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Unfussy species are Native Hydrangeas bloom

 Best Native Hydrangeas: Plant Test Results



These unpretentious species are guaranteed to bloom, and they’re also great for cross-pollination. Everyone loves hydrangeas, but no one likes to see a year’s worth of blooms destroyed by a deep winter freeze or an ill-timed pruning session. Fortunately, there are a few closely related North American native species that bloom on new wood, meaning they can be pruned anytime from fall to early spring, or killed to the ground by frost, without sacrificing their beautiful blooms.


For five years, staff and volunteers at the Mount Cuba Center in Hagesin, Delaware, evaluated the delicate hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens, zones 3–9) and two close relatives: the gray hydrangea (H. cinerea, zones 4–9) and the silver-leaf hydrangea (H. radiata, zones 3–8). We categorized this collection of native plants as “wild hydrangeas.” Most of the plants in the test were soft hydrangea cultivars (i.e., natives), with a few selections from other species and one in-between hybrid.


Top Hydrangeas with Exceptional Flowers and Habits


1. ‘Haas’ Halo’ Soft Hydrangea (Lacescape)



‘Haas’ Halo’ Soft Hydrangea (H. arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’) received a perfect score of 5, the only plant in the test to do so, and it started to climb higher with its stellar pollination rating. When it first bloomed in the test, I found its large lacescape flowers attracting tons of pollinators, and I bought one for home that same day. In the test, plants grown in full sun showed the largest flower heads of the entire test, averaging 8 inches in diameter. A spring pruning enlarged the already substantial flower display and reduced the plant's height from 7 feet to 4 feet. It performed nearly flawlessly in the shade, where it displayed uniform growth, dark green leaves, and flower heads that remained attractive for months after blooming in midsummer. If you only have room for one of these wild hydrangeas, 'Haas' Hollow' offers the perfect blend of horticultural distinction and pollination value.


2. Incrediball® Blush Soft Hydrangea (Mophead)


Adding some lovely color to the mix, Incrediball® Blush Soft Hydrangea (H. arborescens 'NCHA4') is a small mophead with pink sterile flowers that take on a more intense hue as the fertile blooms prepare to open. Its compact size, about 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide, makes it an accessible choice for small spaces. It is very sun-tolerant, and if it has enough moisture, enough sun, and good drainage, it will grow into a truly spectacular shrub. Its very sturdy stems are particularly impressive; they never droop, even when the plant is in full bloom and completely covered with large flower heads.


3. Lime Rickey® hydrangea (Mophead)



Another exceptional performer is Lime Rickey® hydrangea (H. 'SMNHALR'). This is the only intermediate hybrid in the test, created from a cross between silver-leaf hydrangea (H. radiata) and 'Pink Pincushion' soft hydrangea (H. arborescens 'Pink Pincushion'). Lime Rickey® is a nice, large, attractive plant that grows well in both sun and shade. Its distinctive mophead flowers have sterile flower buds that start out lemon green and then fade to white or ivory as they open. The raspberry-pink, rich blooms that open a little later offer a unique contrast; no other plant in the test looked like it. Once the blooms are finished, they fade to a soft green. Unfortunately, those impressive blooms don’t attract a large number of pollinators. But if you’re a collector of hydrangeas, this is definitely one you’ll want.


A Leading Species with Remarkable Vigor and Improved Performance


4. Invincibelle® Spirit II Mophead


Another mophead, Invincibelle® Spirit II Mophead (H. arborescens ‘NCHA2’), tied with Incrediball® Blush for the top score among pink-flowered cultivars. It’s larger and has a stronger habit than Incrediball® Blush, and while its flowers are smaller, they have the most rich blooms per cluster. It also attracted the most pollinators of all the mopheads, although its pollination numbers couldn’t match the high numbers attracted by lacecap. For gardeners who really like the mophead shape, the Invincibelle® Spirit II is a good is a compromise, providing an attractive floral display with some pollination value.


5, Incredible Ball® Soft Hydrangea (Mophead)



Incredible Ball® Soft Hydrangea (H. arborescens 'Abetwo') is a great upgrade for a hardy, hardy choice. It was developed as a seedling from 'Annabel' (H. arborescens 'Annabel'), a white mophead that has a rather awkward drooping habit, especially in mid- to late summer, when it needs some kind of support to look full. Incredible Ball® balances everything with sturdy stems that easily support those big white mopheads everyone loves. It's very reliable in every way. Think of 'Annabel' as a classic heirloom, and it's worth keeping if you have it; however, Incredible Ball® is a great choice if you're just starting out.


6. 'Mary Nell' Delicate Hydrangea (Lacescape)


'Mary Nell' Delicate Hydrangea (H. arborescens 'Mary Nell') is a lacescape similar to 'Haas' Halo' but with a double ring of sterile flowers around the outside. Like most other lacescapes, it attracts a large number of pollinators. You get both style and substance with this plant. We found it to be a little less tolerant of full sun than some other cultivars, so plant it in partial or full shade. It may be a bit harder to find at the moment, but we hope it will become more widely available in the future. 'Mary Nell' is a cool-season hydrangea that should be grown more. If you are a collector, this is another good plant.

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