Hydrangea arborescens FlowerFull® – FlowerFull® Smooth Hydrangea

The FlowerFull® Hydrangea is a smooth hydrangea variety that lives up to its name, offering a remarkably abundant and large bloom. This shrub's main benefit is its robust structure: it develops sturdy stems designed to effortlessly support its enormous flowers, even after a heavy summer rain, thus solving the flopping problem of older varieties. It is a reliable and spectacular choice for guaranteed flowers every summer.

Characteristics

• Foliage: The plant develops dense deciduous foliage, composed of large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves that create a rich backdrop for the white flowers.
• Flowering: Starting in early summer, it produces immense, very dense, spherical flower heads. The flowers emerge lime green, open to a pure, bright white, then return to shades of green late in the season. Since it blooms on new wood, its flowering is guaranteed every summer, regardless of winter's severity.
• Light: It thrives in full sun or partial shade, provided it has good soil moisture.
• Habit: It forms a shrub with a bushy, dense, and well-rounded habit.
• Growth: Fast. It reaches a height and spread of about 90 to 150 cm (3-5 feet).
• Moisture: It prefers soil that remains cool and consistently moist.
• Soil: It grows well in most soil types but prefers rich, well-drained soil that retains moisture well.
• Hardiness: Extremely hardy, it faces Zone 3 winters without any problem.
• Resistance: Its main resistance comes from its very strong stems that do not flop under the weight of the large flowers.

Uses

• Types of Use: It is spectacular in mass plantings to create a sea of white flowers. It is also excellent as a specimen, at the back of a border, or to form a low, informal hedge.
• Ornamental Features: Its giant flowers create a powerful visual impact for a long period in the summer. They are magnificent in fresh or dried floral arrangements.

Care

• Watering: Maintain consistently moist soil throughout the growing season, especially in hot weather. A mulch at its base will help conserve moisture.
• Fertilizing: Apply a fertilizer for flowering shrubs or compost in early spring to support its vigorous growth.
• Pruning: Its maintenance is very simple. In early spring, prune the entire shrub back hard, leaving only 15 to 30 cm (6-12 inches) of stems. This pruning encourages the formation of sturdy stems and very large flowers.
• Planting: Plant it in the spring or fall in rich, moist soil.
• Winter Protection: No protection is required for this very hardy shrub that blooms on new wood.