Hydrangea Tree
Interesting Facts About the Hydrangea Tree
The hydrangea tree is also called the PeeGee Hydrangea. (P.G. is shortened from its genus/species name.) This tree blooms with cascades of flowers in the middle of summer. The white flowers are up to eighteen inches long and twelve inches wide. They turn in the autumn to a pink or purple hue. And the flowers stay on through the winter, in a warm light brown color.
Unlike some of its relatives, the hydrangea tree does equally well in full sun, partial shade or full shade. It can grow to a height of ten to fifteen feet, and it has very graceful branches. They should be planted with twelve to fifteen feet between them, to allow for root growth.
The hydrangea tree takes about four to six weeks to establish itself, and then it grows at a fairly fast pace. You may prune the tree as needed to maintain the shape and keep it within any boundaries.
The hydrangea tree was imported from Japan in 1862, and has lost some popularity over recent years because unless you prune it to shape and height, it really does get a little over-grown looking. If you prune your hydrangea tree, you can assist it in maintaining the graceful shape it is intended to display.
The hydrangea tree boasts massive flowers shaped like snowballs in the middle of summer into the early autumn months. You don't have to go crazy with your pruning, unless you just bought a house with a neglected hydrangea tree in the yard – then it may look like a giant bush instead of a tree, and some rigorous pruning is called for.
Normally, though, a little bit of gentle pruning in the beginning of spring will help keep the tree from becoming overgrown, and it will encourage the tree to burst forth more flower buds. If you like, you can remove dead flowers as soon as they look unattractive, and take the time to shape the plant the way you want it to look.
If you want bigger flower clusters from your hydrangea tree, you will want to reduce the number of stems, by cutting back last year's shoots almost back to the main branches. If you don't opt to do this, you'll have more flower clusters but they'll be smaller.
The hydrangea tree is a very adaptable shrub that can thrive almost anywhere. Whether your soil is acidic to neutral, it will do quite well, as long as it has adequate drainage.
You can start a hydrangea tree from a cutting. Take green-wood cuttings from your tree in the spring or summer and plant them in potting soil or moist sand. Do not try to cultivate from flowers, as they will not produce anything.
The hydrangea tree is an attractive and hardy tree that will really stand out in any garden, especially if it is well-maintained.