Flowerfull Hydrangea

This is a plant we are really excited about here at Kennedy’s. Besides Roses, which require more care, Hydrangeas bloom the longest of all the shrubs.  And understandably, blue Hydrangeas are the most popular.  But they really do not like to be in the hot afternoon sun.  They wilt and become stressed. On the other hand, the Smooth and Panicled Hydrangeas types thrive in full sun.  So for many the search for the best of the full sun Hydrangeas becomes a priority.  Out on the stage walks FlowerFull Hydrangea.  While no breeder has found a blue hydrangea for the sun, the search has been on for the best white one.  Of the smooth Hydrangeas, Annabelle is an old fashioned favorite and Incrediball is a larger one with huge flowers and a few others that we like for different reasons.  FlowerFull was found and developed by Bailey Nursery in Minnesota and is just being released to the market under their brand called First Editions.  So we know it will take the cold and be very reliable to bloom.  And the word is, FlowerFull has the absolute highest amount of flowers as any other Hydrangea of it’s size.  In addition, FlowerFull will be known for holding the flowers upright in high winds and after it rains. Floppiness is the most common complaint with Smooth Hydrangeas.  At Kennedy’s, we expect FlowerFull to soon become the most popular Hydrangea for full sun conditions. 

Care: Plant in full sun or light shade, but not full shade. Prune Smooth Hydrangeas as far back as you want in the spring.  Often gardeners prune them in half either late fall or early spring before they start to grow new leaves.  Water as needed.  That’s about it.  You can deadhead any dried out flowers for appearance reasons, but it is not needed.  You can also cut healthy flowers and use for flower arrangements indoors.

photo credit first editions

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