TRIGGER WARNING: Right this moment’s phase will embrace point out of irresistible hydrangeas and will immediate extreme plant-shopping binges in inclined people.
You’ve been warned.
My visitor is Adam Wheeler of Damaged Arrow Nursery, a retail and mail-order vacation spot for distinctive vegetation in Connecticut, the place an extravagant array of surprising hydrangeas representing extra than simply your common species are a part of the portfolio. There are hydrangeas with gold leaves (like H. serrata ‘Mountain Mania,’ above), or variegated ones, and each conceivable flower kind, and even a wider vary of flower colours than you could find out about.
Adam Wheeler joined Damaged Arrow in 2004, the place he’s the manufacturing and horticulture supervisor. A part of Adam’s position is to be looking out for excellent vegetation so as to add to the assortment, and in recent times the genus Hydrangea has included an more and more lengthy record of such prospects. He joined me on the podcast to counsel some favorites to contemplate, and easy methods to prune and in any other case look after them.
Learn alongside as you take heed to the July 27, 2026 version of my public-radio present and podcast utilizing the participant beneath. You possibly can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
distinctive hydrangeas, with adam wheeler
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Margaret Roach: So welcome again, Adam. I haven’t seen you since my backyard open day in Could, while you had been right here with a truck stuffed with goodies for form of a Damaged Arrow pop-up store within the driveway, proper? How are you?
Adam Wheeler: I’m properly, Margaret. How are you? It’s nice to be again chatting with you.
Margaret: Yeah. Properly, they usually’re at all times standard, the hydrangeas, that’s for positive. Wow. And a lot change: The palette simply retains increasing, so I needed to form of flip folks onto that. I attended a video lecturing webinar you probably did the opposite week about them and that was very fascinating to see simply how a lot extravagance there’s within the genus.
So it looks like most each backyard has a hydrangea or two or three. And it form of was that there have been perhaps 5 standard species in horticulture, however now it looks like there’s much more coming into the combination. When did you see this acceleration of prospects? What’s been occurring?
Adam: Yeah, so it’s a massive group of vegetation, and I feel the plant taxonomists on the market have been at arduous work of late wanting carefully on the group and there’s been some work botanically reclassifying some vegetation. So some teams that had been previously labeled as non-hydrangeas have truly not too long ago been lumped into the hydrangea world. In order that’s form of expanded the variety.
After which definitely the plant breeders on the market have been actually wanting and dealing arduous to acknowledge and enhance upon the pure range discovered throughout the group, which has led to all kinds of different enjoyable form of distinctive kinds and cultivars which can be pushing the boundaries of what we take into consideration once we take into consideration the phrase hydrangea. That’s enjoyable. That’s what we’re actually enthusiastic about at Damaged Arrow, is attempting to deliver some of these things to marketplace for the typical gardener in order that they will get a few of these enjoyable new variants of a snug group that we’re all fairly conversant in.
Margaret: Proper. And so although a few of the newer ones could look actually totally different—I feel I discussed the introduction that some might need gold leaves or variegated leaves or totally different flowers or no matter—they nonetheless need the form of normal hydrangea necessities, sure? And what are these?
Adam: Yeah, culturally they’re all fairly comparable for probably the most half so far as the fundamentals, which I feel is reassuring to a variety of gardeners. Hydrangeas are typically comparatively wealthy feeders. They’ve excessive choice for prime nutrient ranges, and thrive in form of evenly moist, well-drained soils. They present a reasonably good tolerance, relying on the species, to variation in solar depth. So some are going to do nice in full-sun circumstances; others are going to be a little bit bit extra tolerant to shaded positions. So yeah, they’re comparatively simple vegetation in terms of the overall cultural necessities.
Margaret: Proper. After which the opposite factor, most likely the commonest query as a backyard author that I’ve been requested all these years is “When do I prune my fill-in-the-blank hydrangea?” [Laughter.] Certain. So I do know folks will ask it within the feedback with the transcript of this present if we don’t point out it briefly right here. So what’s the quick 101 on that? As a result of I feel it’s like there’s form of two attainable development habits of the totally different species that dictate the pruning type, sure?
Adam: Yeah, completely. And to make the most effective determination about pruning your hydrangeas, you should know in case you’re working with one of many kinds that flowers on previous wooden, or one of many kinds that flowers on new wooden.
And once I say flowers on previous wooden, what I’m actually referencing is how did the flower buds develop? The hydrangeas that flower on previous wooden, the flower buds kind on the final 12 months’s development. So this 12 months’s flowers will kind on final 12 months’s development, and that has implications in terms of pruning.
