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Plant Species of the genus Hydrangea
Information about this genus
Name: Hydrangea
Cultivation: CULTIVATION: Hydrangeas are accommodating plants that grow in a wide range of conditions and give a good floral display with minimum attention. However, they will do better in good soil with compost and light feeding. Grow in sun or dappled shade and ensure they have ample moisture. Although it is best to grow H. macrophylla cultivars that suit the soil pH, it is possible to change their color by dressing with aluminium sulphate for blue and with lime for red. Pruning is not essential but can be carried out in late winter. Old exhausted wood can be removed and the plants given a light overall pruning to maintain shape. Larger blooms can be encouraged by cutting back to the second or third pair of buds. Species can be propagated from seed sown in spring as well as from tip cuttings in late spring or hardwood cuttings in winter. Cultivars are propagated from cuttings only. Both H. macrophylla and H. serrata and their cultivars strike very easily.
Description: There are about 100 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, trees and climbers in this genus. They are native to eastern Asia and North and South America, where they grow in moist woodland areas. The leaves are usually large and oval with serrated edges. Flowerheads are comprised, to varying degrees, of very small fertile flowers surrounded by larger, showy, 4-petalled sterile florets. They may be conical, flat-topped (lacecap) or rounded (mophead). Colors range from white through to red, purple and blue, and in Hydrangea macrophylla can vary depending on the acidity or alkalinity (pH level) of the soil. Acid soils produce blue flowers and alkaline soils produce reds and pinks.
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