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Annabelles or Oakleafs better with sun?

18 years ago

I want to have Annabelles or Oakleafs as a border hedge along the front of the house. There is shade until noon then full afternoon sun as there is western exposure.

I think I prefer the Annabelles.

4 plants (blue) have grown nicely and are blooming profusely this year (3 years old) even though the deer munched them badly the first year -- even in the full sun a bit farther from the house. The white will get more shade.

When is it best to buy and plant the Annabelles? Late Aug? Is Sept OK? Wait until Spring?

Does anyone have an excellent source for the Annabelles in the Hudson Valley?

Thanks!

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Comments (3)

happyhoe
18 years ago
Annabelles from a mat of runners so you can just divide them in early spring or dig up any shoot that come up away from the base of the mother plant.
mxk3 z5b_MI
18 years ago
I've planted Annabelle in both spring and late summer, either is fine. Just make certain to keep well watered.

I am going to purchase yet another one, but right now the prices are top dollar - everyone seems to buy hydrangeas when they are in full bloom. Ah, but I know that around the beginning of August they will start marking them down. I got a beautiful, large one two summers ago on clearance in August for about $17!! (regular price was somewhere around $40, if memory serves).

Sidenote: Buy Annabelle from a nursery you trust (read: tags things correctly), or if bargain hunting from lesser-quality plant sources, make sure to buy it in bloom. Plants labelled as Annabelles oftentimes are not really Annabelle. It has happened to me.
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My opinion: YES!! Annabelle is absolutely at the top of the list for colder zones. She's an old standy for a REASON, and that reason is she always puts on a show no matter the winter conditions up here. I also grow Endless Summer and oakleafs. I grow the oakleafs primarily for the foliage effect, the flowers are a nice added bonus. My bushes are finally getting established (3-4 years in the ground this year) so I'm getting more flower heads forming and less dieback. Endless Summer has performed great for me, I'm surprised they aren't performing for you. I always advise folks to keep in mind that it takes a good 3 years in the ground for a bush to show what it can really do, when bushes are fully established is when they are able to really put on the show. Perhaps you're disappointed because they are newer bushes - ? . I refuse to grow hydrangeas (or anything else) I have to coddle to get through the winter. I think the beauty of a winter landscape is ruined by burlap, rose cones, etc. So if a bush/whatever can't perform for me in whatever respect it is supposed to perform without winter protection, I have no use for it. Hence, I grow Annabelle, oakleafs, and Endless Summer, I don't have to bother with them and they do quite well for me. :)
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Laurie, about 'high graft' and 'low graft' you could read in a link below. In a simple words, LG= mounding and weeping form, while HG= upright trunk and pendulous branches. Your designated spot would of sound absolutely perfect to me if you wouldn't mention demise of Annabelle there. I hardly could imagine the magnitude of disaster to happen to kill such undemanding plant as Annabelle, so if drainage is even a slight concern for that spot, any oakleaf less likely will be happy there as they could die in an eyeblink if drainage is not to their liking. As cultivar names go, if 'Snowflake' is available I'd grab it with no hesitance. Here is a link that might be useful: Paghat's garden
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fatlester
Original Author
18 years ago
I went online to find hydrangeas from sources on a couple of websites. They are sold out, they said, and don't ship until fall.

So I was wondering about that since they obviously will not be blooming in the fall.

I'd read it's best to buy those that are blooming. Guess I need to find some at a nursery I trust. I read about one nursery about an hour from my house and may call ahead and see if they have any but I doubt I'll find many left locally.

My concern is getting good healthy plants. I don't need that many and if I buy six, even online, the price comes down to about $19, which seems to be a good price. I've seen them for as much as $27 each online. The 3 gallon size are closer to $40.

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