Shrubs

Hydrangea serrata is also known as ' Mountain Hydrangea " and slightly less common than more well known hydrangea species . But that does n’t make their blooms any less beautiful ! In this article , gardening expert and hydrangea enthusiast Jill Drago walk through everything you need to know about hydrangea serrata , including planting , care , criminal maintenance , and more !

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hydrangea serrata

hydrangea are one of themost popular anthesis shrubson the market . They are easy to manage for , and there are varieties that will grow in most climates . All of this with the beauty of their flowers and growth habit take a leak it easy to see why gardeners bang these blossom beauty .

It is quite potential thatHydrangea macrophyllais themost pop specie of hydrangea , but another coinage that ’s every bit beautiful is the mountain hydrangea orHydrangea serrata . This species used to be a subspecies ofHydrangea macrophylla , but now is in a stratum of its own . It may not be as pop , but I am hoping to change your mind about that .

Hydrangea serratais diminished and will only grow toabout 2 - 4 feet tall . If you are looking for a smaller shrub , this may be the sodding plant for your garden . rent ’s get to hump this plant a trivial bit better !

Close up of single blooming flower head among green foliage. The flower head has small white flowers in the center surrounded by several flowers with rounded blue petals forming a circle. The leaves are wide and oval shaped with serrated edges. The edge of another blue flower peeks out on the right.

Hydrangea Serrata Plant Overview

What is a Mountain Hydrangea?

Not too long ago , Hydrangea serratawasHydrangea macrophyllasubsp . serrata . Some still consider it to be a subspecies . The main difference between the two are the sizing and the hardiness .

Hydrangea serrataisnative to the pile of Korea and Japan , pass water it an splendid woodland plant or even a good option for a shaded careen garden . The passel hydrangea is stout in USDA zones 6 - 9 . This mintage grow best in mottled shade and rich , well - draining land .

Their flowers are lacecap for the most part , but there are some mophead miscellanea as well . These flowers will range in color from pink , blue , or white for the most part . There has been some grounds that shows thatHydrangea serratawill respond to soil pH just likeHydrangea macrophylla .

Close-up of a blooming flowers against a background of green foliage. The flowers appear as flattened, lace-cap shaped blooms, with scattered showy light blue, almost white, four-petaled flowers forming an outer marginal ring around tiny blue flowers. The leaves are dark green, oval with pointed ends and serrated edges.

Why Plant Mountain Hydrangea?

Even thoughHydrangea serratastarted out as a subspecies ofHydrangea macrophylla , it has evolve into something different . you’re able to expect the same maturation habit between the two shrub .

However , this species has more sylphlike stems and small-scale yet oblong leaves than bigleaf hydrangeas . The flowers can belacecap or mophead , but are preponderantly lacecap .

These slight differences present us with a more ticklish hydrangea that is a bit softer in appearance . It can still be a showstopper and plant as a specimen , but it can also provide softness to a rigid understructure or be plant in your timber gardens with grace .

Close-up of gorgeous plum purple lacey flowers and dark green oval leaves. Blossoms consist of inner small petal-less purple flowers and four-petal showy flowers arranged in a circle.

Propagating

If you are looking to spread yourHydrangea serrataat home , you are in chance . This metal money is easy to propagate and have a high success rate . The easiest style to propagateHydrangea serratais by usingsoftwood cuttings . Softwood is nice fresh green growth , and not the arboreous , elderly stem you may see .

Start by taking a thinning that is about 6 in long that has a few set of leaves on it . Remove the bottom exercise set of leafage from the slip to display nodes , which are growth points . At this head , you could dip the press clipping into rooting internal secretion if you bid , but this is not always necessary so do n’t worry if you do n’t have any on hand .

Once you have your cutting prepared , stick it right into somesterile planting medium . Keep your cutting in bright but indirect light and keep the grease moist . you’re able to create a nursery effect for your cutting by using a bamboo skewer and a vigor - top suitcase over the carving . Just make certain the old bag does not come in inter-group communication with the plant or you risk burning the plant life tissue paper .

There are six green cuttings of several types of flowers, three blooms of different types (white panicle with cone-shaped flower cluster, purple serrata with lacecap flower head, and macrophylla with large rounded light green flower cluster), dark green oval leaves with serrated edges, and shears with dark wooden handles on the wooden table. The cuttings have a stem and several lightly cut green leaves.

Keep monitor your plant until it is root , which should fall out in about a month . Harden the thinning off by placing it outside for a hebdomad before planting it in the ground .

Planting

Mountain hydrangeas are as well-situated to plant as they are to grow . Find an domain in your garden with dappled morning sunlight and well - draining filth . Be trusted to check your plant tag for what the full size of your works will be . This will help to eliminate any unnecessary pruning , and will make for a felicitous works .

