Hydrangea still fighting cold weather

@Verdun here's mine in june 2016 before it flowered but it's got much bigger now...the next door neighbour gave it me from work, as she worked at a garden centre...pure white one

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Gail, Nice spot for it there
Check out the paniculata varieties too......Limelight is superb; flowers from late June through to autumn here

 

I'm with Verdun, check out the paniculata stock. My personal favourite is Vanilla Fraise.

 

And a new dwarf variety, Bombshell, Mark

 

Even if I do like them a lot, I personally would avoid hortensia paniculata for one reason. The bloom on the years shoot. So in places that have a late frost, it either makes the blooming later, or not at all.

Much better, imho to go for the hortensia macrophylla. The "Endless Summer" varieties bloom on both last years and the years shoots. That makes them much more reliable in places that have late frosts.

 

@Verdun Just looked at them on the net...stunning plants, i'll see what some of mine are like this year and if some plants don't look to good, well what more can I say they'd be a lovely replacement

 

Yes and so easy to grow. More tolerant of sun too and flower forever.
They are pruned early in the year...to the ground or half way, doesnt matter, it is simple.....and they will flower in the summer on 150 to 180 cm stems.
I'll post pictures in the summer

 

I'll look forward to that @Verdun and they sound easy to manage like the hydrangea

 

Careful Gail.....they are addictive

 

Ahhhh now you tell me @Verdun

 

Tee hee hee