Hydrangeas for Summer Weddings

Hydrangeas always get attention with their fresh, extravagant flowers. Although these perennial shrubs look gorgeous planted in the garden, they can also look spectacular as container plants at weddings or other outdoor events. Line a path or aisle with hydrangeas or add these flowering shrubs underneath trees or at an entrance to your event. Most outdoor hydrangeas have a long bloom time–flowering throughout the entire summer– even into the first weeks of fall. The most difficult part will be to choose the blossom color as they are available in so many varieties… you can’t go wrong with any of them!

HOW TO…

You’re busy! Make the process easy and the presentation beautiful by placing the hydrangea shrub into a cachepot or decorative container (without drainage holes). This will conceal the grower’s plastic nursery pot. Water shrubs deeply the day before the event and allow hydrangea to drain before placing it in the cachepot. To dress the planting, add moss or a dark mulch to the top of the soil.

CARE  TIPS…

In general, Hydrangeas thrive with consistent watering, since they have a shallow root system. To keep them well hydranted, select a potting mix that is rich in organic matter (peat and composted material with good drainage.) Keep shrubs happy with morning sun and afternoon shade. Whether planted in the ground or in containers, the plants, as well as the flowers, will look healthy and elegant from June until autumn.

As a beautiful memory of the event, you can plant these perennial shrubs in the ground by early fall, (so roots develop sufficiently), and enjoy their timeless flowers next year, too.

‘BIG LEAF’  HYDRANGEAS:

Endless Summer™ Collection: The Endless Summer™ mophead and lacecap hydrangeas* are tireless bloomers that are bred to flower on new growth, as well as the previous year’s woody stems. They will bloom even after a cold winter or spring… which is especially good for the unpredictable seasons in our zone 5. 

*Mophead Hydrangeas are known for large, globe-shaped flower clusters—often called “pom-poms”—that bloom from late spring through summer.  The beauty of the Lacecap Hydrangea flower sets these shrubs apart from their Mophead and Panicle cousins! They look like fairy rings in the garden, with delicate blooms that bring whimsical charm.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Balimer’ The Original (Photo 1): This re-blooming Big Leaf mophead hydrangea flowers from spring through fall. Enjoy round mounds of blue or pink flowers and large, heart-shaped, green leaves. Looks perfect in a container. Mature size: 3-4′ tall and 4-5′ wide in the ground but will stay smaller in a pot. 

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Blushing Bride’ (Photo 3): This heavenly, mophead hydrangea is loved for its pure white flowers that will mature to a blush pink. (light blue in acidic soil) and contrasting dark-green leaves. Plant in the landscape or a container… a perfect choice for outdoor summer weddings. Mature size: 3-6′ tall and 3-6″ wide.

Cascade Hydrangea ‘Fairytrail Bride’ (Photo 2): Here’s a unique hydrangea that boasts cascading stems that are covered with large white blooms. Lacy, deckle-edged petals create a soft, flowing effect… a real standout at any event. It is easy to care for and requires no deadheading. It thrives in heat and flowers all season. The compact size and growing habits make it ideal for smaller spaces or in containers. Mature height: 4′ tall x 4′ wide.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bloomstruck’: This is one of the newest, re-blooming mopheads in the Endless Summer™ family. It features abundant blooms that begin with light green buds that mature to lilac-purple or rose-pink florets (depending on the soil’s acidity level) from late spring to early fall. Enjoy mound-y shrubs with abundant flowers on red-purple stems and thick, dark-green leaves. ‘Bloomstruck’ grows into a 3-4′ tall x 4-5′ wide shrub. It is extremely heat & cold tolerant and disease resistant–especially towards powdery mildew. This variety also has beautiful fall foliage.

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Twist and Shout’: This one is a re-blooming lacecap hydrangea with delicate, deep pink or periwinkle florets that bloom from late spring to early fall. It’s a beautiful, upright, rounded shrub with sturdy red stems and serrated, green leaves. Shrubs mature from 3-5′ tall x 3-5′ wide in the ground… but stay smaller in a container.

CARING FOR BIG LEAF HYDRANGEAS

Light: Part sun to part shade. In northern climates like our zone 5, they bloom best in a location that allows for full morning sun and dappled shade in the afternoon.

Bloom time: Late spring to fall

Water: Moist soil but well-drained

Fertilizer: Use a granular, slow-release fertilizer with a 10-30-10 ratio in early spring/early summer. Don’t overdo it because too much fertilizer will encourage bigger leaves and fewer flowers.

Color: You can change the color of the blue or pink hydrangea simply by adjusting the soil’s pH level. Most of the soil in our area is more alkaline, so this level will bring out the pink color in these hydrangeas. If you prefer blue flowers, add aluminum sulfate, composted oak leaves, pine needles or coffee grounds to your soil. Continual use of products such as Color Me Blue or Espoma’s Organic Soil Acidifier for Hydrangeas will make sure the flowers turn blue.

Uses: Partial shade landscapes, outdoor containers, cutting, bouquets and centerpieces.

HYDRANGEAS for LATER SUMMER WEDDINGS…

The Panicle Hydrangeas (cone-shaped flowers) bloom extravagantly in late summer into fall. The shrubs below will look beautiful for your event at that time of year. The Panicle Hydrangeas thrive with more full sun than the Big Leaf varieties.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’: Here is a Panicle Hydrangea that is the shorter and more compact version of Hydrangea ‘Limelight.’ It matures from 3-5′ tall and wide with cone-shaped, chartreuse and white flowers that will turn a dusty pink when cooler weather arrives. It is different from the mophead variety as the flowers are conical and it blooms later in mid-summer… thriving in filtered to full sun.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Bobo’: This is a dwarf hydrangea that only matures to 3′ tall and 4′ wide. It’s a re-blooming, perennial shrub with huge, conical white flowers that emerge white but turn to a softer pink in autumn. It’s a beautiful choice for summer containers and will also pair perfectly with fall plant colors.

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Pinky Winky’ (Photo 4): Huge, two-toned flowers on sturdy stems!  The large, white panicles open in mid- to late-summer. As summer days change to fall, the florets at the base of the panicle turns pink. The flower panicles continue to grow and produce white florets at the tip. The flower cones can reach up to 16″ in length. It’s a show-stopper that is easy to grow; adapts to most soils; and thrives in both sun and shade. Matures to 6-8′ tall x 6-8′ wide.