We're still talking about the 2016 Pantone Color(s) of the Year. After all, they're perfect for hydrangeas - and we do love our hydrangeas here at the nursery. So does the lady behind the color selection process.
This week's top plant is Let's Dance® Diva! reblooming Hydrangea macrophylla (bigleaf hydrangea). This cultivar has exceptionally large lacecap flowers. The colors range from soft pink to soft blue - perfect for next year's color trends! And if you think that gardeners don't like lacecaps, think again. Let's Dance® Diva! hydrangea was our Shrub Madness Champion in 2014.
Let's Dance® Diva! hydrangea grows 3-4' tall and wide and is hardy to USDA Zone 5. It will grow in full sun or partial shade.
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| A single bloom of Let's Dance Diva! reblooming hydrangea is larger than a dinner plate. |
Pink or blue?
Hydrangea macrophylla will go either way. Some lean more to blue, while others lean to pink. Pay attention to the cultivar description and plan accordingly because some varieties 'blue' better than others. Let's Dance® Blue Jangles® reblooming hydrangea is one of them. Others are fabulous as pink - see Paraplu® hydrangea. Some are easy to change, like Let's Dance® Rhythmic Blue™ reblooming hydrangea. And others won't get blue no matter how much you treat the soil (we're looking at you, Cityline® Paris hydrangea).Our new Let's Dance® Rave hydrangea is at its best as a unique violet. That will come as a surprise to those who try to avoid the dreaded 'blurple' flower, but we decided that it was a beautiful color. Check it out and see what you think.
In the meantime, here's a refresher on changing the color of your hydrangea flowers. Remember, it's just the H. macrophylla and H. serrata (mountain hydrangea) that will shift color. H. arborescens (smooth hydrangea), H. quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea), and H. paniculata (panicle hydrangea) flower color will not be affected by soils. Also, it can take a season or two for many varieties to shift colors, so you need to plan ahead if you want blue flowers.
Finally, please take a look at our Hydrangeas Demystified pdf. This is one of our most popular flyers. You are welcome to use it as you educate your readers about this always-popular genus!
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| The soft shades of Pantone's Colors of the Year, rose quartz and serenity, are perfectly reflected in Let's Dance Diva! hydrangea's lacecap flowers. |
Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.
