I have a few very large mature specimens of 'All Summer Beauty' that I would like to trade only for something on my want list. These are now just starting to break dormancy and I need to move them soon, so either I will trade them or move them to another spot in my landscape. Tempt me now while the opportunity knocks. ;o) As they are large plants I will not mail them but will meet another trader at a midway point between us. For those not familiar with this variety, it is the only H. macrophylla which blooms on NEW wood. A very reliable bloomer for those of us in the colder zones, possibly even zone 4! Please include the link to your trade list for ease in reference as it is very time consuming (of which mine, like many others I'm sure, is limited) to run a search to find it. Thanks so much! -Lily

Lauren, The only thing I put on them so far was Holly Tone and some coffee grounds along with my homegrown compost. I didn't know what color blooms to expect since this was the first time they bloomed for me. I was worried at first because they started out a real pale yellow/white, like the bloom in the middle. But gradually they became the more intense blue. Some of the blooms are so big, love it. She has some new buds coming, so hopefully they stay blue. Our soil is pretty neutral here, so I might have to adjust later. I did use lots of compost when planting her. Don't remember pruning at all last winter, then this Spring just some of the dead wood. Annabell is peaking in the back there.

Hi Stephen, your description sounds very much like the hydrangea I purchased, (Endless Summer, Hydrangea macrophylia Bailmer). The Endless Summer blooms on both old and new growth and can be encouraged to bloom even more by cutting the blooms. It's hardiness is from zones 4 - 9 and planted in partial shade. However the leaves are not a glossy green, they are more like the regular hydrangeas leaves. I can honestly say that it has bloomed for me since I planted it in the spring. Being that the soil where it is planted is more alkaline I am getting beautifull pink blooms. Next year I am planning on making the soil more acid by adding peat because I would like to have the big, bold, beautifull blue blooms. I'm not too sure if this helps.............Wayne

Hello, Princess. It's good to see you again. Have you been busy? My Endless Summers were winners for me and bloomed from the crown even though I made a point of not mulching them at all going into the winter. I wanted to put them to a real test and they passed. It wasn't a lot of blooms, but any blooms at all was more than I've ever gotten from my Nikkos, All Summer Beautys, and Dooleys. This fall I've cut them back pretty hard, figuring that I was going to be losing the top growth anyhow and mulched the crowns pretty heavily. Next year I would hope that I'll get even more blooms. Do you have any news for us? Glad to see you. Hay.