People who flower on new wooden, what we see is that the flower buds for the present season are growing within the present season. So the new-wood varieties of hydrangeas are typically a little bit bit extra versatile in terms of pruning. We are able to count on that pruning work on the new-wood varieties of hydrangea gained’t influence the flowering for that season as considerably as a poor pruning effort on the old-wood varieties.
For the old-wood varieties of hydrangeas, the overall suggestion is to attempt to prune as little as attainable in all honesty; prune with warning. And the pruning work is greatest accomplished early within the rising season. And that approach the vegetation have a possibility to reply, develop flower buds, which pays dividends within the subsequent rising season or the following 12 months, if that is sensible.
Margaret: So the mophead or Hydrangea macrophylla is previous wooden. It carries its buds over, proper? [Above, a newer macrophylla, ‘Bailmacseven.’]
Adam: Classically, the big-leaf hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla, is without doubt one of the ones that historically flowers solely on previous wooden, although there’s some thrilling breeding work that has form of gone towards the grain there.
Margaret: [Laughter.] Sure.
Adam: However historically that’s a species that flowers solely on previous wooden, so one we’d wish to prune with warning, and if we do must prune, we’d wish to achieve this early within the rising season.
Margaret: Whereas paniculata, the panicle hydrangeas, they bloom on new wooden. And in reality, I don’t understand how they handle to shoot up so many ft of latest wooden annually. It’s wonderful. After which produce buds, leaves and buds and the whole lot. I imply, it’s miraculous.
Adam: Completely. The panicle hydrangea and the sleek hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, are the 2 notable species that are likely to flower on the brand new wooden. In order that they’re fairly versatile in terms of pruning.
Margaret: O.Ok. So we acquired that out of the best way a little bit bit, and we’ll most likely contact again on it once we speak about some particular ones.
So these are vegetation, they’ve their complete circle of relatives, the Hydrangeaceae or no matter [laughter]. I used to be smiling that: Deutzia‘s in there, Philadelphus, the mock oranges, are in there, and a perennial that I like, Kirengeshoma, a loopy perennial. A whole lot of them are from Asia, however we’ve a few Native American hydrangeas and I believed we may begin with these: arborescens, the sleek, after which the oakleaf, quercifolia, and the place are they from? And let’s simply speak about them after which what cool stuff’s been occurring in these.
Adam: Yeah. The sleek hydrangea, Hydrangea arborescens, is native to the Jap United States. So all up and down the Jap seaboard. I feel the northern finish of the native vary is in Connecticut, and it goes all the best way right down to Georgia, Alabama, that a part of the nation. These are form of suckering shrubs that get to be perhaps 3 to five ft excessive, and normally they’re wider than they’re tall. The vegetation inhabit a tremendously numerous form of circumstance. I’ve seen them at excessive elevation, up 4,000 or 5,000 ft in elevation alongside the Blue Ridge Parkway, even rising out of rocks in these positions. So I’ve seen them in very dense woodland shaded positions at decrease elevation. However that species, Hydrangea arborescens, might be one of many extra sturdy backyard hydrangeas that we will develop.
Margaret: Proper. And that was the place all of us knew years in the past ‘PeeGee’—excuse me, I’m saying the improper factor. That’s the place we knew simply ‘Annabelle,’ sorry. I used to be considering of the paniculata as a result of there’s these two form of without end hydrangeas in my thoughts. ‘Annabelle,’ however we didn’t know the rest. However now there are issues like ‘Haas Halo,’ which is one that you just confirmed in your current slideshow and you’ve got on the nursery. I imply, it’s simply so totally different. So what are a few of the variations? What’s the look of a few of the new ones?
Adam: So once more, it’s wonderful how numerous the choices are on the market. So even throughout the realm of this species, Hydrangea arborescens, we’ve ‘Haas Halo,’ which has these wonderful 12-inch-diameter lacecap flowers which can be nice for pollinators. It actually has good, sturdy stem construction.
There’s a cultivar that we’re providing known as ‘Hayes Starburst’ [above], which is a double-flowered kind. So it’s like flowers inside flowers inside flowers, a little bit bit extra compact, very elegant-looking plant.
Certainly one of my favorites on the distinctive facet of the spectrum is one known as ‘Inexperienced Dragon,’ which has very closely serrated leaf margins, which provides the foliage texture only a a lot totally different presentation within the panorama. And that excites us as a result of it’s totally different. It’s one thing a lot totally different than what you’d count on from a hydrangea.
