Hydrangea Annabelle and Strong Annabelle

Thanks Shiney. If I get going with the Irishman's cuttings I'll hopeful have a decent clump before I turn up my toes. I know exactly what you mean about feeding and feed nothing at all except the veg I grow. I do mulch a great deal with manure tho,partly as a pretty efficient weed suppressor , partly as a slug deterrent, partly as a soil improver, partly as a feed and mainly to keep the mountain of it in check! However, I have many shrubs which haven't been fed in years and do just fine. Certainly my large number of Rhododendron and Azalea never get fed and unless damaged by frost flower really well every year. The majority of my garden is South facing so that will suit it and I'll bear in mind the watering. Great info many thanks, only now need to await my new "baby" arriving.

 

I have three Annabelles. and yep you have to tie them up, their heads are heavy especially after a thunder of rain it just bends them down. But they are also very hardy, one is positioned on the West side of my house where 90% of the cold winds hit, and its been there now almost 20 years going strong, and huge. They also make some babies each from the ground, which is where I got my other two from.

 

Thanks Shiney. I have a spot all ready for my new addition and it's in full sun...well as much as we can muster up here in the North. Really excellent information, much appreciated. Books about plants are all very well but more often than not 1st hand knowledge I find is much more reliable and honest! All too often books will tell you a plant is easy/difficult/ does/doesn't move etc and you find the complete opposite. last season I moved a 5 yo Tree Peony while still in leaf (had to). I took a great deal of care and watered it every day for a fortnight and it never turned a hair...well leaf actually. The books would tell you not a hope in hell but perhaps some gardeners are more heavy handed than others!

 

Certainly are Shiney, a lovely display.

 

Received my plants yesterday. The Invincibelle is just starting to flower, so looking forward to that.

Looking on the Crocus website at all the different Hydrangeas, I think they may become my new obsession

 

Got my new babies today @merleworld. All look good altho I think it will be a while before I can have a display like Shiney's! Pleased with the quality of plants and packaging.

 

I got mine yesterday silu, looked okay to me and the pink Invincibelle is just starting to flower.

You're welcome JWK, better in your pocket than theirs eh?

I'm going to take some cuttings off mine but might wait until next year when they are a bit bigger.

 

I've only flippin ended up buying two more Hydrangeas from Crocus. It would have been rude not to since they had 20% off all plants until last night

I bought Hydrangea macrophylla Dark Purple and Miss Saori (which won plant of the year at Chelsea last year).

 

Miss Saori is absolutely gorgeous!