Hardier And More Colorful Hydrangeas

Summer Crush™ hydrangea

For over a quarter of a century, hydrangea breeders (Bailey's, Spring Meadows, and other nurseries) have introduced hardier, tougher, and more colorful bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) that bloom on both new and old wood (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). 

Old wood flowers are set on last year’s growth and new wood flowers develop on current season's growth. It is important not to prune these hydrangeas late in the summer, as flower buds have already formed for the following spring.

Forver a quarter century, Proven Winners Colorchoice™ and Bailey’s Nurseries (Endless Summer™, Bloomstruck™, and Summer Crush™ brands) have introduced the newest hydrangea genetics. The Let's Dance™  series is worth a try in smaller gardens. A second option is to grow a different type of hydrangea Hydrangea serrata, or mountain hydrangea. New in this category from PW Colorchoice is the Tuff Stuff® series which have demonstrated superior bud hardiness and rebloom. Tuff Stuff Ah-Ha® reblooms heavily and has large doubled sepals on lacecap blooms, either pink or blue depending on soil (media) pH._­­­­­

Lo and Behold 'Blue Chip' Buddleia is a Winner

photo taken at JC Raulston Arboretum in June 2009

Lo & Behold® ‘Blue Chip’ is a very dwarf butterfly bush (buddleia) for the summer garden. Take advantage of its compact 3 x 4 foot height and width by planting it in the garden or in a container on a sunny patio deck or patio by itself . In large containers mix in shorter growing summer annuals such as trailing petunia, scaevola or alternanthera.

Lo & Behold® ‘Blue Chip’ maintains its clean growing habit all season long. Gardeners with limited space can attract butterflies and hummingbirds to their garden with this colorful buddleia. It produces loads of fragrant blue flowers which bloom continuously. It thrives in the summer heat and humidity and the foliage stays blemish-free.

'Blue Chip' is non-invasive. It's self-cleaning and will bloom from mid-summer to frost without deadheading. Each proceeding spring, you won’t need to drastically prune 'Blue Chip' as you would the larger growing buddleia varieties. Plants are deer resistant and drought tolerant.
‘Blue Chip’ was still blooming in my Southern Appalachian garden in late October .