The famous perennial gardener Karl Foerster wrote about the hydrangea: "No flower dies more beautifully…". Even if many hydrangeas shed their leaves in autumn, they are an ornament for every green area. The fading, smoky colors of the hydrangea blossoms, adorned with spider webs glistening in the dew, enchant the autumn garden. Some more or less hardy new breeds, on the other hand, keep their attractive foliage even in the cold months.
Evergreen hydrangeas - charming rarities
The evergreen hydrangea varieties that do not shed their leaves even in the cold season include some tropical hydrangeas and new varieties of climbing hydrangeas. The best known are:
- Semiola, which adorns itself with bright copper-red shoots in spring.
- Silver Lining, with silver-lined leaves and large white umbels.
Like ivy, the evergreen climbing hydrangeas form adhesive roots with which they climb several meters in the air. In contrast to many climbing plants, the roots of these evergreen hydrangeas do not penetrate the masonry. They are suitable for semi-shady or shady locations, as they require little sunlight and still form a rich flower pile.
Evergreen hydrangeas are slightly more sensitive than the deciduous varieties and should only be planted outdoors in mild regions. You will need to water this hydrangea regularly during dry spells in winter because, like many evergreens, it evaporates a lot of liquid over the large leaf area on sunny winter days.
Deciduous varieties are the norm
Most hydrangeas shed their leaves in autumn, preparing for the cold season. These types include:
- peasant hydrangeas
- ball hydrangeas
- panicle hydrangeas
- plate hydrangeas
- velvet hydrangeas
- oak leaf hydrangeas
- Some climbing hydrangea species.
Some varieties, such as the oak leaf hydrangea, take on an intense foliage color in autumn and are adorned with the most beautiful autumn colors before the cloudy winter months.
tips and tricks
Evergreen climbing hydrangeas are also well suited as attractive ground covers in mild regions. However, they should only be planted where the temperature does not permanently fall below minus five degrees.