Annabelle Hydrangea
Facts About The Annabelle Hydrangea
The Annabelle Hydrangea is fairly easy to grow as long as it is planted in an area of soil that is well-drained, and in partial shade. Unlike most hydrangeas, the Annabelle can tolerate some full sun, but only if it is planted in an area where it gets steady moisture. This plant does not do well in arid parts of the country, and it declines fairly steadily if planted in dry areas. The Annabelle Hydrangea will bloom only on new wood, so if you have a hard freeze and the plant dies to the ground, the plant will come back in the spring, but will bear no blooms for that year.
The Annabelle Hydrangea has flowers that are much larger than some shrubs of the species. It has a rounded general shape, depending on pruning, and the shrub itself grows to about three to five feet tall. The flowers bloom in clusters, and they have rounded symmetrical heads which usually grow to eight to twelve inches across. Most Annabelles bloom for about two months a year, beginning in June, and they may have a smaller re-bloom in the fall, in moderate to warm climates. The leaves of the Annabelle are dark green and generally within three to eight inches long. The Annabelle is another one of very few hydrangeas native to the United States. It was found growing in the wild near the city of Anna, Illinois, which is where it got its name.
The Annabelle Hydrangea is not prone to any serious disease or insect problems. Unlike some other hydrangeas, this one seems to be able to resist mildew, leaf spot, bacterial wilt and bud blight better than a lot of its relatives. When displayed naturally, the Annabelle has stems that are strong and erect. But if the huge flowers become heavy after a hard rain, for example, you may need to stake them so that the bloom heads won't droop. If you prune the stems in the last part of winter, this usually helps to promote vigorous regrowth. To get the best results from your pruning, it is best to do it only in those late winter or early spring months. Be careful not to remove flower buds when you are pruning. Just remove the dead stems at the end of winter, and wait to do any “creative” pruning until the flowers bloom, so you know you're not injuring or killing the blooms.
Many gardeners choose to prune their Annabelle late in the winter each year, so that it will experience peak new stem growth. If you don't prune back a “dead” shrub after a hard winter, you will want to at least remove any damaged or weakened stems early in the spring.
The Annabelle Hydrangea does best in a partly shady area. It is usually placed near the border, where it will be a long-lasting and valuable addition to your garden.