The changing colours of hydrangeas

LIFESTYLE NEWS - Mophead hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are the queens of the shady garden, with their bold, sumptuous flower heads from Christmas onwards.

Fans of hydrangeas have had to make peace with their short flowering span, but not anymore. There is a new variety that blooms for longer than other hydrangeas and can flower through to autumn.

The flowers change colour as they mature, ending with deep autumn coloured blooms.

Hydrangea ‘Magical’ is a compact garden plant (80cm high) that still carries large flower heads with lots of small flowers per head. The colours change three or four times during the flowering season from summer through to autumn so there is always something to look forward to.

There are 14 different flower colours, white and blue, many shades of pink like amethyst, daydream, coral, and crimson as well as green, ivory and a picotee white with red edges.

‘Magical Revolution’ is the indoor hydrangea with flowers of pink or blue. Plants need bright, indirect light but not direct sunlight. During the flowering period, the soil should be kept evenly moist and hydrangea food should be applied three or four times.

After a period indoors it can be planted in the garden or a patio pot.

What’s to like

The nice thing about this hydrangea is that you can pick the blooms at each colour stage, while the remaining flowers continue to change colour. At the end, the last flowers can be dried and also used in flower arrangements as they keep their colour.

Magical ‘Pink’ in the garden.

Get planting

These sturdy plants have a good tolerance for sun, rain and frost. To flower well they need four to six hours of morning sun with afternoon shade.

Plant in fertile soil that has been enriched with compost and that drains well. For blue flowering hydrangeas it helps to use acid compost.
Dig a wide hole, twice as wide as the depth of the pot or bag containing the plant.
Remove the pot and place the root ball in the centre of the hole. Don’t plant too deep because hydrangeas have shallow roots. If necessary place soil under the root ball so that the plant is level with the surface of the soil.
Fill in the soil and firm down lightly. Water well and include a liquid plant food like Margaret Roberts Organic Supercharger to give the plant a good start.

Good to know

Acidic soil produces a blue flower, while an alkaline soil tends towards pink. White hydrangeas stay white. An easy way to keep the desired colour of the hydrangea is to use hydrangea food for the specific colours. Its available through all hardware and garden centres.

Adding an acid compost to the soil will help to retain the shade of blue as well as the use of rainwater, rather than tap water which contains high amounts of lime that turn the flowers pink.

‘Magical Revolution’ indoor hydrangea.

Growing on

Hydrangeas like consistently moist soil and fertiliser such as Vigorosa once a month in summer or use special hydrangea food.

Plants in pots need daily watering in summer and fertilising once a month.

On very hot days the leaves may wilt even if they have had plenty of water but that is just their way of saving water. They will revive with the evening coolness. If the leaves don’t revive, then they should be watered.

Fungus disease that result in a powdery white residue or brown spots on the leaves can be treated with a fungicide like Coppercount N. Visit www.ballstraathof.co.za

For more gardening, visit Get It Magazine.

Magical ‘Amethyst’.