Which lacecap would look good next to Annabelle?

16 years ago

I have had it with my Forever & Ever Red hydrangeas. They were planted last summer, but it has taken them "forever and ever" to leaf out and they are still TINY. Not even the size of last year! They are in a perfect, PRIME spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade and lots of moisture. Still, not a vigorous grower by any measure!

Anyway, they are next to my lovely Annabelle. I would like to rip them out, and then plant a lacecap next to it. I saw the gorgeous photo of Blue Billow next to Annabelle on this site recently (sorry, I forgot who posted it...!). However, ideally this lacecap would be bigger than 3' X 3' which Blue Billow is supposed to be. Also, I would like something with winter hardiness for zone 5/6.

So, here are my choices:

1. Blue Billow

2. Tokyo Delight

3. ???

I would love your opinion and advice please! Thank you!

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Comments (10)

ostrich
Original Author
16 years ago
Here's a photo that might help you decide:

In fact, how about just putting another Annabelle there to form a hedge around the deck? But then I so want to have more varieties of hydrangeas in my yard... and I would like something tall enough so you can take a peek of the blooms through the railings... decisions, decisions...
yellowgirl
16 years ago
I really think that your last idea was the best...keep the Annabelles going. You are, after all, in zone 5 (like I needed to tell you) so IMHO you should play to your strengths. Some plants just look better in masses and I think Annabelle is one of them. In my dreams I would have a row of Annabelles like that!!! Zero headaches and a stunning presentation..what more could one ask for? Also, I would pot up the F & E s and put them on the deck above...I think that would be just beautiful for what it's worth.....yg
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ego45
16 years ago
Thinking out loud.
The width of your border/bed is about 3-3.5' which will not allow for the two-rows or even staggered planting of two types of hydrangeas.
So, planting in-line (as you did) is seems to be the only option.
However, I wouldn't consider Annabelle + lacecup (any of them) combo in such setting since all lacecups have a short period of super-beauty, then aging period and than interesting period again thereafter. [I would strongly oppose to choice of TD especially since it will blend/lost with Annabelle no matter what].
I'd either,
a) continue the whole hedge with Annabelle,
or
b) replace two left plant with Annabelle AND instead of the third one plant any of the upright paniculta in TREE form (Kuyshu, Tardiva or QF could easily fit the bill, I think)

On a separate note, ground space between hydrangeas could be used to plant Group 3 clematis(es) and railing will serve as a nice support. In this case pruning requirements of all above mentioned plants will be met.
ostrich
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you so much, yg and George! (you know, I re-read some of my older threads and then realized that you're George!)

As much as I hate NOT to have a lacecap, I actually know that what you're suggesting is the best for my spot there.

Now, I probably will just add one more Annabelle there, as it's really not that wide a space.

George, I am very intrigued by your idea of planting a tree form Paniculata there. You know, I just bought a Snow Mountain Hydrangea, and I was wondering where to put it! (yup, one of those Ostrich impulsive buys again!!! Sigh...). Maybe I can just put it in between the two Annabelles?

But then, George, would that not be odd to have a break between the Annabelles, and then have a tree in between? Also, the height of the tree now is about 6', with just over 3' of trunk height. Now, if I put the tree there, the tree trunk will be right at the level of the floor of the deck, with the top of the tree just above the level of the railing. Would that look odd to have such a short tree against the deck?

Thank you so much for your great suggestions!
ego45
16 years ago
'I just bought a Snow Mountain Hydrangea....'
If I remember correctly, it claimed to be an 'improved' version of Kuyshu.
First, I don't know what to improve in it and second, after seeing rows of SM and K side-by-side in a local nursery I didn't noticed even a minute difference between them. Maybe I need a second set of glasses :-)

'Maybe I can just put it in between the two Annabelles? '

That is exactly what I was saying.
Annabelle is a stoloniferous plant and eventualy will fill the most of the gaps on either side of the trunk. [especially if you'll help by planting next year's spring cuttings in those gaps]
SM main trunk will grow taller over the time, but not too much to expect it to be higher than a railing's top, but I don't see that as a problem considering overall upright nature of SM/K.
Just put it there 'as is in a pot' and you'll have an idea.
As an alternative plan, you may want to make bed slightly wider at the point of the deck's corner and plant your tree further out of the deck.
Play with it. You have a right settings, just try to visualise everything in a more or less mature conditions and make a proper spacing.
Best of all, everything is prunable. :-)
I'd like to see it when it's done.
Good luck,
George
ostrich
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, George!

You know, George, they claim that Snow Mountain is "improved" because of "denser and bigger" blooms... we'll see!

George, if I put the Annabelles with the SM tree in between, when the Annabelles fill in the gap, would it look like the paniculata is like appearing from the Annabelles, since the main trunk is only about 3.5 feet tall?

I will play around with it and I was also thinking of widening the flower bed there also just to accommodate the SM tree.

So, I am going to the nursery tomorrow to get myself another Annabelle, and then dig up the F&E when the weather is cooler! Then put in the SM tree, and voila!!! :-)

Thank you so much for your invaluable suggestions! Have a great week.
ostrich
Original Author
16 years ago
Just an update for you, George and YG - I just went to my favorite nursery and bought a lovely Annabelle, so this weekend I am going to rip out those pathetic little Forever & Ever Red hydrangeas! I am so tired of these things as they just don't grow vigorously at all! Sigh... maybe they will do better in containers? We'll see... anyway, I cannot wait to form this Annabelle hedge!

BTW, George and YG, if I plant the Snow Mountain Hydrangea tree between the two Annabelles, it will be in a location where it gets mostly morning sun. So it's really not full-sun. Will it be no sufficient sun for this hydrangea tree? What do you think?
ego45
16 years ago
Except a Tardiva and a Little Lamb all my paniculata grown in a different degree of part-sun-part-shade and doing good.
Kuyshu-tree become in a full sun location this year and has to be moved next spring. Too much sun will fade her delicate flowers from white to off-white fairly fast and that is not effect I'd like to see beside the point that I don't want it to bloom in mid-July.

I think that in your case, as soon as it pass the deck's floor it will have more sun than you think. You'll be surprised to see how much light open shade could provide.
ostrich
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, George! I appreciate the very helpful information. I think it will look great next to the deck. I will play around with the location this weekend and see where it should go.

Have a wonderful weekend!
lsimms
16 years ago
I just posted a message (and a pic) about Blue Billow and Annabelle, but I really think Blue Wave is a great choice. I drive around and see that brilliant blue in August. Totally jealous. Two of them would be perfect there. IF they get morning sun. If it's really shady, I'd go with Blue Billow. I think nothing can stop them from blooming.

Good Luck!

Which lacecap would look good next to Annabelle?

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Which lacecap would look good next to Annabelle?

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