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After complaining about the lack of bloom on my ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea last year, I thought I’d better put in a good word for this shrub now that it is living up to expectations. It is growing vigorously and has a lot of flowers on it.
What I did differently
As I mentioned earlier this year, I covered the shrub with fallen leaves in late autumn. I made sure they filled the center of the plant and covered the surrounding soil to a depth of six inches. I did not remove these leaves until I was certain the last frost had passed. New growth had already begun under the leaves. (I also saw some vole tunnels, which I filled in. The shrub didn’t seem to have been harmed.)
When I removed the leaf mulch this spring, I also fertilized with Shrubs Alive! Fertilizer for Acid Loving Plants, to try to enhance the blue color of the flowers. I think they are bluer than when they last bloomed, though not as blue as in the marketing photos.
I also made sure the hydrangea had better weather this year. Seriously, the weather can have a major impact on the performance of these shrubs, and there’s not much you can do about it. This was a good year for hydrangeas, and I’m thankful for it.
Unfortunately, the ‘Forever & Ever Double Pink’ that I fell in love with seems to have expired. After its stunted growth last year and its very weak growth this spring, I’m wondering if it had a virus. On the other hand, the original Forever & Ever Hydrangea (a single pink) had never bloomed for me before, and it now has buds on it. You win some, you lose some.
They’re still high maintenance
The same caveats still apply. They need their mulch in winter, they need their water in summer. Not too hot, not too cold. Ju-u-ust right. Like Goldilocks.
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19 responses so far ↓
1
perennialgardenlover
// Jul 19, 2008 at 11:18 pm
I love your Endless Summer Hydrangea. But then again I am crazy about hydrangeas period. What a lovely bloom. You’re right, they are picky about the moisture, picky about the heat, just picky. lol They are worth it for those blooms though.
2
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
// Jul 19, 2008 at 11:24 pm
My Endless Summer hydrangea is having a good summer, too. Much better than last year. But, I don’t do anything to acidify the soil so it is bright pink.
3
Gail
// Jul 19, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Goldilocks won’t find the perfect garden bed for her Endless Summer Hydrangea! They need too much coddling! They are lovely as are a lot of the non native hydrangeas…sigh!
Gail
4
Blackswampgirl Kim
// Jul 20, 2008 at 12:14 am
It sure does look happy, Kathy! I admit that while I gave my one hydrangea away (no way to keep it happy in my lean, well-draining soil and sunny yard) I like to see them well in bloom in other people’s gardens. And it looks really good in yours!
Thank you, Kim. I have to confess I’m pleasantly surprised!
5
Pam/Digging
// Jul 20, 2008 at 4:01 am
There are precious few hydrangeas here in Austin. Yours is very pretty. I’m glad it’s a good year for them. I saw a whole garden of hydrangeas at Chanticleer recently and was bowled over. Look for my post about them on Monday.
I’ll do that, Pam.
6
Robin Wedewer
// Jul 20, 2008 at 7:42 am
I’m glad to hear you’re having better success with these this year. This is the second year with ours (5 of them). I have to say they are beautiful, although I’m always torn when to deadhead. The flowers tend to fade to a dull pink and look less lovely. I’ll probably deadhead since I am now convinced that new flowers really will grow.
Robin
Gardening Examiner
7
Kim
// Jul 20, 2008 at 10:15 am
I am feeling ashamed I’ve dissed Endless Summer in the past. I’m not brave enough to try it (and I secretly prefer oak leaves and lace caps) BUT yours is gorgeous and worthy of praise. And I’ll admit I feel a bit of “I would like to have that” in my garden. It’s beautiful. Thank your for sharing yours (and your tips for success).
8
Cindy
// Jul 20, 2008 at 11:54 am
Kathy, I’ll say they’ve having a good year … wow, just gorgeous! Hydrangeas do grow here, although they don’t attain the massive size of those in cooler climes. I found a Forever & Ever Double Pink at Lowe’s for $2 on clearance. The plant was not only healthy but thriving. It had no blooms (unlike the rest) but I figured those would come. It’s been 2 months and I’m still waiting! It’s in a pot and I have fed it once. Any ideas for me?