Margaret: Yeah, no, very totally different. And also you’ve simply talked about lacecap. And what’s nice is that with the lacecap varieties, with the categories which have extra of these fertile flowers, which aren’t the massive flat ones like ‘Annabelle’ had a lot of, that there’s extra sources accessible for these bugs to make the most of, which is nice. And particularly in a local species like that.
Adam: Completely. Yeah.
Margaret: Yeah. After which what’s occurring with quercifolia, the oakleaf? I bear in mind the primary time I ever noticed that was within the understory in Louisiana 1,000,000 years in the past on an property tour and backyard excursions and museum excursions and so forth. It was the understory, one of many understory shrubs, the native shrub below woodlands. Are you aware what I imply?
Adam: The oakleaf hydrangea, actually superior Southeastern U.S. native, huge shrub afford it perhaps eight or 10 ft tall and wider than tall as properly. And people lovely form of oak-like leaves. I feel fairly truthfully, the oakleaf hydrangea is my private favourite within the group, simply because it has options that carry you thru all the gardening 12 months.
Margaret: Fall coloration. Cool.
Adam: Yeah, enjoyable textured leaves, actually wonderful form of burgundy fall coloration. Flowers come out white after which they age via these form of vintage pink and burgundy tones they usually dry tan on the vegetation. And then you definately’ve acquired cinnamon-stick exfoliating twigs within the wintertime. So actually wonderful species. And like the sleek hydrangea, the oakleaf has a variety of enjoyable range there as properly. Certainly one of my very favorites is ‘Snowflake,’ which has been round for a very long time now, however it’s acquired fantastic double flowers which have a pendulous construction to them, which provides the vegetation a way more swish look within the backyard. I like that lots.
Margaret: That’s blooming for me proper now. I purchased one from you years and years and years in the past, and it’s actually pretty. It’s double, the flowers, however they’re not overblown. Are you aware what I imply? They’re nonetheless swish.
Adam: Completely. And because the flowers mature, they form of shift from white via these vintage tones and I simply adore it. It’s actually a particular plant.
Margaret: And so breeders not being joyful to depart properly sufficient alone—why not?—so now there’s even a gold-leaf one right here, proper?
Adam: Yeah. There’s an oakleaf hydrangea known as ‘Little Honey’ [above], which is a compact one. Whenever you web site it in a full-sun place, it’s a actually vibrant, vibrant, brilliant form of knockout gold coloration, and it turns into a little bit bit extra subdued within the shade. However white flowers contrasting with that gold foliage is a extremely enjoyable combo.
Margaret: And these are hardy. I imply, I’ve had oakleafs in my backyard, which was zone 5, although once more, it’s from the deep South, the deep Southeast, native to there, they’ve by no means missed a beat they usually’ve by no means did not bloom in all of the years I’ve had them for many years. So it’s a extremely hardy plant.
Adam: They’re positively good stable zone 5 vegetation.
Margaret: So then the panicle hydrangeas, the paniculata, there’s so many in recent times. However earlier than we get to the thrilling new ones, I’m so relieved to speak to you right now as a result of I really feel like I’ve been going loopy—in a brand new approach, Adam, not the identical previous approach [laughter]. As a result of I’ve a hydrangea query. One thing I’ve by no means seen occur earlier than, my paniculatas, that are very, very previous, very massive vegetation, largely straight paniculata after which ‘Tardiva,’ a spread from a very long time in the past, lacecap varieties.
They had been pruned on the normal time within the normal approach, nothing unusual. They usually’re simply barely beginning to bud up now and it’s the center of July. And I’m considering, “What are you guys doing? What made you mad at me this 12 months?” First time ever that they haven’t… Are you aware what I imply? It’s like not that they’re not going to occur, it’s that they’re not occurring on schedule. I believed, is it this up and down with the warmth and the drought form of stuff that we’ve been having. these insults of local weather? [Laughter.]
Adam: Yeah. I’ve heard related eventualities occurring on the market. I haven’t seen that occurring personally, however I feel I’ve come to simply accept that there isn’t a regular constant rising season that we’re navigating anymore. It looks like yearly is giving us a special set of curveballs to navigate. Hydrangeas are considered one of these vegetation which can be attempting to determine how to reply to all these curveballs that Mom Nature appears set on throwing our approach yearly.
