Plant of the Week July 3, 2023

 Hydrangeas for Pollinators

Hydrangea trials at Mt. Cuba Center

Hydrangeas have become our most popular shrub in recent years. Their flowers are undeniably their primary draw, especially the large mophead blue and pink varieties. But for pollinators, go beyond the mophead varieties to the lacecap types, notably Hydrangea arborescens. Sam Hoadley, of Mt. Cuba Center, invited a group of  'Ladies in the Landscape' to view the trials that were being held to determine which of the hydrangea cultivars were among the best to draw pollinators. It was an eye-popping experience to see the scores of bees and other insects visiting the flowers. 

See the bumblebees?

Hydrangea arborescens bloom on new wood in June and July. They can be pruned from fall through winter and still provide an incredible show every summer. A cold winter may appear to kill them to the ground, but they reemerge, blooming right on time. Hydrangeas do better with some shade, especially in the afternoon.

Fertile flowers by larger sterile ones

 The lacecap heads contain hundreds of fertile flowers ringed by larger sterile ones. Flower heads remain through fall and winter providing interest in the garden. Flowers are mostly white; some cultivars feature pink or lime green as well. It was amazing to see the lacecap flower heads so full of pollinators while the larger mophead types drew so few. A volunteer group from Pollinator Watch, a trained group of volunteers, observed and recorded the number of pollinators that visited each of the varieties in the study. 'Haas Halo' was the top performer as both a plant that grew well and strong and one that had many of the pollinators visit its flowers. 

Stop in this week to see the amazing hydrangeas at work providing for our pollinators.

Top performer!

Visit mtcubacenter.org/trial for more information on this trial and the many others held at Mt Cuba Center

From the website: 

Mt. Cuba’s Hydrangea arborescens Top Performers:

1. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’
2. Hydrangea arborescens ‘SMNHALR’ (Lime Rickey®)
3. Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA2’ (Invincibelle® Spirit II)
4. Hydrangea arborescens ‘NCHA4’ (Incrediball® Blush)
5. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’ (Incrediball®)
6. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Bounty’
7. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Dardom’ (White Dome®)
8. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Total Eclipse’
9. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Mary Nell’