9
Kathy Purdy
// Jul 20, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Carol, my soil is naturally acid. Blueberries grow wild up in our field. But the Endless Summer was blooming neither blue nor pink that first year, and I suspected it was because it was planted near the foundation of the house. I had a half-off Gardens Alive coupon, and decided if I was going to fertilize the hydrangea, I might as well get the acid fertilizer.
10
Kathy Purdy
// Jul 20, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Robin, I know you grow them in Maryland. Do you have to spend a lot of time watering them?
11
Kathy Purdy
// Jul 20, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Cindy, you wouldn’t call my Endless Summer massive. It’s probably about 3 feet tall. As far as your hydrangea, it just might be too darn hot for it. In your Texas climate it might be a spring and fall plant, with a summer dormancy. The Forever & Ever website seems to recommend a lot of fertilizer and a lot of water for all their hydrangeas, but a hydrangea in Texas is surely a special case. Why don’t you contact them through their website to see if they have any suggestions? Tell them Kathy sent you.
12
Bernadette
// Jul 20, 2008 at 9:43 pm
This is year number 3 for my endless summer. I guess this is indeed the “leaping” year. It looks great after a harsh winter in the Chicago area. Lots and lots of flowers.
13
Dee/reddirtramblings
// Jul 21, 2008 at 10:20 am
I love the closing line. They ARE just like Goldilocks, and it’s far too hot for them in my part of Oklahoma. I still am trialing three of them. I’ll let everyone know next year.~~Dee
14
tedb
// Jul 22, 2008 at 6:51 am
The Endless Summers I take care of are doing pretty well up here in Wisconsin, but the hydrangea that is doing really well is Blushing Bride (an offspring of Endless Summer).
I treated all the macrophyllas almost exactly like Kathy described. The Blushing Brides started blooming a month ago, the ES are just starting now. I also like the color of BB better - white flushed with blue or pink. They are shorter, a little over 2 feet, a negative for me.
The superior performance comes despite being in a spot that is a bit too shady and too dry, and they are only on thier second year. As Bernadette mentioned, hydrangeas often need a season or two to settle in before blooming well.
15
dlyn
// Jul 22, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Mine is 4 years old and taller than it has ever been before - about 3 feet and still climbing, but it has no flowers so far this year. I haven’t checked it in a few days so I don’t want to say it still has no buds because for sure if I do it will be plastered with them the next time I check. I can’t remember how late it was getting buds other years, so not sure how it compares. I’ve never given it any winter protection and of course it dies right back to the ground. I have been fertilizing it with Miracle Grow for acid loving plants in hopes getting blue flowers - not ideal but it’s what I have on hand. Lots of time for it still to bloom of course, so I will check back in if it does. I have my eye on a “Limelight” - any experience with one of those anyone?
16
Mr. McGregor's Daughter
// Jul 22, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Both my ES & ‘Penny Mac’ are loving this cooler wetter weather. They both look better than ever, but ‘Penny’ is still outperforming ES. I had no idea flower heads were supposed to get that big.
17
GardenGuru
// Jul 25, 2008 at 3:43 pm
After reading your post and seeing your photos I am convinced that my next plant will have to be hydrangeas. They are so beautiful! I’m currently working on a liriope garden. I’ll let you know as they start to bloom.
18
naturehillsnursery
// Jul 30, 2008 at 10:04 am
I also am a big fan of the endless summer hydrangeas. I have 7 of them planted in several different beds. This year I’m having the opposite effect. Blooms have been smaller and not as plentiful.
19
Chris
// Aug 3, 2008 at 11:46 am
I’m doing a photo diary of mine this year. Taking a picture a week, just to prove all the naysayers wrong, it can be a wonderful shrub. After it finishes blooming, which for me will be when we get our first hard freeze, I’ll finish it and blog about it.
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