Southern charmers: Find the right place to plant hydrangeas for the best results

Hydrangeas are the grand dames of Southern landscapes. Their big, showy blossoms have a look-at-me attitude, spreading blooms across foliage as much as 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall to brighten a yard.

These multitaskers serve a variety of purposes in home landscapes: They add color; they fill large spaces but also fit small patio containers, and they simply bring old-fashioned charm wherever they are planted. Their clusters of blooms span a range of color from the Annabelle's billowy, white, summer snowballs to Ruby Slippers' color-changing blossoms that emerge white before turning deep red-pink.

"Hydrangeas aren't just the old-fashioned pink and blue varieties anymore, there are lots of other varieties," says Darlene Williams, a Master Gardener and horticulturist at Ooltewah Nursery and Landscape Co. who recently led a workshop on these Southern favorites, offering do-it-yourselfers tips on the best places to plant them for successful growing.

Blushing Bride is a mophead whose blooms are white with a tinge of pink. They can grow to 6 feet in height.

Pistachio is a newer variety of mophead hydrangea that blooms pink and green.

Stargazer is a double-flowering lacecap.

Oakleaf hydrangeas have a cylindrical bloom; they like morning sun and afternoon shade.

The accompanying box with this story on Page F6 lists the varieties in each of the categories she discussed, but here's a rundown of the five major groups of hydrangeas.

HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS

"These are the native hydrangeas you see blooming on the side of country roads. They grow well in places with a little extra moisture, that's why you often see them along ditches," says Williams. "The true native is the white lacecap."

* Planting: Sun tolerant

* Growth: Averages 4 feet in height

* Varieties of particular interest: The Hayes Annabelle's blooms can grow to 12 inches in diameter. They are good for drying for floral arrangements. The Golden Crane is a new lacecap that is fragrant, and not many hydrangeas are. The Incrediball is an improved version of the Annabelle.

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

"These grow well in full-sun and are good for areas that need brightening in summer. They don't bloom until mid- to late-summer," Williams says.

* Planting: Sun tolerant

* Growth: 7 to 8 feet in height

* Varieties of particular interest: The Pinky Winky and Vanilla Strawberry blossoms combine vivid pink flowers at the base of their conical blossoms with white tips. Tardiva, Pee Gee and Pink Diamond varieties come in tree forms. Baby Lace will only grow to 4 feet in height, making it perfect for compact areas of the garden. Bobo is a new, heavy bloomer.

HYDRANGEA OAKLEAF

Oakleaf gets its name from the shape of its large leaves, which can turn colors of red, orange and yellow in fall if planted in sunny locations with afternoon shade. "These hydrangeas have a different look; their (cylindrical) blooms can be as long as one foot," says the horticulturist.

* Planting: Morning sun, afternoon shade

* Growth: Varies from the Munchkin, which averages 3 feet in height and 5 feet in width, to Alice, the tallest of all oakleaf varieties, which can grow to 15 feet in height.

* Varieties of particular interest: Oakleafs can be purchased in two forms: single blossom or the double-blossoming variety, such as Snowflake.

HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA MOPHEAD

"These are the ones our grandparents had in their yards -- pink or blue," says Williams. "Nikko Blue is probably the most well-known of these. Nikko Blue only blooms on old wood, so if you prune it in the fall you won't have flowers next year. Endless Summer blooms on old and new wood."

It's easy to manipulate the soil in your yard to change blossoms to pink or blue, she says. "Your hydrangeas will bloom pink if your soil pH is high. If you have a high pH, use aluminum sulfate to lower it. Add hydrated lime to raise your pH. Fertilome makes bags of each."

* Planting: Morning sun, afternoon shade

* Growth: Big Daddy is the largest of all mopheads, getting to 6 feet wide and tall.

* Varieties of particular interest: Bloomstruck, new to the market last year, can have blue and pink flowers in the same blossom, and it repeat blooms well. Pistachio is also a newer variety that blooms pink and green. Blushing Bride is white with a tinge of pink and grows to 6 feet in height.

HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA LACECAP

"These like yards with lots of shade. They can be grown in full shade," advises Williams.

* Planting: Morning sun, afternoon shade

* Growth: Up to 6 feet in height.

* Varieties of particular interest: Blue Bird, which can grow to 6 feet in width and height, holds it blooms a long time. Stargazer is a double-flowering shrub. Twist'n'Shout boasts pink and purple blooms. Variegated's leaves are edged in a delicate white border; Guilded Gold's lance-shaped leaves are similar in shape and green-white pattern to hostas' greenery.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.