When I asked the name of it, the owner said it was a hydrangea. I am familiar with the ball-shaped hydrangeas, but this had a flat-headed flower. Is it really a hydrangea?
A: It is, and one of my favorites at that. Lacecap hydrangeas are in the same family as mophead hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) but they look dramatically different. Lacecaps are flat headed and very delicate in appearance. The outer rim of buds on each flower open while the center ones remain closed. Like mopheads, the flowers will be blue in acidic soils (below 7.0 and preferably in the mid 5’s) and pink when the soil is alkaline (above 7.0). Lacecaps typically mature to 4’ to 5’ and bloom the month of July. They actually require less sun than some other hydrangeas. I have ‘Blue Wave’ hydrangeas in a location that only gets about three hours of afternoon sun and they do fantastic. The best time to prune lacecaps is immediately after flowering. Because they form their flower buds on old wood (wood that came through the winter), I put a hoop of chicken wire around them in November and stuff raked leaves inside to insulate tender buds. I unwrap the lovely ladies in spring and shazam – a knockout display of flowers a few months later. Lacecap hydrangeas are hardy to zone 5 or 6 depending on the cultivar. I have found ‘Blue Wave’, ‘Blue Bird’ and ‘Blue Billow’ to be reliable bloomers in our area, especially if wrapped in the winter and placed in sheltered spots out of the path of winter winds.
Q: I have a really tough spot where I can’t seem to grow grass or flowers. Are there any plants that can handle this hellstrip?
A: If paving isn’t an option, then we move to the SWAT team of groundcovers. These plants can usually survive the toughest of conditions. Note I said usually. All living things will eventually give up the ghost. To make these hellstrip workhorses even more praiseworthy, I’ll recommend those that are also drought-tolerant. Now these deserve a standing ovation. Representing the sun-loving team are lamb’s ear; geranium sanguineum (the common fuchsia pink one); low growing varieties of yarrow such as A. tomentosa that has yellow flowers; catmint (nepeta); crown vetch; common sundrops or yellow primrose (oenothera fruiticosa); thyme; snow-in-summer (cerastium); creeping sedums; and ribbon grass. Slipping into the shade are dead nettles (lamiums); solomon’s seal, bugle weed (ajuga); sweet woodruff; foam flowers (tiarella); yellow archangel (lamium galeobdolon); astilbe chinensis ‘Pumila’ (a dwarf, purple flowering astilbe that blooms in August); faster spreading hostas such as ‘albo marginata’ (green and white), lancifolia (green), ‘Ginko Craig’ (green and white), and ‘Honeybells’ (green leaves with fragrant white flowers). Of course there are always the more common choices of lily-of-the-valley, vinca, and pachysandra. I must admit I have a hard time suggesting snow-on-the-mountain (aegopodium). It has been a nightmare trying to get rid of it in my flower garden. But, on the other hand, you cannot beat its toughness and perseverance for thriving in poor soil in sun or shade. Whatever hellstrip groundcover you choose, give it a leg up by loosening the top few inches of soil and scratching in some compost or manure before planting. A sprinkle of time-released fertilizer such as Plant-Tone or Holly-Tone wouldn’t hurt either. Provide them with a little extra water their first season as they settle in and you’ll be generously repaid for your kindness the following yearn.
Kerry Mendez, Perennially Yours, www.pyours.com 885-3471
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