Climbing Hydrangea

Hello again,

Good gardening friend Paul Parent of the Paul Parent Garden Club (http://www.paulparent.com/) sends out a great newsletter every week with pertinent gardening topics. I encourage you to go to his website (http://www.paulparent.com/) to sign up for his newsletter. Paul can also be heard every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 10 AM at his website or at WBACH (104.7 FM) every Sunday morning from 6 AM to 9 AM.

Here is some of what Paul had to say this past week:

"My favorite climbing vine for outside is the climbing hydrangea; it will grow in the sun or shade. You purchase the plants in large containers, as this plant will grow quickly on woody stems. The climbing hydrangea will attach itself to any surface with a form of clinging roots on its stem.

When planting, place the plant right up against the surface you want it to grow on. Most plants will have multiple stems growing from the base of the plant, so spread them in a fan design on the surface and attach them to the surface with duct tape. This will hold the stems in place and allow the climbing roots to attach themselves to their new home much faster. Once the roots form on the surface, remove the duct tape and it will climb all by itself.

Climbing hydrangeas are deciduous, so they lose their leaves during the winter months. The stems are brown and have a papery look, almost like a birch tree with peeling bark. In the fall, the green leaves turn bright yellow for four weeks or more before falling.

In the spring, the plant is covered with heart-shaped dark green leaves. The stems attached to the surface will produce branches 12 to 18 inches long, giving the surface a soft look and providing a great place for birds to nest in. In time, the tip of the branches will make a creamy white flower, during the late spring or early summer. The flowers, lasting 4 to 6 weeks on the plant; form a cluster of lacy flowers. Each cluster is large and has many large four-petal blossoms that are surrounded with a mass of smaller flowers. This combination of large and small flower together is referred to as a "lace cap" flower. The flowers dry on the plant and turn tan in color--sometimes lasting until the following spring. Nice to see during the winter, when they are covered with snow.

The climbing hydrangea is a plant that requires patience while waiting for its flowers. It may take as long as five years for flowers to form on the plant--but once they start, they will come every year. Believe me, it is worth the wait and once they begin, the flower count will increase each year. When planting, be sure to use plenty of organic matter in the hole. The soil should be well drained--and be sure to keep plants away from gutter downspouts. I like to use the new fertilizers that contain mycorrhizae microbes. These microbes will help speed up the root and top growth on the plant. Keep the soil moist until fall to help the plant to get established in your yard.

If you plant in the sun, it will not grow as well as when planted in the shade. Also, climbing hydrangeas growing in the sun may be chewed on by Japanese Beetles, but not when planted in the shade. Prune to control the growth of the plant if it tries to cover windows, or grow it as a clump plant on a stump or along a stone wall. The climbing hydrangea can--and will--grow as high as three stories all by itself, so you may need to prune to control the size. I like to fertilize with Plant Tone that contains mycorrhizae microbes for root and stem growth. The plant has no real problem with diseases and insects and it is so easy to grow. If you have a blank wall on the north side of the house or garage this plant will do wonders for you, and the green foliage and white flowers will change the look of the building or wall. "

Folks this is a great article on of our favorite vines; the climbing hydrangea. On May 1 at Skillin's we will be holding a class called Vine Time and the climbing hydrangea will be featured. Check out My favorite climbing vine for outside is the climbing hydrangea; it will grow in the sun or shade. You purchase the plants in large containers, as this plant will grow quickly on woody stems. The climbing hydrangea will attach itself to any surface with a form of clinging roots on its stem.

When planting, place the plant right up against the surface you want it to grow on. Most plants will have multiple stems growing from the base of the plant, so spread them in a fan design on the surface and attach them to the surface with duct tape. This will hold the stems in place and allow the climbing roots to attach themselves to their new home much faster. Once the roots form on the surface, remove the duct tape and it will climb all by itself.

Climbing hydrangeas are deciduous, so they lose their leaves during the winter months. The stems are brown and have a papery look, almost like a birch tree with peeling bark. In the fall, the green leaves turn bright yellow for four weeks or more before falling.

In the spring, the plant is covered with heart-shaped dark green leaves. The stems attached to the surface will produce branches 12 to 18 inches long, giving the surface a soft look and providing a great place for birds to nest in. In time, the tip of the branches will make a creamy white flower, during the late spring or early summer. The flowers, lasting 4 to 6 weeks on the plant; form a cluster of lacy flowers. Each cluster is large and has many large four-petal blossoms that are surrounded with a mass of smaller flowers. This combination of large and small flower together is referred to as a "lace cap" flower. The flowers dry on the plant and turn tan in color--sometimes lasting until the following spring. Nice to see during the winter, when they are covered with snow.

The climbing hydrangea is a plant that requires patience while waiting for its flowers. It may take as long as five years for flowers to form on the plant--but once they start, they will come every year. Believe me, it is worth the wait and once they begin, the flower count will increase each year. When planting, be sure to use plenty of organic matter in the hole. The soil should be well drained--and be sure to keep plants away from gutter downspouts. I like to use the new fertilizers that contain mycorrhizae microbes. These microbes will help speed up the root and top growth on the plant. Keep the soil moist until fall to help the plant to get established in your yard.

If you plant in the sun, it will not grow as well as when planted in the shade. Also, climbing hydrangeas growing in the sun may be chewed on by Japanese Beetles, but not when planted in the shade. Prune to control the growth of the plant if it tries to cover windows, or grow it as a clump plant on a stump or along a stone wall. The climbing hydrangea can--and will--grow as high as three stories all by itself, so you may need to prune to control the size. I like to fertilize with Plant Tone, or the new Dr. Earth All-Purpose Fertilizer that contains mycorrhizae microbes for root and stem growth. The plant has no real problem with diseases and insects and it is so easy to grow. If you have a blank wall on the north side of the house or garage this plant will do wonders for you, and the green foliage and white flowers will change the look of the building or wall. "

Folks for more information about Vines, come to our Vine Time class on May 1 at 2 PM at any Skillin's location. For more info about our classes click on
"Spring 2010 Classes at Skillin's!" at the Garden Log archive menu for a great description of all our classes!

Mike Skillin
Skillin's Greenhouses
February 12, 2010