A Hydrangea plant growns in a garden on Lookout Mountain in this file photo. The garden, which is part of a beautification project led by May Mitchell and Susan Bradley, features a variety of plants and a gazebo.
An array of Hydrangeas borders a stone walkway at the home of Signal Mountain resident, Donna Smith, in this file photo.When Katie and Mike Myers celebrated their third anniversary on July 1, Katie had two rings to remind her of their special day: One was the band on her left hand, the other a circle of 14 hydrangeas at their home.
“I had hydrangeas at our wedding reception,” says Katie, a retired school principal. “The next spring I planted a huge circle of them as a reminder that our love is endless and everlasting. They are beautiful.”
Hydrangeas in bridal bouquets or reception decor grew into a trend about three years, says Curt Hodge, co-owner of Gil & Curt Flowers. But their ties to Southern landscapes are generations-old. Other than magnolias and camellias, few plants are more traditional in Southern gardens than hydrangeas.
While there are almost two dozen species of hydrangeas, there are six most popular in this region. Jack Townsend, a longtime employee of The Barn Nursery, lists them as Penny Mac, Endless Summer, Nikko Blue, Limelight, Quick Fire and Annabelle.
Here are five tips for growing these big bloomers.