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Why haven't my 'Really Red' Hydrangeas bloomed in years?

14 years ago

Eight years ago, I bought 2 mophead Hydrangeas labeled "Really Red". They were in bloom when I planted them on the north side of my house (full shade for all but 2 hours of the early morning and late evening). The following year they bloomed ok. The third year, they each got only one or two blooms. They have never bloomed since.

I have tried every trick I can think of... fertilizing, then not fertilizing. Cutting back only a little, then cutting back all the way. Acidifier (Hollytone), then no acidifier.

Two years ago, I moved them out into a different garden, where they get full sun for all but the first 2 hours of the day. Results: the same. They always look very healthy, full and green... but no flowers.

Does anyone know anything at all about this particular hybrid named "Really Red", and what am I doing wrong?

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Comment (1)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
14 years ago
The primary reasons bigleaf hydrangeas fail to bloom is improper pruning or flowerbud cold damage. I am not familiar with 'Really Red' and can't find it listed anywhere as a registered cultivar, but I'd assume it is one of the many macs that bloom on old growth. This makes it very vulnerable to cold damage in your zone that would destroy any flower buds, if not provided proper winter protection.

Pruning back most macs anytime much after midJuly also does not allow enough time for the current season's growth to ripen sufficiently to set flower buds for the next blooming season - you are essentially cutting off the flowers :-) My recommendation is not to prune Hydrangea macrophylla at all other than to remove obviously dead wood. Site them initially where they have enough room to grow to size. If you must control size by pruning, remove a third of the oldest growth of the plant each season at the base. This will generate new, vigorous growth yet leave enough mature growth to support some flowering.

But in your zone, winter protection of these plants is going to be necessary to ensure flowering, pruned or not.
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