than 25 degrees. It blooms with crimson and white inflorescences at the same time.
- Kyushu is a three-meter shrub with a likely crown and fragrant white inflorescences.
- Grandiflora is a late flowering variety with a lifespan of about 30 years. It blooms with white inflorescences.
- Matilda is a two-meter bush with a spreading crown of inflorescences, first cream, and then red.
- Phantom is a variety with an average height and crown diameter of about two meters. It blooms with large and dense pinkish inflorescences.
- Tardiva is a popular variety in group plantings. Average height - about three meters, blooms late - from August to November.
- Weems Red is a variety with the color of the inflorescences changing during the season. From white, they turn into pale pink, and then into bright red. The flowers exude a sweet honey scent.
Hydrangea paniculata in landscape design
Hydrangea paniculata grows well in open flower beds, in the garden, as well as in flower pots and large boxes in the open air. It gets along well on the same territory with lilacs and mock orange, with spirea and cotoneaster. Bushes are also used for vertical gardening, planting climbing varieties along buildings and tall trees.
