Gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON writes about a hydrangea that’s a hydrangea in name only; it’s all about the shape of the flowers.
A fragrant and fast-growing plant that performs well in our climate is the Mexican hydrangea (Clerodendrum bungei).
While it can be a little hard to find, it is well worth seeking out.
Despite its common name, it is not botanically a hydrangea at all; the name comes from the shape of its flowers. Mexican hydrangea has a suckering habit, so it is best grown where it can be contained or kept in a pot.
For gardeners wanting traditional hydrangea flowers through summer, there are now many hydrangea varieties available that are low-maintenance, more drought tolerant and produce larger blooms with attractive autumn colour.
Oak leaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is particularly striking, with strong textural, oak-shaped leaves that turn rustic shades in autumn before falling once frosts arrive. Oak leaf hydrangeas flower on both old and new growth, so while hard pruning is possible, it may result in fewer flowers the following season. Remove any dead, diseased or damaged wood and trim only if necessary.
The flowers are impressively large, with cream to white flower clusters. For added interest, the double-flowering variety Snowflake begins with cream blooms that gradually develop a soft pink blush, giving the plant a romantic softness.
Given the right conditions and adequate water, oak leaf hydrangeas can grow up to two metres tall and will thrive in full sun or part shade.
Where garden space is limited, a climbing hydrangea is an excellent option. Hydrangea petiolaris is a vigorous deciduous climber that can reach up to three metres, quickly covering a shady wall. Its large lace-cap flowers bloom for a long period, and it performs particularly well in colder climates such as ours.
While its autumn colour is less dramatic, it grows reliably in deep shade and combines well with other plants and groundcovers.
SCABIOSA is an underutilised plant in our climate, and with so many colour varieties now available, it is easy to see why gardeners want to collect them all.
There are striking two-toned varieties such as Black Night, with velvety petals touched with white, as well as Scabiosa fama, which produces deep blue flowers.
True blue flowers are rare in horticulture, and the cobalt blue of this variety is particularly attractive.
Scabiosa, commonly known as the pincushion plant, is often treated as an annual for maximum impact, but with strategic pruning at the right time, its flowering period can be extended.
One variety being trialled this year is Scabiosa ochroleuca, which has lemon-yellow flowers held on tall, wiry stems. It blends beautifully with grasses and other sun-loving plants such as salvias and daylilies.
This variety is an herbaceous perennial, dying back in winter and re-emerging as the weather warms. Over time, the clump will increase in size and can be lifted, divided and replanted every few years, with spare plants perfect for pots.
GRAPEVINES should be netted now, before the fruit ripens, to ensure the harvest is not lost to birds. White netting is recommended so wildlife can see it clearly, and the weave should be tight enough that a finger cannot poke through.
Pegging the netting to the ground will also help prevent rats, bats and possums from accessing the fruit.
A few weeks before harvest, keep the ground moist and limit overhead watering, as increased humidity around the vines can encourage fungal issues just before picking.
Grape bunches usually ripen at the same time, but if ripening is uneven, ripe grapes can be harvested early, frozen, and enjoyed later.
Jottings
- Marymead plant sale, 255 Goyder Street, Narrabundah, 8am-noon, February 21.
- Trim lavender and rosemary bushes and take cuttings.
- Feed conifers and trim while the weather is warm.
- Last chance to plant beans.
- Water, mulch and then water again.
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