Margaret: So like I stated, I’ve at all times beloved the lacecap varieties, and so I’ve a variety of huge ‘Tardiva’ and so forth. However what’s occurring with the paniculata varieties when it comes to, I imply, I feel I noticed in your presentation, I feel I noticed a variegated-leaf one.
Adam: Yeah. There’s a variety of enjoyable paniculatas which can be rising available on the market and it’s a fantastic group. It’s one of many extra sturdy cold-hardy species. Once more, it’s one other one which flowers on new development, so we’ve acquired some capability to essentially navigate pruning comfortably with this species. It’s mind-boggling. There’s most likely 50 or 60 cultivars which have emerged available on the market within the final 10 years or so.
Margaret: And a few are small and a few are actually full dimension. Those I’m speaking about, the old-timers can get very, very massive, however some are extra compact additionally.
Adam: Yeah. Certainly one of my very favourite compact ones known as ‘Dharuma,’ which can be one of many first to start blooming for us. So it tops out perhaps at about 6 ft tall after 15 years or so. So a few third the dimensions of what the straight species is able to attending to. A bit of bit smaller flowers, however very nice rounded kind. And it’s an unusual cultivar, however one value searching for. In order that’s ‘Dharuma.’
The variegated one you talked about is a cultivar from Japan known as ‘Yuki Gessho’ [below], which has a really closely mottled and form of marbled white variegation on the leaves, which is simply beautiful, particularly in dense shade. I like variegation within the shade as a result of it form of turns the lights on. It brightens up the shadows, and this ‘Yuki Gessho’ is an efficient grower within the shade. It additionally does properly within the solar. That’s been a extremely enjoyable one for us to have. It tops out someplace in that 8-foot dimension vary if it’s left unpruned.
Margaret: Yeah. So I feel simply within the identify of time, we’ll transfer on to the big-leaf hydrangeas, probably the most form of hydrangea of all hydrangeas, macrophylla. I feel perhaps it was in your lecture you advised me that there have been greater than 300 varieties or one thing like that.
Adam: Yeah, not less than 300 varieties. It’s a rising, prolonged record. It’s actually troublesome to truly keep on prime of the entire new variants. This I feel historically is the hydrangea folks consider once they say the phrase hydrangea, with the flowers that may shift between pink and blue relying on how acidic your soil is.
One of many extra thrilling current developments is the remontant sort big-leaf hydrangeas, that are types of big-leaf hydrangeas that go towards the normal grain and have the power to supply flowers each on the previous wooden, but additionally on the brand new wooden. In order that’s been a extremely thrilling development for a subset of the big-leaf hydrangeas.
We love them and we’ve a broad collection of them. Certainly one of my very favorites is one known as ‘Woman in Pink,’ which has been round for a variety of years now, however it’s a stupendous lacecap flower with pink fall coloration and pink stems and even the veins extending into the leaves tackle a pink coloration.
Margaret: It’s lovely. It’s lovely. Yeah.
Adam: And there’s been some actually enjoyable foliage developments. There’s a complete host of big-leaf hydrangeas which have form of a burgundy forged to the foliage now, which is a enjoyable tackle a plant that historically we solely take into consideration for the flower energy. So having some foliage choices on the market has actually been an thrilling development as properly.
We’ve been providing one known as ‘New Wave,’ which is a closely variegated one, which fairly truthfully, I don’t even care if it flowers. [Laughter.] It exhibits off so vibrantly within the backyard with its blended menagerie of inexperienced and yellow and white variegation that simply catches your eye, whatever the spot you place it. So yeah, a lot of enjoyable big-leaf hydrangeas which can be on the market now.
Margaret: And so I wish to spend the final 5 minutes speaking about a few of the ones that individuals most likely haven’t heard as a lot about. There’s the species serrata, and there’s I feel it’s angustipetala and aspera. These are some that… Yeah. So simply take us a little bit bit via a few of these less-known ones.
Adam: Certain. Yeah. I feel folks must be conscious that there are a bunch of species of hydrangeas that transcend the traditional form of 4 or 5 that you just see in common backyard facilities. Certainly one of my very favorites is the rough-leaf hydrangea, Hydrangea aspera, which a variety of the literature is simply utterly inaccurate relative to how chilly -hardy these vegetation will be. Most literature says they’re zone 7, however we’ve seen them performing definitely in zone 6, if not in components of zone 5. However actually enjoyable textured leaves, daring flower colours, enjoyable construction to the vegetation, even that form of cinnamon stick-like exfoliation on the twigs.