Before you take away your shrub from its nursery sens , give it a quick watering . While the water supply is absorbed , you may commence to grasp your cakehole . seek to labour a holetwice as wide and twice as deep as the pot . Sometimes this can be tough , just ensure there is more than enough room for the plant to stretch its roots . Backfill the cakehole with garden grime and water again .

Do n’t forget your hydrangea once it is in the basis . Check on it regularly , as it will want frequent lachrymation while it becomes established in your garden .

The gardener transplants a young small shrub into the soil in the garden. Close-up of black gloved hands holding a young seedling out of a black plastic square container before planting in the ground. Another seedling in a black square container stands on the ground. The seedlings have bright green oval leaves with serrated edges. The gardener is dressed in blue jeans, a dark green sweatshirt and black rubber boots and is squatting down.

How to Grow

Hydrangea serratahas pretty much the samegrowing requirements as all hydrangeas . You simply need to make certain you touch the unique acquire requirements , includingsunlight , soil , water , temperature , fertiliser , etc . Let ’s take a closer look at each of these imperative factor you ’ll have to consider when growing mountain hydrangea .

Light

Your mountain hydrangeasshould be planted inpartial shadein your garden . Try your best to make certain that verbatim sun pass off in the sunup becauseHydrangea serrataare not quite as broad of gamey temperatures and overexposure to the sun . If you survive in a warmer climate ensure you keep your dirt nice and moist to cancel any heat .

Water

Just like the other species , mountain hydrangea love their water . A goal ofone in of H2O per weekis what you should aim for . This can be achieved by downfall or by manus watering .

Water at the theme of the plant life to keep them safe from any fungal diseases . If you are using a hose and script watering , merely aim your hose toward the undercoat beleaguer the plant life . When you are using an irrigation system , let the cat out of the bag to your irrigation technical school and verify the heads near your hydrangea are not splashing up on the leaves .

All you involve to do is look at the leaves if you are timid of whether or not lacrimation is needed . If theylookdroopyand are channelise toward the primer , it is a adept idea tomake sure they are watered .

Close-up of flowering shrub under dappled sunlight. The dark pink centers of each lacecap flower are surrounded by large showy pale pink rounded five-petaled flowers. Oval dark green leaves with serrated edges.

Soil

Just like the other hydrangea species , Hydrangea serrataprefersrich , well - run out soil . Well - enfeeble soil will retain a skilful amount of moisture but it will not become murky and flood the roots .

Adding some manakin of organic matter to your soil will aid provide the dirt with some incentive food , as well as help the soil retain the right amount of moisture .

This could be in the form ofcompostor someshredded leaves . Add whichever you pick out into your soil during planting meter , and again in the fall or spring when you would typically compost your gardens .

Close-up of a pink lacecap flower head on a green blurred background. Showy pink four-petaled flowers are covered with water droplets surrounding small fluffy pink flowers and tiny light green flower buds.

Climate and Temperature

good deal hydrangeas are hardy in zona 6 - 9 , making this species one of the more intrepid of the group .

Even thoughmountain hydrangeashave small leave thanHydrangeamacrophylla , they are still at peril of losing water through their leafage . While choosing a planting site , try out to find aspot that is protected from air current .

Fertilizer

Hydrangeasdo not often require fertiliser . If you have provided them with a home that has nice fertile soil , they will be able to get what they need from the soil . But even the best of soils can use a little beak - me - up .

If you wish tofertilize your hydrangeas , expend a canonic fertilizer in the outflow . annul fertilizing later in the twelvemonth because it will push emergence that may not outlive the wintertime .

If you are looking to upgrade blooms , select a fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus tally , such as a 10 - 20 - 10 . Phosphorus is needed for big blossoms , and too might nitrogen will cause the works to focalise on leaf product rather than balancing out the flowers and leaf growing .

Close-up of a gardener’s hand in black gloves planting a small young shrub into the soil in a garden. The seedling has bright green rounded leaves with serrated edges. A small black square plastic container lies next to the freshly planted seedling. The soil under the seedling is moist.

Color Changing

Because mount hydrangeas are very close congenator to bigleaf hydrangeas you may have some winner attempting tochange the colour of your blossoms .

To achieve gloomy blooms you want a lower soil pH , assay to aim for 5.5 or lower . To do this you will need to use a merchandise specifically label for blue hydrangeas or you’re able to use aluminum sulfate which you’re able to discover at a garden plaza . These two intersection should be use once in the other spring , and again in the tardy fountain .

