Hydrangea paniculata Dolly
It is difficult to find a person who would not admire panicle hydrangeas. These plants have amazing appearance, and sometimes, on top of that, they exude a delicate aroma. If you are a fan or a fan of this type of noble culture, you should settle the Dolly variety on your site. He will never disappoint you!
Description
Dolly is one of the novelties of modern breeding. According to the Plant Trails Bulletin, this variety is currently on the list of the leading varieties of panicle hydrangea. The plant is a compact and at the same time spreading deciduous shrub, reaching a height of no more than 1.5 meters. It has many straight shoots, "dressed" in dense leathery dark green foliage. The diameter of the dense spherical crown is about 120 cm.From June to mid-autumn, the bush is decorated with large cone-shaped inflorescences from 30 to 40 cm long.They consist of yellowish-greenish flowers that gradually become creamy, then white and, finally, closer to October, acquire a pink-red hue. Snow-white panicles end with a golden-green top. Inflorescences are formed on the shoots of the current year, and not on last year's stems. Their scent is subtle, sweetish and very pleasant. Dolly blooms in the year of planting.
Features of the variety:
- high winter hardiness (loyal to frosts down to -35 ° C, and therefore does not need shelter);
- average resistance to disease;
- pronounced ability to give water to nearby perennials;
- the strength of the shoots, so that the bush does not fall apart during flowering, and the stems themselves do not bend under the weight of the inflorescences.
Growing and care
The flower should be placed in a slightly shaded area to ensure that the crop is exposed to diffused sunlight. The midday sun and cold gusty winds are detrimental to hydrangeas, especially to young specimens.
It is advisable to plant Dolly in fertile soil with an acid reaction. Lime-rich soil is not suitable for cultivating the variety. The optimal composition of the soil mixture: 2 parts of leafy soil, 2 parts of humus, 1 part of peat and sand. Planting is carried out in the spring. A drainage layer is laid at the bottom of the hole up to 30 cm deep. Then, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and urea are introduced into the planting pit. They are mixed with the soil, watered with water and the plant is planted without deepening the root collar. After that, the seedling is watered again and the soil around it is mulched with pine bark.
Moistening the soil under the hydrangea should be regular. It is carried out weekly. One Dolly bush consumes 15-20 liters of water. Periodically, it is required to loosen the ground in the area of the trunk circle. Since we are dealing with a moisture-loving plant, it cannot be planted next to large shrubs and trees.
During the entire growing season, the crop must be fed. In the spring, complete fertilization is applied under the flower. When buds begin to appear on the plant, it is fed with phosphorus-potassium concentrates. During flowering, this event is repeated twice more. The frequency of fertilizing: 2 times a month.
Hydrangea needs pruning, otherwise it will thicken and, as a result, lose its decorative appearance. Spring pruning is shown by Dolly at the beginning of the sap flow period. It provides for the shortening of healthy shoots, the removal of dead and diseased stems. In autumn, too thin branches and faded inflorescences are removed from the plant.
To prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests, the plant is treated twice a season with any fungicide and insecticide.
Use cases
Dolly is planted in groups with other decorative flowering perennials, including other varieties of hydrangeas. Such compositions look great against the background of the lawn. In the garden, flower garden, front garden, conifers, bright peonies of contrasting shades, as well as mock-orange and lilacs, passing the baton of flowering to our heroine at the beginning of summer, will make a good company to the shrub. Dolly's conical inflorescences are suitable for cutting. They will fill your home with a wonderful aroma and will delight the eye for a long time!
