There are around 75different hydrangea speciesand many more cultivars.
One lesser-known species worth considering is the hardy mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata).
As a bonus,lacecap hydrangeas, like Hydrangea serrata, are great forattracting pollinatorsto your yard.
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Plant these fast-growing plants in fall or early spring and expect around 2 feet of growth annually.
Hydrangea Serrata Care
It’s all about location when it comes to caring for mountain hydrangeas.
Space them around 3 to 5 feet apart to give them room to grow.
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Soil
Pick a spot with rich, well-drained soil.
Aside from this, they aren’t fussy, but soil pH does impact bloom color.
Strongly acidic soils produce blue flowers, while mildly acidic or alkaline ones result in pinker shades.
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Add a little aluminum sulfate to the soil to produce slightly bluer shades.
Amending with lime will encourage pinker shades.
Water
One of the quickest ways to kill off your Hydrangea serrata is by watering incorrectly.
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Consistent, even moisture is key.
You’ll probably have to get the hose out at least once a week during hot summers.
Temperate climates work best for mountain hydrangeas.
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Providing a layer of mulch helps protect against frost and retain the moisture they love.
Don’t apply any fertilizer in late summer.
You don’t want to encourage late new growth, which hard winter frosts can kill off.
Steer clear of fertilizers high in nitrogen as this focuses energy on foliage growth rather than bloom production.
Selecting a higher phosphorous bloom-boostingfertilizer with a 10-20-10 NPKencourages more abundant flowers.
Even though this isn’t the most well-known hydrangea species, there are still several cultivars to choose from.
These include:
Pruning
Pruning requirements for hydrangeasvary.
Because mountain hydrangeas bloom on old and new wood, little pruning is required.
Deadheading spent flowers isn’t essential, but it can give your shrub a tidier appearance.
Sopropagating your hydrangea from softwood stem cuttingsis recommended.
Before doing this, check the cultivar is a non-trademarked variety, or you risk infringing copyright law.
This provides additional protection, reducing the risk of dieback and promoting consistent blooming the following summer.. ## Common Pests and Plant Diseases
Mountain hydrangeas aren’t particularly susceptible to major pests or diseases.
However, it’s worth keeping an eye out foraphids, bacterial wilt, and leaf spot.
These shrubs are also more prone topowdery mildewthanHydrangea macrophyllabecause their leaves aren’t as thick.
However, there are a few signs that indicate developing problems.
Yellowing Leaves
Yellowing leavescan be an indication of a few different issues.
This is a built-in protective measure the shrubs have in hot weather.
If they don’t perk up, it’s often a sign you’re not providing enough water.
Remember to water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry.
Like many hydrangea species, mountain hydrangeas grow pretty rapidly when conditions are right.
Expect them to grow about 18 inches annually.
