I live in Leaside, and plan on adding bobo hydrangea to my garden. I have provided a nursery with a list of perennials I plan on incorporating. I was advised that the hydrangea would essentially be a “stick” when I pick up the order which includes about 40 perennials. Should I purchase a hydrangea which does not yet have buds? I realize hydrangeas do not flower until mid spring, but am reluctant to purchase the shrub in the event it never produces flowers. I know the layout oif my gardens (I have won several horicultural awards) but this is my first time with hydrangeas. I am having someone dig the holes and put the plants exactly where I tell him to. My other perennials will be in bloom, and the problem is he will not come back to plant 3 hydrangeas.
Another option is to have him dig the holes, and purchase the hydrangeas once they are blooming. Thank you.
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners about incorporating Bobo Panicle Hydrangea into your garden plan. This particular hydrangea is bred to be very reliable in most respects. It’s a perfect specimen for controlled settings because of its compact, mounded growth pattern and dwarf size. It thrives in both sun and partial shade, with a maximum height of 30 to 36 inches and a spread of 36 to 48 inches. White blooms appear on new growth throughout the summer and turn pink in the autumn season. A very easy plant to grow in the garden or in a container.
Since hydrangea grow on new wood, pruning the shrubs down to about 6 to 8 inches tall in the late fall or early spring is required. Although the “stick” appearance may be unsettling, hydrangea are hardy and leap into full leaf quite quickly. As far as the three Bobo specimens you are ordering, if they are from the same grower and their identification labels correspond, then their blooms should be similar.
If your landscaper is digging holes and providing loamy soil for these shrubs, then planting them in their “stick” form should not be a problem. When they bloom, if there is any discrepancy between plants, it would be easy to pop one out and exchange it with your grower. Give them a chance to show how pleasing this particular hybrid is: large blooms down to the base, strong stems with no flopping and very tolerant of pH levels, climate and pruning.
Below are previous questions that Toronto Master Gardeners have answered about Bobo Hydrangea:
Hydrangea require deep watering when planted, and keep them moist but not soggy during the season. If you have an irrigation system in your garden, then moderate the watering to suit your new plants. Below is a Toronto Master Gardening Guide with information on hydrangeas.
TMG Gardening Guide to Hydrangea
Your new garden plan sounds exciting and good luck with the Bobos!