Not sure why your hydrangea is n’t bloom ? Want to know when and how to prune it ? These are all good questions , but no one can answer them right until they know what kind of hydrangea you have . This post will help with your hydrangea identification . It wo n’t furnish cultivar names but it will identify the case of hydrangea .
It ’s always a good idea to save down plant names because they make it easier to retrieve the right cultural info later on . But life bechance and it is quite common for people to misplace the name of a plant life .
There are several types of hydrangea and they do n’t all take the same grow conditions . The case is base on the works genetic science – what species was used to grow the plant . Here is a abbreviated list of the types that will be discussed in this post .
Macrophylla hydrangea have been cover using mostly Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea serrata . Its mutual names include bigleaf hydrangea , French hydrangea , lacecap hydrangea and mophead hydrangea . In warmer climates where it does well , this is a very democratic hydrangea because of its gentle flowers . It also get white , pink and purplish flowers . The term macrophylla means large or long - leafed .
The bland type has been bred using Hydrangea arborescens . It is usually call smooth hydrangea , snowball hydrangea or Annabelle hydrangea . The term snowball come from the fact that this type has the largest white snowball like flower heads . The other coarse name , Annabelle , should n’t be used because it establish multitude think that all smooth hydrangeas are Annabelles , which they are n’t . If you want to speak about a sure Hydrangea arborescens , you should only use the cultivar name , Annabelle .
This group of plants has Hydrangea paniculata in its factor . The common name , panicled hydrangea , refers to the material body of the flower head . Instead of being round it is cone shaped .
Historically , the most popular cultivar in this grouping is called Hydrangea paniculata ‘ Grandiflora ’ . The name was shortened to PG hydrangea , using the first letters of paniculata and grandiflora . This industrial plant became so democratic that some people wrong refer to all paniculata types as PG hydrangea . This contribute to a lot of confusion . A plant that is is labeled as PG may or may not be Grandiflora . You never get laid what you are getting with a PG .
Hydrangea petiolaris and Hydrangea anomala are very similar species , that are known as the climb hydrangeas . H. petiolaris is much more democratic in the garden than H. genus Anomala .
The oakleaf hydrangea , or oak - leaved hydrangea is Hydrangea quercifolia . A issue of cultivars exist and it is easily place by its leaves .
The adopt Hydrangea Identification Process has been split into two sections . The first part ( the unripened part ) is mean to help you recognize a hydrangea even if you do n’t know much about its flowers . This is very useful if you are trying to figure out why your plant is not flowering .
The second section ( blue surgical incision ) knead through a process of identification using flower . you could use this section to confirm the ID you made in the first department .
Start with the section called “ name by Plant Characteristics ” . Work your way through this department until you get an ID . Then hop the sleep of the section .
Read the division hollo “ Identify by Flower Characteristics ” to check that you got the ID right if you have it off what the flowers look like .
hydrangea are a popular flowering shrub that come in a variety of types and color . Knowing what character of hydrangea you have is cardinal to properly care for it and arrive the most blush . Here ’s a guidebook on how to describe the different types of hydrangeas based on ocular characteristics .
Look at the Leaves
The leaves can leave some of the best clues to identifying hydrangea types .
Oakleaf hydrangea – leave are clearly lobed and resemble oak leaves . This is the easy eccentric to identify .
Panicle hydrangea – farewell loosely have 3 - 5 lobe and are moderately rounded . They are intermediate immature in color .
Bigleaf / Gallic hydrangea – Leaves are oval or heart - shaped with serrate edge . They are thick , dismal immature and somewhat glossy .
Smooth hydrangea – Leaves are more rounded and have a slightly blurry texture They are average to abstemious unripened in color
Climbing hydrangea – Leaves are heart - shaped and have serrated edges They resemble bigleaf leaves but are small
Examine the Flowers
The bloom provide more clues to the eccentric of hydrangea :
Panicle hydrangea – flush are cone - shaped panicle swan from white to pink .
Bigleaf / French hydrangea – Two types of flowers occur on these . Lacecap flowers have tiny prolific flower surrounded by showy sterile flowers . Mophead flowers have all showy , uninspired blossom . Color ranges from pink , blue or purpleness .
Smooth hydrangea – flower are round , white snowballs .
Oakleaf hydrangea – Flowers are cone - form panicles of white flowers that turn pinkish as they age .
Climbing hydrangea – flower are flattish bunch of white fertile and aseptic flowers .
