I've been back from Yarmouth for a couple of days now, just catching up with things and resting a little. It was a perfect time to duck out for a few days change of scenery. There is nothing better than seeing dear friends, (who share my obsession with plants), visiting awesome gardens and garden centres, talking plants, taking gazillions of photos, and just having a bit of a break. If you've never been to Yarmouth and surrounding area, it's a beautiful place with wonderful people, scenery, and gardens, among other attractions. Including--or in my case, especially--purple hydrangeas.
There are a LOT of purple hydrangeas around the Yarmouth area, but the first time I saw one, I nearly drove off the road. I did pull over, get turned around, and go park safely out of traffic before I went and sighed and slobbered and waxed excited over this plant. Plants, actually, because there were several of them.
It was late October or early November, and here were these four or five shrubs edging a lawn, all covered in deep wine-purple flowers. Granted, they were drying on the shrub, and were darker than they would be in summer. But I knew I'd have to go back and see them in summer. Now, it's one of the highlights of a mid-summer visit; to see how many of these richly coloured blooms I can find.
We're all used to the regular mophead colours. Shades of pink, in soil that tends to the alkaline side of the pH scale (7-14)...
And blue flowers on those growing in more acid soil. (pH less than 7). Now, as far as I know, and from what literature tells me, some mopheads are the only plants that do change colour according to pH. They don't all do it, and if you have a white one, nothing you do is going to change its colour. But if you have one of the pH sensitive types, you can change from pink to blue or blue to pink. Or....
...If your soil pH is just right--not too acid, not too alkaline--and you have one of the deeper blue or deeper pink-flowered mopheads, you can get these extraordinary purple hydrangeas. Paler blue or pink results in more lavender shades, but the rich blue or pink will turn these amazing shades.
Sadly, *I* have no purple hydrangeas, though I have quite a few different species and cultivars of this wonderful shrub in my garden. There are three different lacecaps, three different paniculatas, two Annabelle-types, and one climber, and only one mophead, 'Endless Summer' original. Most mopheads are just a bit too tender for my garden, or if they do survive, their flower buds are killed off. Two of the Lacecaps I have, Blue Billows and Blue Bird, are pale blue to pink and do show a bit of pale lavender in some blooms. The third, probably 'Tokyo Delight' is white with pinkish fertile florets. No purple there.
The funny thing is, it's normally BLUE flowers that send me into squeals of delight, as I have plenty of purple flowered plants around the garden. But there's just something about these that is just so rich, unusual and alluring.
I shall have to resist the urge to come back in the autumn and become a hydrangea-ninja, slipping stealthily through darkened gardens to snip off a few dried blossoms. Nope, I would never do that. I'll just keep sighing over purple hydrangeas...
...and enjoying them as my desktop wallpaper.
Perhaps in early Spring someone would let the hydrangea-ninja have a few clippings when they trim them back. They seem to root quite readily from cuttings - that's where I got many of mine from. I have also been drawn to the dark purple ones this year, which I don't have yet.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are FANTASTIC!! After the April Fools incident I'm a little suspicious of fabulously coloured plants here though ;).
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I prefer the lacecaps overall but the mopheads definitely have their place. It doesn't take much of a cutting to get rooted...they may never know. ;)
ReplyDeleteJust kidding I don't think I could do it either. Although knowing how generous other gardeners are I bet they would be willing to share if you asked.
Oh, that second picture had me drooling and anticipating you dropping the name.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics, Jodi.
Those are some awesome purple hydrangeas. Mine are usually blue or pink but it would be nice to try for the 'wine' colored ones. So lovely! P.S. Instead of taking dried blossoms snip a few cuttings to propagate for your garden-that would you might have some purple ones too:)
ReplyDeleteThe third image looks like a fine glass of Pinot. I have never seen one that hue! It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteWhat pretty purples! The deep wine color they turned is beautiful, I've never seen one go that color. Most of ours are blue around here. Hydrangeas are one of my very favorite flowers, I love how long they last.
ReplyDeleteJodi, I love these as well. We have lots of mophead Hydrangeas where I live and they come in a mix of pink/purple/blue often all on the same bush. I am not sure if it is caused by the builders adding or taking the soil away from the site or our soil is naturally mixed. In the area as a whole the soil is alkaline.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes Sylvia (England)
Oh, how absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThe PeeGee hydrangeas do well here, but my two mopheads - Endless Summer - have not had any blooms since I planted them 3 years ago, just foliage.
Lene
The purple hydrangea are really lovely. I haven't been to Yarmouth in years- maybe I'll think of a trip there when I visit home in the fall.
ReplyDeleteHi Jodi, I can imagine how you felt when you first saw them. My area of northern Illinois sits on a limestone shelf so I will never see anything like them in this area. In fact, I had no idea that hydrangea could get that dark. You have me thinking about tinkering with ph balances. Usually I don't get good results trying to change the ph but it might be worth trying.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Jodi, your hydrangeas are truly purple and very pretty. Deep, vivid color! I'm always amazed by these clusters...so huge and pretty with a fantastic combination of colors. Great pics!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize there was a purple hydrangea. I would love to see one. Unfortunately it would probably end up being a sickly pink or multi color in my garden.
