Re: Pruning perennials

Hydrangeas are shrubs.  They generally prefer partial shade, but I think
the degree really depends on where in the world you garden -- those in more
northerly climes can give more sun than those in the south or Midwest where
summers are really baking.  All hydrangeas are water hogs and will let you
know if they want a drink by drooping sadly.  H. quercifolia seems to
tolerate dry spells a bit better than some of the other species.

H. quercifolia (one of my favorites) will grow in quite a bit of shade in
my garden.  I only prune out dead wood and the occasional branch that wants
to completely shade out a neighbor.  IMO their open growth pattern is one
of their lovely features.  They also bloom on old wood, so cutting them to
the ground each year would mean you would never get any flowers -- and
their flowers are marvelous.  They are plants for all seasons --
exfoliating cinnamon bark in winter; white fuzzy frosted opening leaves and
wine stained fall foliage PLUS huge trusses of white flowers aging to rose
and wine. 

They sucker mildly and form wider than tall mounds that will shade the
ground under them completely -- early spring bulbs do the best and
everything else gradually dies off from lack of light.  Mine are on a north
facing berm, backed by a hemlock hedge and shaded from the south by mature
hardwood trees.  They get some direct sun about noon.  They are somewhat
over 6' tall and probably 10' or so wide after 10 years or so in the
ground.  I have two that I planted near each other and they have virtually
become one shrub.  The only difference is in the bloom.  One being the
species and one the cv. 'Snowflake' whose multiple bracts give a "hose in
hose" appearance to the individual florets.

My advice on pruning is only to prune out dead wood, which you can do any
time of the year.

FWIW, Dirr says that they are somewhat tender as young plants and should be
protected in USDA z. 5 gardens; stems and buds may be injured below -10F. 
In northern gardens they should be considered foliage plants as the flower
buds are not likely to survive and bloom.  I am assuming he means zones
farther north than z.5?

Enjoy your plant!  It should do quite well for you in z.7!

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: Margot Kane <margotk@mindspring.com>
> To: perennials@mallorn.com
> Subject: Pruning perennials
> Date: Monday, March 09, 1998 4:48 PM
> 
> I am not sure is hydrangeas are considered a perennial or a shrub but
> QUESTION anyway.  I know how to prune my mophead hydranges but I just
bought
> some Oakleaf and Peegee hydrangeas.  The oakleaf that I bought are very
> large - over 5 feet tall and pretty wide.  The pruning book says to cut
them
> to the ground which sounds very extreme - would they grow back to 5'? 
Does
> anyone have any advice on pruning these?
> 
> TIA!
> Margot Kane
> Zone 7
> 
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