Plant of the Week: Incrediball® Hydrangea arborescens.

Jane's most current plant of the week is devoted to the concept of white space. And she has quite a lot to say about it! So this week I'm devoting the intro and the Plant of the Week to Jane's musings. Enjoy! - Natalie 

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Graphic designers love their white space.

Incrediball®  hydrangea at BH&G Test Garden

If you've ever looked at a poster or flyer and liked it better than others without knowing why, white space could be the answer. Sometimes it's what isn't on the page that makes the whole thing better.

Gardens can be like that, too. Professional designers know what they're doing, but homeowners are often seduced by brilliant color and lots of it. They can forget that simple white flowers add elegance to spaces and can make an average yard into something special.

Some people go so far as to create a white garden, planting only varieties with white flowers or white variegation. That's fine, but even those who aren't ready for a monochromatic commitment can incorporate some white flowers into their landscape. In addition to being quite pretty in their own right, white flowers can be just what the eye needs to appreciate bright reds and hot pinks.

White flowers like this week's featured plant,  Incrediball® Hydrangea arborescens are perfect for inviting us to sit outside and enjoy a summer evening, something I think we all need more of.

People need their white space, too; an overly full schedule can lead to sleeplessness, caffeine-dependence, and general crankiness. Don't be that person. Plan (and plant) for some white space in your life.

Simply Beautiful.

Last week we looked at Hydrangea macrophylla. Pretty, but complicated.

How about something simple? That's Incrediball® Hydrangea arborescens. You plant it, and it produces white flowers. That's it. No fussing with the soil, no worries about flowers making it through the winter.

H. arborescens flowers on new wood, so cutting it back in late winter or early spring is good. By this time of the year, the new growth has produced plenty of flowers.

Incrediball® was selected for its large flowers and sturdy stems. The really super-sized blooms come from mature plants; regular watering will help them reach their maximum size.

This plant gets 4-5' tall and wide. Don't cramp its style by forcing it into a small space (check out a dwarf variety like Invincibelle® Wee White if you don't have room).

Full sun to part shade works, and the plant is hardy to USDA Zone 3. Finally, check out this garden tour from Garden Answer. At about the 23-minute mark she shows where she will plant her Incrediball® hydrangeas. I think she must have hedgerow envy of the scene above.

Plant of the Week is written by Jane Beggs-Joles.