The pink flowers can be coaxed from pink to blue tones by making the soil more acidic.
Thishydrangeais long-lived and well-suited to partial shade conditions and moist soils.
Its name in honor of Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Society.
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McHenry received the plant as a gift in 1975, and propagated and shared it with fellow gardening enthusiasts.
Light
This plant grows best in a partial shade environment.
Dappled shade is the perfect setting for the Penny Mac hydrangea.
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Too much direct sunlight may scorch the leaves and dry out the blooms.
Soil
Penny Mac hydrangea prefers rich, loamy, well-draining soil.
If you have clay soil, be sure to addsoil amendmentsto improve drainage and nutrients.
As with other bigleaf hydrangeas, soil pH can affect the color of the flowers.
Alkaline soil will produce pink flowers; add lime and crushed eggshells to soil to get a pink flower.
Acidic soil will produce blue flowers.
Apply some mulch around the base of your hydrangea to help preserve and distribute moisture.
Mulch will also protect the roots from being too dry or too wet.
Temperature and Humidity
Extremes in temperature or humidity can adversely affect your Penny Mac hydrangea.
In very hot, dry weather, be sure to water in early morning or at dusk.
Keep an eye on the shrub for signs of mildew or bacterial diseases in humid weather.
Fertilizer
Timing is important whenfertilizing a bigleaf hydrangea.
Since a Penny Mac hydrangea blooms continuously in summer, too much fertilizer can interfere with blooming.
Bigleaf hydrangeas display flowers more vigorously when they’re not loaded up with nutrients.
A fast-release fertilizer should be applied only in spring.
If applied in summer it might cause leaves to grow large but may slow flowering.
Slow release fertilizers may be applied in spring also.
Penny Mac vs. ## Pruning Penny Mac Hydrangea
The Penny Mac hydrangea should not need too much pruning.
When pruning in early spring, prune off the dead blooms from last season.
Look carefully for buds and do not prune below the top bud formation.
This will ensure you get the maximum amount of blooms for the season.
Dividing orplanting from a cuttingis best done in spring to give the new plant a chance to get established.
Your bigleaf hydrangea should be at least 3 years old before you try dividing it.
It should have at least two good-sized canes growing from the roots.
you’re able to also propagate a bigleaf hydrangea via cuttings.
Your best bet is to give your Penny Mac hydrangea some extra winter protection.
Wrap your shrub loosely in burlap to protect it from wind exposure and from ice formation on its branches.
They leave a sticky residue called honeydew that can often attract ants.
Spray firmly with the hose to wash them away, or try an insecticidal soap or spray.
Beneficial insects that eat aphids can also be used.
Here’s what to know to encourage and care for Penny Mac blooms.
Penny Mac hydrangea Occasionally harsh winter weather conditions can affect spring buds on your big leaf hydrangea.
If your Penny Mac misses an occasional year of bloom, this should not be cause for concern.
For this reason it’s important to avoid pruning it during the bloom season when buds are forming.
How Can I Encourage More Blooms?
If your hydrangea is not blooming vigorously, don’t assume that adding fertilizer will help.
Timing is important with fertilizer, as is the punch in of fertilizer used.
Always read package directions.
fast release fertilizer can be applied in spring.
Why Isn’t My Hydrangea Blooming This Year?
Your Penny Mac hydrangea may occasionally have a season where it doesn’t produce any flowers.
There are variousreasons why a hydrangea is not blooming.
Most commonly this happens when there is a late spring frost, which kills the buds.
It may also happen if the shrub is pruned improperly, and buds are accidentally cut off.
The only thing to do is wait, and give it proper care in the meantime.
Penny Mac hydrangea can grow up to 6 feet tall and up to 4 feet wide.
The Penny Mac hydrangea does best in a partial sun location.
Morning sun is better than afternoon sun, especially if your summers tend to get hot.
