Together plant new on market
BY LYNDA PAPESCH
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Home and Garden
The newest hydrangea cultivar on the market is this pretty pink variety called `Together'. Hydrangeas belong to the plant family hydrangeaceae and are easily grown in New Zealand.
In recent years, there has been a resurgence of hydrangeas in gardens and as cut flowers.
With large flowers and a long flowering period, hydrangeas come in a variety of forms and colours. The mophead, Hydrangea macrophylla, has large leaves and big clusters of flowers in shades of blue, pink or white, while lacecaps have a flat centre cluster of flowers.
Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) varieties are winter-hardy making; panicle (Hydrangea paniculata) plants have conical flowers and hydrangea vines (Hydrangea anomala) have lightly scented cream-colored flowers that bloom in early summer.
Deciduous shrubs, hydrangeas can flower from early spring through to autumn, in bushy clumps up to two metres high.
They are best planted in rich, moist soil and part shade. Soil PH is important, depending on what colour you want. Soil PH between 4.5 and 5 will turn the flower clusters of some hydrangeas blue, while soil PH above 6.3 will turn the hydrangea flowers pink.
TIPS
Keep well watered.
Prune lightly to removed dead or damaged branches.
Plant in partial shade.
Add lime or other alkaline materials to the soil for pink varieties, and acid for blues.
Use compost spread and a layer of mulch to help retain the soil moisture.
Avoid soggy conditions.
Plants featured in this column are available from Marlborough Mitre 10 Mega.
- The Marlborough Express
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