Lounge

Newly bought, I can grace the windowsill. I can even live in the lounge for a while. The more light I receive, the longer I will look my best – particularly in a cool location. But I would rather be outdoors – and so: anybody who wants to enjoy me in the long term will have to take me out into the fresh air sooner or later. More on this under “Garden”.

In the garden, I love to be in semi-shade, in other words not exposed to full sun all day nor placed in full shade. The soil should be fertile and contain sufficient moisture. Of course I can also be planted singly in a sizeable pot here, whatever my owner prefers.

Once I have come into full bloom, I get rather hungry and love to be fed with some commercial hydrangea fertiliser now and again to encourage strong growth. That will help me produce healthy long new shoots, ensuring a splendid show of blooming garlands the following year.

Planted in a sizeable pot, I’m simply a knock-out on the balcony or terrace! That’s where my garland shoots really catch the eye. It is important that I am placed in semi-shade.

Once I have come into full bloom, I get rather hungry and love to be fed with some commercial hydrangea fertiliser now and again to encourage strong growth. That will help me produce healthy long new shoots, ensuring a splendid show of blooming garlands the following year.

When I outgrow the container and need to be repotted, please make sure to use hydrangea compost because that is the only medium that will ensure that my blooms will stay pure white.
Some nurseries train me into special shapes, such as pyramids, which are reminiscent of snow-covered miniature fir trees.

I am happy to overwinter outside on the terrace or balcony. The container should be wrapped in bubble wrap for protection and placed onto feet or pieces of wood to avoid it freezing onto the ground. During long dry periods above freezing, I like being watered now and again – even in the middle of winter.

What could be a more appropriate occasion for me than at a wedding? I can provide the perfect decoration in front of, or in, the church or as a table centrepiece!

Professional gardeners and landscape designers have discovered me as well! They love planting me in borders in parks or in larger gardens. Thanks to my dainty growing habit, I can spread over borders almost like ground cover plants, and planted more closely together I can present an elegant, more vertical habit. I make a particularly beautiful show when planted next to other single woody plants. 

But planted in groups too I provide a lovely eye-catching display as well as structure, with metre-high garland shoots, dripping with blossom in early summer.

The professionals love me for my outstanding winter hardiness. In trials to check for frost hardiness , my flowering shoots have survived temperatures down to minus 20 °C – without it affecting my flowering the following year.

And as a bonus, when planted in a wide border, I don’t only put on a brilliant show over the summer, but also present a fantastic end of season display with my strong autumn colouring.
By the way: I adorn the gardens of the fairyland Castle of Moyland with elegance – what a fantastic place to grow and blossom!