Keep an eye out for new hydrangea varieties arriving at your local garden centre throughout the year.
Hydrangea paniculata cultivars These newer panicle hydrangea cultivars are bred for improved hardiness and an extended floral display from summer through to late autumn. They are often called ‘black thumb hydrangeas” because of their ease of growing compared to old-fashioned mophead varieties. Most will tolerate a sunny position with protection from hot afternoon sun. Regular moisture but free-draining soil is preferred.
‘Limelight’ is a taller variety, growing 2-3m tall. Panicle flowers that can grow up to 30cm long will start chartreuse lime green, fade to a creamy white, then deepen to blush pink/burgundy through autumn. Deciduous in winter, the dark green foliage will turn a beautiful golden yellow throughout late autumn/winter.
‘Raspberry Sundae’ is another of the eye-catching new hydrangea varieties, known for its striking cream and pink-hued blooms that transition beautifully to deep raspberry throughout summer and into autumn. This compact, deciduous variety is well-suited for smaller gardens or containers, offering vibrant colour and a prolonged flowering period.
‘Sundae Fraise’ rounds out these new hydrangea varieties with large cone-shaped panicle blooms that shift from white to green, then pink. They’re sun-tolerant, but they do best with protection from hot afternoon sun and regular watering. It is a compact shrub growing to 1.2m. It’s deciduous in winter and ideal for pots.
How to care for your new hydrangea varieties
Sunlight: Plant in a position in sun or dappled shade that offers protection from the hottest sun.
Watering: Give the ground a good soaking around your hydrangeas once or twice a week. They will need particular attention in the warmer months.
Soil: Before planting hydrangeas, ensure you’ve given your soil a little love. Dig in good amounts of Garden Soil and ActivGrow Soil Improver, or choose a high quality Premium Potting Mix if you’re going to keep your hydrangea potted.
Mulching: Hydrangeas are ideally mulched with a chunky mulch like Pine Bark Mulch to help lock moisture. Pine bark is also a long-lasting mulch which takes quite some time to break down.
