Evening star., 1938-07-16

types are the sshy hydrangea Oh. Gin
erea) and the silver-leaf hydrangea
Oh. radiata). The latter is considered
to be the more desirable as the leaves
have a better texture and flower heads
have more sterile flowers.
X
OF THE Asiatic species, H. panicu-
lata is widely grown and it is the
source of the peegee hydrangea "a cor.
ruption of paniculata grandif1ora)
This species is especially valuable. as
it is the source of the late summer
and fall blooming varieties. 1t is the
hardest of all and its large panicles
OF flowers make it a handsome shrub.
The flowers, which are white at first
change to pink and then bronze They
are often cut twhile pink and dried
for use in vases during the winter.
The cultivated forms of the peegee
hydrangea may be trained into tree
like form and may reach 20 to Is
feet under favorable conditions. Or
dinarily they are grown as tall shrubs,
and are useful as tall hedges.
The peegee hydrangea needs severe
pruning to produce large flowers, 9TH
erwise they will have many small clus-
ters. Cut them beck in the early
spring before growth starts. Prune
last years growth so that only two or
three buds remain, they will then pro-
duce strong, vigorous shoots which will
grow rapidly and If we'll fertilized and
supplied with moisture should produce
psnicles q foot long.
There are number of other Asiatic
species, most Of which are not listed
in the nursery catalogues. H. sar-
gentiana is reported as being very
useful shrub with bluish-violet fertile
flowers surrounded by sterile white
fowers-a snowy combination. It Is
somewhat tender and should not be
grown unless it can be given protec-
ton.
IN ADDITION to the shrub forms of
hydrangeas there are some very de-
sirable vine forms. The climbing hy-
drangea and hydrangea- like vines have
white flowers, and should be used more
widely. The climbing hydrangea Oh.
petiolaris) is strong grower, is hardy,
and has, IN early summer, large,
rather loose. flat-topped panicles of
snowy ray flowers. While slow to be-
come established, it is quite pleasing
and worth waiting for 1t does its
own climbing If provided with some
kind of support upon which to cling
A similar vine. but lower growing, is
the so-called Chinese hydrangea vine
tSchiZaphragma integrifolium). The
japanese form IS. hydrangeoides) i,
which grows as high as the climbing
hydrangea, has smaller flowers than
the Chinese. Both Of the hydrangea
vines flower in July. Neither the
Japanese nor the Chinese hydrangea
vines are as snowy as the true climb
ing hydrangea. The vines may be
pruned as severely as the shrub forms
(other than the shinyleaf)
Hydrangeas as a class need rich
porous soil with plenty of humus to
hold the moisture. Nearly AN of the
hydrangeas will grow in any good
garden soil if it has ample moisture.
They will thrive in partial shade, but
for generous display of large flowers
they need full sun Since thew are
vigorous growing shrubs and vines,
they can use, in fact thrive, on soil
that has been enriched with we'll
rotted manure. To the Washington
gardener this means that our heavy
clay needs to be well mixed and to a
good depth with manure.
All types of hydrangeas, except the
should be pruned in the
early spring before new growth starts.
Heavy pruning is desirable to induce
vigorous growth and large flowers. The
shinyleaf hydrangea should be pruned
in the summer following the Towering
period.
Hydrangeas may be planted at the
same season as are other deciduous
shrubs-in this area spring or fall.
The shinyleaf. which is usually sold
most freely at Easter time, should not
be planted outdoors until danger of
frost is past.