One in Adelphi, Maryland, one in Wildwood, Florida, one at the US National Arboretum with a grandfatherly interest in many more around the DC area (unless noted, pictures are taken the day of post)
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hydrangea aspera aspera....even the dried flowers look good (China Valley)
I planted this plant in 1991...actually I planted a lot of them and they seem to have by and large survived. Starting on the "mound" in C-5 (a section of China Valley) they wandered down the watercourse to the bottom of the collection. I remember they were in 1 gallon pots and there must have been almost twenty plants total. They seem to be happy, so far as I can judge from dormant plants!
It is an attractive hydrangea; lacecap type inflorescences consisting of a disc of purple/lavender flowers surrounded by almost white sterile florets. Attractive large leaves add a bit of bold texture to the garden. I really do like it and had a 10 year old specimen until last year when I removed it from the Adelphi garden. Growing in sand, it just required too much watering. It was not happy during dry periods in the summer unless I watered it twice a week or more. When I inevitably missed, its ratty miserable appearance reproved me silently for the rest of the season. I couldn't take it any more. I dug the plant and had it sold to a good home.
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