Scientific name - Hydrangea spp.

Synonyms --

Popular names - hydrangea, hydrangea, Ortensia.

Distribution and Habitat - originally from the Himalayas, to Japan, Philippines and Java, Chile.

Description - genus includes 80 species, the most popular are H. macrophylla, H. arborescens, H. paniculata and H. quercifolia. Shrub or voluble species with opposite leaves. Flowers solitary or grouped in inflorescences type corymb, Raceme. Ovary compound, 2-10 rags, below. Capsule truncata. Seeds numerous, ribbed.

Growth rate - fast.

Tolerances - temperatures up to -5 ° C.

Requirements - semiumbra prefer, but grow well in direct sunlight, if not lack water. They prefer sunny places in climele with high humidity and shady places in places where humidity is low.

Management - to have a lot of peat land and acid is added once a year aluminum sulphate and alkaline land to add lime. Too much lime will not damage plants, and if too little will not influence the color of flowers. Changing soil pH is four-six months before the season of prosperity.

Hortensia has modest needs generally requires regular cutting the crown. For hydrangeas planted in pots to shorten all branches after blooming, leaving only a few leaves on each stem, and transplanting plants in two to three years.

Cuttings should be made immediately after the flowers have withered. Do not cut old wood that ensure flowering in successive years.

If plants are exposed to winter winds, it must be protected floriferi buds. It connects all the branches with a thick cloth bag and will get out when buds begin to swell (it is open).

PropagationE - seedlings shoots by one or two internoduri, from May to July. The new plants are planted at 0.9 - 1.2 m between plants and 1.5-2.4 m between rows.

Hortensia is grown on fertile ground in autumn or spring, enriched with peat in pots of 40-60 cm wide and at least 30 inches deep.

Diseases and pests - trips, aphids, mites, snails, Botrytis cinerea. Mites attack is recognizable by the appearance of yellow spots p leaves. Leaves with small dots of orange and yellow face inside is caused by rust.

Rhopalosiphum aphids attacking dianthi are lujerii November.

Persicae attack Eulecanium shady parts of the crown.

Phillosticta hydrangeae cause stains brown-gray branches and leaves.

Partners garden - Eryngium giganteum, Polystichum setiferum, Spiraea japonica, Spiraea x bumalda.

Cultivars - H. macrophylla 'Nikko Blue'presents small blue flowers. H. arborescens 'Annabella' 25-30 cm wide, creamy white flowers appear from June to September. H. paniculata 'Grandiflora' sterile white flowers arranged in panicule 15-20 cm long. H. quercifolia 'Snowflake' Double flowers.

Properties and Uses - ideal for shrub borders or as groups on lawns.

Curiosity - hydrangeas produce blue or purple flowers and pink flowers on land acidic alkaline land.

In Europe it was introduced by the naturalist Philibert Commerson, XVII century.