There are over 90 species and many cultivars with an array of different features, flower heads and colours.
They are a native of China, Japan, Korea and the Americas.
At the Dunedin Botanic Garden, we grow 7 of these species and 13 cultivars. Species that do well in the Dunedin climate are often referred to as a woodland plant.
In nature, they grow in either full sun or the dappled shade of deciduous trees and prefer moist soil.
Two outstanding species that are grown in here are:
• Hydrangea paniculata, which is hardier than most species, is not fussy about soil type if there is reasonable drainage.
It will grow to 6 metres in the wild in Japan, Sakhalin and southeast China but in cultivation can be kept at 2m. It likes full sun and a sheltered site, as the frothy white panicle flower heads can get large and are brittle.
Some fine cultivars are ‘‘Levana’’, ‘‘Limelight’’ and ‘‘Kyushu’’.
• Hydrangea quercifolia, one of the most handsome hydrangeas, with large lobed leaves turning rich crimson/purple in late autumn achieved when in full sun, and creamy white cone-shaped flowers.
They grow to 1.5m high but have a spread of up to 2m.
Look for cultivars such as ‘‘Pee Wee’’, ‘‘Snowflake’’ and ‘‘Snow Queen’’.
The beauty of hydrangeas is that you will always find one to suit an area, even up a wall.
