Shrub Hydrangea macrophylla 'Bailmer' [sold as Endless Summer®] [Endless Summer Bigleaf Hydrangea] 'Bailmer' is an excellent mophead (hortensia) cultivar for cold climates, as it is hardy to USDA zone 4 and produces flowers on both old and new growth, unlike other Hydrangea macrophylla variants. As the name Endless Summer suggests, this plant blooms all summer, and even into the fall. An acidic soil will produce a very blue colored flower and alkaline pink. High quality foliage. Performs poorly on hot dry sites. A few pest problems, including…
Shrub Hydrangea macrophylla 'Mariesii Variegata' [Variegated Bigleaf Hydrangea] This cultivar has beautiful variegated foliage and lacecap flowers. An acidic soil will produce a very blue colored flower, and alkaline pink. High quality foliage. Lower flower production in cold climates, and performs poorly on hot dry sites. A few pest problems, including scale, mites, powdery mildew, and leaf spot.
Shrub Hydrangea macrophylla 'Robert' [sold as Let's Dance Moonlight™] [Let's Dance Moonlight Bigleaf Hydrangea] Let's Dance Moonlight Bigleaf Hydrangea is a mophead cultivar that reblooms throughout the late summer months (July-September). Slightly more compact than the straight species, Let's Dance Moonlight cultivar typically grows 2 to 3' in height and in width. Like most of hydrangeas, flower color depends on the acidity of the soil (blue for more acidic and pink for more basic soils). Best use of this shrub would be in mass plantings.
Shrub Hydrangea paniculata [Panicle Hydrangea] Very hardy and adaptable plant, difficult to kill. So coarse, the straight species does not always combine well in the landscape. Remove grown flowers late in fall as they are not attractive. Can become straggly and unkempt with age.
Shrub Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' [sold as Limelight®] [Limelight Panicle Hydrangea] 'Limelight' has large, dense, upright flower panicles that emerge white, change to lime-green, then rosey pink, ultimately becoming beige at the very end. Very hardy and adaptable plant, difficult to kill.
Shrub Hydrangea paniculata 'Tardiva' [Tardiva Panicle Hydrangea] 'Tardiva' has a dense habit and flowers later, in September. Very hardy and adaptable plant, difficult to kill. Remove grown flowers late in fall as they are not attractive.
Shrub Hydrangea quercifolia 'Gatsby Moon' [Gatsby Moon Oakleaf Hydrangea] Gatsby Moon Oakleaf Hydrangea is has double flowers that as the shrub matures fade from a creamy white to a light green color.
Shrub Hydrangea quercifolia 'Sike’s Dwarf' [Dwarf Oakleaf Hydrangea] A unique plant with attractive flower panicles and coarse, handsome foliage. 'Sike's Dwarf'' is an excellent compact cultivar (up to 3' high and 4' wide) that has smaller leaves and flower panicles than the species type. Tops (including flower buds formed in fall) can die back when winter temperatures go much below 20 degrees F (often in Zone 6b and colder). Flowers form on previous season's growth. Thus, no flowers will appear in the…
Shrub Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snowflake' [Double Oakleaf Hydrangea] A unique plant with attractive flower panicles and large, coarse, handsome foliage. 'Snowflake' is a large cultivar (up to 8' high and 10' wide) that has large (up to 15" long) flower panicles of double sterile flowers. Tops (including flower buds formed in fall) can die back when winter temperatures go much below 20 degrees F (often in Zone 6b and colder). Flowers form on previous season's growth. Thus, no flowers will appear in…
Shrub Hypericum kalmianum 'Ames' [Ames Kalm St. John's Wort] Hypericum kalmianum 'Ames' is a compact, mounded deciduous shrub that produces attractive, interesting, bright yellow flowers in mid to late summer. 'Ames' is reported to have better winter hardiness than the straight species.