On the contrary , if you are looking for pinker flowers you will need to sweeten your filth using garden lime . Garden lime should be applied doubly a year , once in the spring and again in the fall . AnypH from 6.5 and upwill provide perfect conditions forpink flowers .

Blooming shrub in a sunny garden. The shrub has large dark green rounded leaves with serrated edges. Several purple flowers bloom, each consisting of small blue-violet fluffy flowers surrounded by four-petal showy purple flowers.

Before applying anything to your grunge , it is wise to have a soil test done or at least get a pH meter from a garden center so you know you are not tot anything unnecessary to your gardens .

Maintenance

Hydrangeas must rank pretty high on the “ beautifulandlow sustentation ” plant list . Hydrangeaserratais no different . These sweet bush do n’t ask much from you apart from urine .

You maychoose to deadheadif you care to keep your garden looking neater , but this is not a necessary step .

Pruning

Every type of hydrangea comeswith its own pruning requirements . Hydrangeaserratablooms on both previous woodwind and new wood , which is significant to remember when you are planning your pruning . They typically will not grow taller than 4 feet anddo not require much pruning at all .

Because this hydrangea blooms on both quondam and new woodwind , you will need to trim it as if it is only blooming on old wood . hydrangea that bloom on old wood will produce flower bud shortly after the blooming period ends . If you look too long to prune , you will shear off next year ’s blossoms .

To prune your mountain hydrangea , you may want to start bydeadheading . Then you should look for fifth wheel . These stem may be hollow and will wiggle easy . Oftentimes you could pull these out by hand . remove deadwood will increase the airflow throughout your plant .

Close-up of hands in blue rubber gloves holding a paper bag with small white granular fertilizer against the background of a green currant bush.

If you still want to prune them back , just take a quick peep to verify there are n’t any bud forming on the arm . If there are n’t , you are in the clear to do your trimming . Useclean horticulture shearsand make dainty cuts that slant by from the meat of the flora .

Mountain Hydrangea Varieties

There are several pop motley ofHydrangea serratathat all require the same grow condition . you’re able to find a type that flower in blue , violet , or pink . Let ’s take a look at some of the stunning diversity you could find .

H. serrata‘Blue Billow’

‘ low-spirited Billow ’ is an excellent selection if you hold out in a northerly mood andwant a racy bloom diverseness of hydrangea . The light dismal lacecap flowers will set about to flower anytime from early on to mid - summertime which keeps the buds and efflorescence good from any tardy rime . ‘ Blue Billow ’ is a sonorous bloomer , cross the entire plant for many weeks .

The leaf on ‘ Blue surge ’ is narrow and lush fleeceable , sprain to burgundy in the declivity . Although this flock hydrangea is stale hardy , it will perform attractively in warm climates with even more dependable blooms .

H. serrata‘Bluebird’

‘ Bluebird ’ is another mountainlacecap hydrangea . The efflorescence that arise on this variety are idle blue with recondite blue fertile blossom in the shopping center . These flowers can reach up to 8 inches in diam .

This shrub will grow in a mounded bod and is great in repeated garden or foundation plantings . The heyday clock time of ‘ Bluebird ’ will span the intact summer . The leaves are deeply green throughout most of the season and will turn carmine in the drop .

H. serrata‘Diadem’

If you are longing for a slew hydrangea that will bloom a bit earlier than the rest , ‘ Diadem ’ might just be the pick for you . These blossom , although pH raw , come in muted tones of blue   and pale pink which are very pretty .

This eccentric will develop to about 6 in in diameter . A petty smaller of a variety , ‘ Diadem ’ would be great in containers or planted together in a mass .

H. serrata‘Tiny Tuff Stuff’

‘ Tiny Tuff Stuff ’ is arguably the most popularHydrangea serratavariety , and for estimable reason . Everything about this plant is tiny and cute . The leave-taking are dainty , and theoverall size of it is heavyset as well . Even though the flower are small , there is no shortage of them as they cover the entire plant .

‘ Tiny Tuff Stuff ’ will rebloom all season long with efflorescence that are raw to your soil ’s pH.   This hydrangea is extra low maintenance because of its small size , it will expect very little if any pruning at all !

Pests

Hydrangea serrata does not struggle with any pests that are out of the ordinary . You mayrun intoaphidsandbeetles . While hydrangeas are not the top choice for wildlife , you will likely feel them pick on the flower on occasion .

If you would like to seek to forestall these insects , you may spray some insecticidal liquid ecstasy or another preventive spray such as a diluted neem crude oil solution .

you’re able to also manually remove these insects . you may knock Japanese beetles into a bucket of soapy water , and you canspray the aphids offwith your hose .

