"Endless Summer" doesn't bloom, zone 5
ridgetop01 (zone 5b)
8 years ago
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October_Gardens
8 years agomaryjozone5
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Attention zone 5ers. Endless summer hyd.
Comments (5)Joy, I planted my ES about 3 years ago. They were in 2 gallon pots when I bought them. I am in Zone 5 too and they seem to die back a bit every winter. Anyway, 2 years ago, they grew a bit and bloomed well. Last year, the plants exploded and grew like crazy! However, there were very few blooms (probably all got damaged by the late frost). This year, we had late frost and late snowstorm again. They killed off many tender leaves, but miraculously, the flower buds did well and now the plants are full of buds! In answer to your question, they did get big! The tallest one is about 4-5 foot tall now! So, they do get big, even in our climate. I guess you do need to be more patient... I did not apply much fertilizer except for Holly Tone last year. However, during the first couple of years, I really wanted to develop a strong root system so I watered them deeply almost every day. It did seem to help. Good luck!...See MoreHomigo better than Endless Summer for zone 5b!?
Comments (2)Hi Ostrich - I thought I was gonna kick my self for passing up on Homigo a couple of years ago & got F&E instead ... George chimes in and I'm back to my decision to quit while I'm ahead ... OK to call me a chicken!!! LOL I'll just be content with the challenges of these temperamental 7 that I have ... old Nikko is the queen of these pretentious Divas!!! Even my 8 serratas are more dependable (except LOD - no show) ... 'don't mind coddling them in Winter, they deserve it ... it was a record-killing Winter this past one & an awful Spring to boot, but the blossoms they produced are even more than last season's ... even MV has several! I'll perhaps stick with H paniculatas, so carefree in my zone & love the beautiful airy blossoms, the Monarchs & Swallowtails adore! So sorry ... I'm just venting, I usually don't shy away from challenges, but disappointments weakened my spirit. BB is the only commendable one of the ES improvements in my piece of soil ... floriferous & white! Pia ... of course, is a different story!!! Â;) D...See MoreI can't get my endless summer hydrengeas to bloom.
Comments (41)"not enough hours" I understand. It is tiring. My back is killing me today for working on the yard. Trying to weed and pull a trumpet vine whose roots refuse to die and have reached all the way to the Planet Jupiter. 25 years trying to kill it!!! Oh, my back, ouch! I need a warm pool with an automatic wine dispenser!!! Hee, hee, hee....See MoreEndless Summer or Nantucket Blue in Zone 5 (VT)?
Comments (5)The concern in zone 5 is normally that of getting reliable bloomage. From the sound of your experience with the other mophead, there is a chance that the rebloomers ES and NB may perform as those rebloomers are intended to do. I doubt the shrubs may get 10' in places where winter kill dries out all the stems but, if the stems were not to die and the plant gets more than 6', you could do rejuvenation pruning and cut down 1/3 of the stems in three consecutive years. One concern is that some people in zones 4-5 have had issues with ES not blooming during their whole growing season. The landscaper's phrase 'will not survive winter' actually refers to the fact that in some cold zones like yours, the stems above the ground may dry out and die during winter (unless you winter protect). The roots should stay alive. The dead stems contain invisible flower buds developed on the prior August-September and the buds should usually open in the early Spring. But Winter in your zone will usually kill these stems & buds (unless you winter protect them). On the other hand, since ES and NB are considered rebloomers. They should still develop new growth (stems) from the base in Spring. And when the new stems get tall/old enough, the stems should develop flower buds and these flower buds should open... in mid to late summer. Other hydrangeas that bloom reliably and are not affected by winter kill in Z5 are the hydrangea paniculatas (white blooms that turn shades of pink) and the Annabelle-like hydrangeas. No blues or purples with those though. If you want to try ES & NB, try "baby steps" first to see what happens. I would then buy a Nantucket Blue and observe how it performs. Fertilize once in Spring and do not prune it after the month of June. The next year, buy more NB if all goes well......See Moremaryjozone5
8 years agoOctober_Gardens
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoguyground
8 years agocharles kidder
8 years agoSteppskie (5a/b IN)
8 years agoLalala (zone 6b)
8 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
8 years agoLalala (zone 6b)
8 years agoridgetop01 (zone 5b)
8 years agoUser
8 years agonecolde5b ohio
8 years agoOctober_Gardens
8 years agomaryjozone5
8 years agoscott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI
8 years agoOctober_Gardens
8 years agocharles kidder
8 years agomaryjozone5
8 years agoscott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI
8 years agoOctober_Gardens
8 years ago
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scott_madison Zone 5a- Madison, WI