Look at the Growth Habit
The overall development wont and structure bring home the bacon more clues :
climb hydrangea – A vine that climbs up structures or trees .
Panicle hydrangea – A multi - stemmed shrub ranging from 3 - 6 feet magniloquent in most varieties .
Bigleaf / French hydrangea – A coarse - textured bush that grows 3 - 6 fundament tall .
Smooth hydrangea – A rounded , obtuse bush that grow 3 - 5 feet magniloquent .
Oakleaf hydrangea – A coarse bush that can reach 6 - 8 feet tall and blanket .
Consider the Petiole Length
The petiole is the small stem that bind the leaf to the independent branch . Petiole duration can assist signalize between bigleaf and legato hydrangeas :
Bigleaf hydrangea – Petioles are short , in general less than 1 in long .
fluid hydrangea – Petioles are long , over 1 column inch in duration .
Look for Natural Habitat Clues
acknowledge the native habitat of the unlike hydrangea can provide more clues :
Smooth hydrangea – Native to the eastern United States . Often line up on streambanks and slopes .
Oakleaf hydrangea – aboriginal to the southeast United States . mature course in woodlands .
Climbing hydrangea – Native to Asia . Grows on forests edges and rise up trees .
Panicle hydrangea – Native to Asia . Grows in mountain ravine and slopes .
Bigleaf / French hydrangea – aboriginal to Japan . Found growing along streams and in timber .
Consider the Bloom Time
The timing of blooms provides another distinguishing equipment characteristic :
Bigleaf – Blooms in summer on previous year ’s growth .
Panicle – bloom in mid to late summer on current year ’s growth .
Oakleaf – bloom in late bound on previous year ’s increase .
fluid – Blooms in early summer on current year ’s development .
Climbing – flower in other summertime on late year ’s and current season ’s growth .
Key Takeaways
Look at the leaf form , flower characteristics , growth habit , petiole length , natural home ground , and bloom time .
Oakleaf hydrangea is well-to-do to identify by its lob , oak - like leaves .
Bigleaf and panicle are two of the most commonly grown hydrangea .
Knowing the type of hydrangea is key for proper tending and maximise prime .
When in uncertainty , seeking advice from a local nursery can help decently identify enigma hydrangea .
Properly place your hydrangea takes some time and watching . But once you know what character you have , you ’ll be on your agency to growing beautiful , flowering hydrangea in your garden .
Identify by Flowers Characteristics
The above traits make it gentle to narrate the difference between climbing and oakleaf hydrangea , so they will not be discussed in this department .
Number of Leaves per Node
A node is the point on the shank where one or more leave of absence are tie . The young , smaller leaves at the stem ’s tip originate in a different way , so look at the older , bigger leave-taking on the stem . Look at all the stems since the bit of leafage can motley from stem to stem . Young paniculatas and poorly grow ones may not have 3 leaves .
A petiole is the short stem that get in touch the folio to the main shank . Check the length of the petiole on some of the old leaves . Ignore the smaller leaves at the tip of the branch since the petiole there is still growing .
How to Identify Your Hydrangea // Garden Answer
How do you identify a hydrangea without roll in the hay its flowers ?
The first incision ( immature section ) has been designed so that you could identify an hydrangea without knowing anything about its flowers . This is very utile if you are trying to count on out why your industrial plant is not flowering . The second section ( gentle section ) work through a cognitive operation of designation using flowers .
What are the unlike eccentric of hydrangeas ?
There are several well - make love species of hydrangea : Hydrangea macrophylla , often refer to as bigleaf hydrangeas , come in two forms : mophead with large , round flush cluster , and lacecap with flatter blooms . Hydrangea quercifolia , known as oakleaf hydrangeas , are recognizable by their oak tree - alike leave and ashen cone - shaped blossom clusters .
What color are hydrangea ?
Hydrangeas are beautiful shaggy-coated deciduous shrubs with large , colorful , showy prime and big undimmed to disconsolate green leave . Hydrangea flowers bloom in shades of patrician , lavender , white , pink , flushed , dark-green , and purpleness . The bigleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea macrophylla ) is the most popular of these flowering bushes .
What do hydrangea leaves look like ?
The shape and form of hydrangea leaves depend on the hydrangea case and cultivar . Here are the type of hydrangea leaves : Bigleaf hydrangea leave are thick and shining with serrated margins and turn up to 8 ” ( 20 atomic number 96 ) long . Panicle hydrangeas have narrow-minded , dark - immature fuzzy leaves that grow up to 5 ” ( 12 centimeter ) long .
