With a colder-than-usual winter behind us and spring bursting into bloom, home
gardeners are salvaging what they can from the winter freezes and filling in
with new plants where necessary.
For colorful blooms that last from spring into fall, there’s nothing cheerier than hydrangeas. Among the easiest to grow varieties are
First Editions
® and Endless Summer®. They tolerate Houston’s summer heat well and produce blooms on old and new stems throughout the
growing season.
First Editions Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea is a triple-dipped treat for the garden. This hydrangea paniculata’s enormous blooms start out a creamy vanilla white, changing to a soft pink and
finally to a ripe strawberry red. The unique red color lasts for three to four
weeks, longer than most hydrangeas of this variety. New blooms keep the
multicolored show going throughout the summer and early fall. The extra large
blooms have strong, red stems that cascade later in the season. Vanilla
Strawberry is especially
showy planted in groups in a border.
First Editions Tickled Pink™ Hydrangea’s full, frilly blooms put a smile on every gardener’s face. This playful hydrangea’s unique blooms and strong stems make it a standout in any garden. Tickled Pink’s cone-shaped blossoms start out a soft white then gradually turn a rosy pink.
The extraordinary blooms are loaded with petals that curve, giving Tickled Pink
a lacy, flirty look.
Tickled Pink stays upright and compact. It’s perfect as a stand-alone plant, a flower garden backdrop or paired with other
bloomers in a border. The unique blooms also add a delightful look to fresh or
dried flower arrangements.
Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout™ is a brilliant reblooming lacecap hydrangea. This lacecap is topped with
gorgeous blooms that make a dramatic impact in the garden. Blossom color varies
depending on soil type. Alkaline soils will produce party-pleasing, lipstick
pink blooms. More acidic soil will turn smaller blossoms an intriguing
periwinkle hue, while larger blossoms keep their rich pink color. Twist-n-Shout
’s glossy green leaves and strong, red stems add to the drama. Fall leaf color is
a stunning red burgundy, making Twist-n-Shout a season-long star.
Endless Summer The Original provides endless possibilities in the garden. This
versatile shrub allows gardeners to express their creativity by choosing
different planting applications and changing flower color, all while producing
armloads of beautiful flowers. The Original is the first repeat-flowering big
leaf hydrangea. Since its introduction in 2003, it has become a garden
favorite. It has the unique ability to bloom on old and new growth. That means
it will have truly extraordinary blooms all season long.
Another outstanding characteristic is that The Original is hardy all across the
country. Northern gardeners have a mop head hydrangea that will bloom
beautifully year after year. Southern gardeners need not fear late spring
frosts, which previously have left them with little to no blooms in the summer
months.