Close-up of six lacecap flowers blooming on a shrub above lush dark green oval leaves with serrated edges on a sunny day. Purple-blue flowers consist of small green-blue small flowers surrounded by showy four-petaled flowers.

Diseases

When it come to disease , hydrangeas in general are pretty lively . Theydo struggle with fungal diseases , however . This is mainly because of where they are plant . The shade and moist territory can produce a perfect environment for fungal spore to spread out , especially in the heat of the summertime .

The best way toprevent these fungal diseasesfrom get out of control rest in your hand . Removing any leaf litter , and potentially diseased works tissue paper is a necessity . However , planting at the right spacing will allow for adequate airflow and will facilitate to prevent the muggy environs that favour fungus spore .

Plant Uses

Hydrangea serratagrow anywhere from 2 - 4 feet , make it a really majuscule hydrangea species for any garden , but especially for small garden where some of the other varieties will be too overbearing . verify youselect the right hydrangea typefor your garden to ge the most out of them !

As with other species , stack hydrangea make really nicemass plantingsand would make a outstanding short shrub selection forfoundation planting . They also make a great add-on to a tumid perennial garden .

Do n’t forget thecontainers ! Plant yourhydrangea serratain large pots in your shady areas such as a compensate porch or a terrace .

Close-up of a withered flower on a blurred light green background. Dry faded flowers of dark blue in the center surrounded by white four-petaled drooping flowers. The flowers are white, with brown veins.

Frequently Asked Questions

alas , Hydrangea serrataarenot cervid resistant . Flower and leaf bud have been known to be an occasional winter treat for cervid . The good news is that , throughout the growing season deer are much more interested in other plants , such as hostas .

If you have a high cervid population where you live , I would hint using netting or burlap over them in the winter to prevent the buds from being nibbled on . There are also deer spray that will deter them from eating your flora .

Hydrangea serrataare not evergreen plant shrubs . In fact , no hydrangeas are evergreen . Evergreen plants hold on to their leave-taking over the window , where deciduous plants will drop their leaves after a Robert Frost or two .

Close-up of a woman’s hand pruning a withered brown flower head with red shears in a sunny garden. The wilted flowerhead consists of dry drooping four-petal flowers. In the background, there are bright green oval leaves with serrated edges on brown branches.

If you are look for an evergreen shrub with gravid leaves try holly , inkberry , or rhododendron . These shrubs not only are evergreen , but they also require the same bread and butter weather .

Lacecap blossom are a pretty style of hydrangea blossom . They are airy , and as the name res publica , have a lacing - like appearing to them . The flowers are made up of two parts : fertile peak and sterile bloom .

The rich flowers are in the heart of the flush , and look like froth or tightly shut peak buds . They are not showy , but they do summate to the beauty of the overall flower .

Close-up of a flowering shrub. The flowers are in groups of small blue florets in the center and with several larger showy white four-petaled flowers on the outside of each group, forming lacy caps. Flowers consist of rounded petals arranged in two layers with a purple center. The leaves are dark green, oval, serrated at the edges.

The sterile flowers smother the fat flowers , and resemble the flowers of mophead blossom . They are large , and may or may not have a unlike colouring material than the fertile bloom .

Final Thoughts

I in person thinkHydrangea serratais a greatly underused hydrangea species . The lacecap prime are darling , and I get laid the morecompact size . If you have not tried growing a mountain hydrangea yet , give it a try !

Close-up of a blooming flowers surrounded by dark green, oval, pointed-tipped, serrated-edged leaves. For each lacecap flower, there are small blue flowers growing in the center, surrounded by several larger showy pale blue flowers consisting of four rounded petals.

Close-up of a blooming pink flower under the dappled sun in a garden. The flower consists of small fluffy bright pink flowers in the center surrounded by showy pale pink flowers. The flowers consist of four petals slightly whitish in the center.

Close-up of two-toned lacecap flower blooming in the sun. Large light blue, almost white double-blooming flowers consisting of rounded petals arranged in two layers. These showy flowers surround beautiful small deep blue flowers placed in the center. Dark green leaves in the background.

Close-up of a blue lacecap flower and an orange beetle crawling on it against a blurred green background. The beetle has an elongated orange body with thick black stripes. The flower has small blue flowers that are surrounded by showy purple flowers consisting of four petals each.

Close-up of diseased leaves infected with the fungal disease Colletotrichum. The leaves are oval, dark green with serrated edges. Zonal brown-black spots on leaf surfaces.

Close-up of a beautiful pink lacecap flower against a blurred green leafy background. The dark pink center of the domed flower are surrounded by large showy pale pink flowers with four rounded petals each. The flowers are small in the center without petals.