ReplyDeleteI love that deep purple Hydrangea! Fabulous! I hope you enjoyed your break!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful post, jodi. I adore hydrangeas and you have featured some beauties!
ReplyDeleteOh so cruel; hydrangeas were my eternal torment as a lad. Now I can't abide the things. Every time I see one my backside feels the leather belt, and my hands itch from the blood blisters caused by the punishment digging.
ReplyDeleteHow was I supposed to know that shrubs and footballs weren't meant to be together?
Oh how beautiful Jodi. I love it that color. I wonder if it will be pink next summer LOL!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, Jodi. I've never seen purple hydrangeas either, and you can't sling a cat without hitting a hydrangea around here. All blue or pink or white - never purple. I might'a gone off the road, too. The merlot colored dried ones - oh, my! You are SO good about not snipping one (or more) off ...! Exquisite!
ReplyDeleteThe third photo...awesome color Jodi!! It does look like a Merlot. The other photos are beautiful as well...Great post!
ReplyDeleteSo, where is the nearest garden nursery around Yarmouth...and next question would be, do they have an online catalog? Still, that deep merlot might be an old variety; the advice above is all so helpful for starting a new shrub.
Regarding Endless Summer which Salix mentions above and has not bloomed for her..I have two..in two entirely different conditions..one blooms it's beautiful head off..the other never a bloom off it! The bloomer is right in my vegetable garden behind a small fence, protected from the winter somewhat..the soil is richer as well. Maybe a new location is worth a try...
@Rebecca...I'm shocked. You think *I* would play a trick about plants? Only on April Fools Day.
ReplyDeleteWish I could tell you which varieties they are, but they're at different locations. There are a LOT of them around Yarmouth and up the French shore.
@Lona, the one set of hydrangeas, I've been looking at them for five years now and they are always purple. I don't know if the gardener adds something to the soil or if it's because of the soil plus the nearness to the ocean...I might try to find out the varieties.
@Gardening Bren, your best choice for a garden centre near Yarmouth is Ouestville Perennials in West Pubnico. Earlier in the season I would say Red and White in Dayton (a local grocery store with a great garden centre, with people who know plants and everything) but they are pretty much done with shrubs and are down to some perennials plus fall asters and mums now. Maybe next spring.
I was very annoyed with Endless Summer for two years but now it's settled in really well. The secret is lots of moisture...and threatening to dig it out with a shovel. Well, I don't know, but I threw some mushroom compost and seaweed and bone meal to mine back in the spring, and that seemed to impress it.
Jodi - I just about fell off my chair when I saw those deep purple Hydrangeas; I have never seen such a saturated intense color (around here in Illinois the white ones are a 'dime a dozen', not there is anything wrong with that?!!).
ReplyDeleteI'm one of your quiet followers - just swing by and enjoy your posts, but you hooked me on this one! Just had to say 'thanks for sharing'!
Wow, those hydrangeas are gorgeous. I've never been successful with growing them. Question for you, is it best to plant hydrangeas in full sun, partial shade, or shade?
ReplyDeleteGorgeous and boy would they look good in my garden! Any garden really~thank you for sharing....no way will they tolerate the 100 plus temps we are now having! gail
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful! I've have a spot in my garden for a Hydrangea and can't decide which variety to plant. I think you convinced me to plant a purple one!
ReplyDeletemeemsnyc, I'm guessing at your climate, but think probably sun with partial shade, particularly in afternoon to protect from hottest part of day, and rich, moist soil would do the trick. Hydrangeas like a lot of water and will wilt in heat, but they also don't want to stand in soggy soil. I haven't had to water any but one of mine this year, which is in a dry spot; the rest have done fine. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos Jodi! Gorgeous colors. I should love a row of those somewhere in the garden. I do love the fall colors too. I will have to research Yarmouth. I must get up that way someday. Lovely post!
ReplyDeleteJodi, when I was growing up, our next-door neighbor, an elderly lady, had a row of the normal (for our soil and climate) deep blue hydrangeas against her house... and a row of spectacular purple ones. This was how I first learned about ph, too. It seems that when her husband built the driveway extension for their boat, he spilled some concrete powder nearby this planting, and the lime leached into the soil.
ReplyDeleteYou've brought back a happy memory today. Mona was so generous with her blooms and would give me armfuls for bouquets. We always dried a few, too, to enjoy in the fall. :)
Everything seems to change color in my odd soil. But, I seriously think I'd stop gardening altogether if I could accomplish the impossible -- blue hydrangeas in every nook and cranny. Lovely pics, Jodi. I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to get over here to pay you a visit. This summer has been too darn busy... Love the pretty new look of your blog, too. :D
ReplyDeleteThese are gorgeous, Jodi! Thanks for explaining the mystery, though. I try each year to get my Endless Summers to turn blue, but the pH here is just too high. I've managed to get some lavender blooms with adding some acid food, but nothing as deep purple as these!
ReplyDeleteGlorious colors. I only have blue. If they were all the same it would be less interesting.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! The purple blooms are AMAZING!! My hydrangeas are evil water dominitrixes. They torture me with pale floppy flowers and descicated foliage unless I water them constantly.... My water company loves me!!
ReplyDeleteWhat beauties! It sounds like you had a fun time.
ReplyDelete