Hydrangea arborescens Strong Annabelle

Anyone grow one of these? I have a notion for one of these, not least because the hydrangea I planted last year didn't survive.

 

I've never heard of Strong Annabelle

Annabelle is a mophead type and ours grows multiple flowers between 9" and 18" diameter. We do tie them in for when the rain makes the heads too heavy but they're a magnificent plant.

We never have any problem with hardiness and they have survived for some years with no trouble. We cut ours back hard each year but leave some branches just for a bit of structure in the winter. The flowers grow on new growth but may grow on last year's if it branches.

Ours doesn't start to flower until early June and continues through to late August to mid-September. This shot was taken on 21st July when they were still growing bigger. You can just see a new flower coming, slightly greenish hue, left of centre.

 

Thanks

The Strong Annabelle name was as stated on Crocus' website, but it looks to he the same as yours. Gorgeous looking plant.

Pretty sure I will get me one

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Here's a brief, but good, link to Annabelle

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/annabelle2.html

Unlike a lot of plants with female names, Annabelle is named after a woman. It's named for the town of Anna in Illinois where it was discovered in the wild.

 

Thanks @shiney - I am thinking of putting it/them in the place where my buddleia used to live, which gets early morning sun, and then dappled shade from there on in.

I see it suggests putting two or three together to support each other in that link - do you think its best to buy two or three together, or buy one and propagate cuttings from it?

 

Is that the same thing I am looking at then @Kristen?

 

So, it appears that 'Strong Annabelle' is supposed to be a sturdier version of Annabelle. We just have Annabelle. We staked it the first few years until there were enough stems to put string round. I guess that when they say plant three of them it's because they'll lean against each other. If they're fairly cheap you might as well go for them. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother - especially if they're supposed to be sturdier.

 

Saw Incrediball at the RHS Wisley garden centre yesterday, seems to confirm what @Kristen says:



They are also selling 'Normal' Annabelle for £14.99