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The vanilla strawberry hydrangea (hydrangea paniculata ‘Renhy’) is a beautiful French hybrid that is well-loved for its romantic coloring and large, pointed flower clusters. This plant is a wonderful choice for anyone who wants a landscaping piece capable of producing a bright, eye-catching display of flowers with the potential to grow large enough to fill a significant spot in the yard. The hydrangea can be a little finicky in the first two years of growth but it isn't necessarily difficult to grow as long as one understands this plant's needs.
About the Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea The vanilla strawberry hydrangea is similar to most other types of hydrangea except for its coloring. This hybrid plant produces large flower clusters in various shades of pink and white. During the initial bloom period, which typically ranges from early July through September, this hydrangea produces white flowers that will darken to pink or red within about two weeks. The flowers will hold the strawberry pink-and-white coloring for up to four weeks before fading away. This cultivar blooms repeatedly throughout the summer and will continue to produce flower heads well into the autumn in some regions. The mature size of this shrub can reach an impressive six to seven feet tall with a spread as wide as five feet. Some cultivars produce such an abundance of flowers that a gardener might find the need to trim away some of the flower heads during the growth season to keep the shrub from overwhelming nearby plants. This, however, is a "problem" that many gardeners wouldn't mind having with a hydrangea, as the heads make wonderful cut flowers for vases and living flower arrangements. Ideal Growing Climate and Location The vanilla strawberry hydrangea is a perennial plant in USDA zones four through nine but it can be grown in other regions as an annual plant. The ideal area would be one that has plenty of room to accommodate what might potentially be a seven-feet-tall, five-feet-wide plant. A hydrangea shrub can easily overpower nearby plants and could cast a shadow over smaller plants in the vicinity. Most hydrangeas prefer full exposure to sun except in areas that are prone to summer drought and/or intense sunlight. The best sunlight exposure for this type of plant would be morning and mid-late afternoon sun. This type of sunlight is less harmful during drought and is less likely to cause discoloration of the plant's leaves during the summer (which can be a problem in warmer climates). That being said, one should not rule out areas with partial shade as the vanilla strawberry hydrangea will also tolerate this type of sunlight exposure as well. As with all hydrangeas, the ideal location will be one that offers moist soil with good drainage. This plant can tolerate clay, sandy, and normal soil types but the pH of the soil could alter bloom color. Growing and Pruning Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangea As with other paniculata hydrangeas, planting the shrub is easiest when the plant is young. Large hydrangea shrubs can be transplanted to a new location but doing so can pose significant risk to the plant. Damage to the roots and failure to settle/adapt to a new location can endanger the health of the shrub which might result in poor growth, failure to flower, or death of the plant. A young hydrangea is adaptable and easy to handle during the planting process. Young hydrangea plants can be found in most local garden nurseries during the spring or they can be purchased from mail order nursery catalogs. The planting process will begin by preparing the planting site. To do this, one will need a shovel, a hand trowel, a small bag of compost, mulch, and a watering can or garden hose. Start by digging a hole that is about double the size of the plant's root ball. Although the hole may look too big for the plant, it is important to allow extra room for the young roots to spread and settle. Take the soil that was removed from the hole and mix it with the compost or fertilizer. Very poor soil or soil that is lacking in organic matter may require a significant amount of compost. Try starting out with a 75-25 percent ratio of soil and compost. Pour this soil mixture back into the hole to fill about 30 percent of the hole. Place the roots of the hydrangea into the hole and secure the plant while packing the remaining soil around the roots. One should be careful not to damage the roots during this procedure. Water the soil deeply using the watering can or garden hose. The final step is to spread a thick layer of mulch around the base of the plant. The mulch will prevent water from evaporating too quickly from the soil and will also prevent drastic temperature fluctuations in the soil. If a hydrangea is planted in an appropriate location then the only pruning that will be necessary will be the removal of old flower heads and stems. Old flowers should be trimmed one inch from the base of the flower head. It is important to trim away dead flowers so that the plant can use its energy and nutrients to promote existing and future growth rather than allowing dead matter to sap (and waste) the plant's energy. This process is called deadheading and will help to flush out new growth. The hydrangea is a wonderful shrub that isn't as difficult to grow as it appears. The vanilla strawberry variety is especially showy and gives the impression that one has spent hours slaving away in the garden. Anyone looking to add a colorful but easy-maintenance piece to his or her landscape should definitely consider growing a hydrangea. |