At the church where I am in charge of the flower gardens once again this year there are 10 Endless Summer hydrangeas that bloom in various shades of pink. There are three shrubs in the lower level shadier garden and I decided to try to turn them blue this year. I made sure I got the right stuff (purchased Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier in a blue bag) but I didn't apply it until early May. The instructions are to re-apply in 60 days or until desired shade is reached. Well, it might be too late for this year, because they are breaking into bloom this week, after a week of highs in the low 90's.
The above photo was taken today. One of the three hydrangeas is trending bluish! There is one blossom that is actually trending purple.
Another established hydrangea which gets more sunshine is loaded with blooms, but nary a blue one yet--even though I treated them with similar amounts of the sulfur acidifier (otherwise known as aluminum sulfate).
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| Endless Summer Hydrangea loaded and ready to bloom big. |
I have also planted (white) diamond frost euphorbia, white Sun (New Guinea) impatiens, white (the new hybrid) Bounce impatiens and blue/white lobelia, with the hope of a complete blue and white theme.
Oh well. Maybe next year I will achieve an all-blue look ... if I remember to apply the sulfur!
But I think that the confused, multi-colored look is looking plenty gorgeous!
I had no idea you could change the color of hydrangeas...I always assumed the blue and white and pink were just different varieties. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteNot all can be changed--like the big fluffy white ones or the limelight hydrangeas, but the Endless Summer is a variety that can be changed.
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