- Winter hardiness depends on the location
- Getting peasant hydrangeas through the winter
- tips and tricks
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The varieties known today as farmer's hydrangeas originally come from Japan, where a similar climate prevails in large parts as in this country.
Most farmer's hydrangeas are hardy, but the flowers will freeze in frost
Winter hardiness depends on the location
Almost all Macrophylla species, as the farmer's hydrangea is botanically correctly called, have a very good winter hardiness. Many old varieties of the farmer's hydrangea are still very popular today because they have proven themselves with excellent winter hardiness. However, their specific resistance to frost and other adverse weather conditions depends primarily on their location. Especially in regions where it gets very cold in winter, these varieties need good winter protection. The hardiest varieties include e.g. Emile Mouillière, Otaksa, Lanarth White and Veitchii. Due to their lack of winter hardiness, "Hanabi" and "Pink Elf" should be better cultivated in tubs.
Flower buds freeze in frost
However, the biggest problem with farmer's hydrangeas is not their actual winter hardiness - most varieties survive the winter excellently - but the fact that the flower buds that formed in late summer of the previous year can freeze to death. As soon as this happens, the flower fails in the following year. After all, farmer's hydrangeas only flower on last year's wood and therefore do not form any new flower buds in the current growth period. This problem can only be avoided with appropriate winter protection or by planting new varieties that flower on both old and new wood.
New breeds of farmer's hydrangea are particularly hardy
These new breeds, including "Endless Summer" and the "Forever & Ever" series with four different flower colors, are not only characterized by good winter hardiness. It is also not a problem if flower buds or previous year's shoots freeze, because new buds are formed on the young shoots.
Getting peasant hydrangeas through the winter
In order to protect the overwintering buds of the peasant hydrangea from frost, good winter protection is necessary. However, this does not only happen with a cover (e.g. with a fleece or raffia mats), but above all with the clever choice of location. In general, the sunnier the location, the more vulnerable the flower buds are to frosts that occur late in spring. For this reason, plant your farmer's hydrangeas in a semi-shady or light-shaded place without midday sun.
tips and tricks
In particular, the root neck is for a cold protection, z. B. by covering with bark mulch and / or leaves. This prevents the roots growing close to the ground from freezing and dying off.