There’s a burgundy foliage cultivar of the rough-leaf hydrangea known as ‘Koki,’ which has been a extremely engaging plant for us within the assortment.
Margaret: I noticed that. Yeah.
Adam: One other fascinating one is Hydrangea angustipetala, which I don’t even assume has a typical identify at this level, however we’re rising a range known as ‘MonLongShou’ [above], which has completely massive, enormous florets. They’re virtually the dimensions of the palm of your hand.
Margaret: So wait, every little floret throughout the head of the flower is the dimensions of the palm of…what?
Adam: In order that head has the sterile florets and the fertile florets. So the sterile florets are virtually the dimensions of the palm of your hand, which is simply magical.
Margaret: Oh my goodness.
Adam: And there’s some yellow coloration in there, too, which is a extremely form of a brand new horizon for hydrangeas. They’re a little bit little bit of yellow pigment within the fertile flowers of the ‘Mon Lengthy Shou’ hydrangea. And that will get us enthusiastic about excited about what the longer term would possibly maintain for breeders that wish to enhance upon qualities of those vegetation. In order that’s one which’s been fairly thrilling for us to mess around with.
And the record goes on and on. I imply, it’s not a brief record of cultivars and species that we’re enjoying round with right here on the nursery attempting to know the complete spectrum of choices which can be on the market.
Margaret: Proper. I imply, then there’s the one serrata, I feel, and I feel that’s a little bit bit hardier-
Adam: Yeah, so Hydrangea serrata may be very carefully allied to the macrophylla. They appear comparable, besides it most likely has a full zone of extra chilly hardiness inside its structure. And that basically has been a gaggle we’ve been actually enthusiastic about. A whole lot of these are lacecap flower shows, and there’s some actually enjoyable foliage colours there.
There’s a stupendous gold-foliage choice known as ‘Mountain Mania’ [photos above and top of page], which my buddy Ed Bowen launched a number of years again. And that’s been a extremely standard one for us this 12 months up to now.
And another enjoyable one, ‘Omaka Variegata,’ it’s one other variegated one with form of a knitted gold—it’s virtually like someone threw a gold web over the inexperienced leaves to present it a novel texture and coloration, coupled with these lace cap flowers. So yeah, the mountain hydrangea I feel is one other group that’s actually value taking a better have a look at, particularly for these which can be gardening a little bit colder than the big-leaf hydrangea historically needs.
Margaret: Yeah. I imply, I don’t understand how you retain up with all of them although. I imply it should be enjoyable; it’s like a treasure hunt to search out issues, however wow, there’s lots occurring.
Adam: It’s. As I stated, it’s a mind-boggling group that basically requires fixed consideration to study concerning the new kinds that appear to hit the market each single 12 months. And to check them towards a few of the classics, a few of the older ones, which can be nonetheless actually unimaginable vegetation.
There’s continuously a rush to get the brand new, new, new, however all of us additionally must keep in mind that a few of the previous ones are actually nonetheless tremendously fantastic vegetation within the backyard. Certainly one of my very favorites is the ‘Bluebird’ hydrangea, which has been round without end. Sure. And also you talked about the ‘Tardiva’ hydrangea, which is a superb plant that’s been round for a very long time. There’s some nice previous gamers that we shouldn’t overlook about as properly.
Margaret: Proper. Properly, Adam Wheeler of Damaged Arrow Nursery, I’m so glad at all times to speak to you and to see you when we’ve our open day/plant sale every spring. And the nursery after all is open and then you definately additionally begin in late summer season, I feel you begin taking orders for fall delivery. You do mail order as properly. So a few of the hydrangeas, I think about, shall be in there.
Adam: Completely.
Margaret: Yeah, in order that’s nice. Properly, thanks for making time. I do know you’ve acquired 1,000,000 vegetation to go propagate and work out and do that, that, and the opposite factor, too, so thanks.
Adam: I recognize you having me on, Margaret. It’s at all times enjoyable chatting vegetation.
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MY WEEKLY public-radio present, rated a “top-5 backyard podcast” by “The Guardian” newspaper within the UK, started its seventeenth 12 months in March 2026. It’s produced at Robin Hood Radio, the smallest NPR station within the nation. Pay attention regionally within the Hudson Valley (NY)-Berkshires (MA)-Litchfield Hills (CT) Mondays at 8:30 AM Jap, rerun at 8:30 Saturdays. Or play the July 27, 2026 present utilizing the participant close to the highest of this transcript. You possibly can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes/Apple Podcasts or Spotify (and browse my archive of podcasts right here).
