Re: hydrangeas - hardiness

Yes, Bobbi, I think some of the lace caps are hardier than most of
the mopheads...how's that for qualifications.  Do believe it has to
do with just what mix of species went into the particular
hybrid...and that's something I do not have sorted at this point.
there are multiple sub-species under macrophylla and I gather that
some are simply hardier than others.  Think, barring finding a
definitive source, it's a matter of sorting out the origins.  Those
plants from higher elevations in China, for instance, would tend to
be hardier, I think, than those from lower elevations or India...just
guessing.

Also gratifying to note that the oak leaf is doing well in your zone.
 The fact that it's hardy to 5 but not always flower bud hardy gets
written and copied ad infinitum and it's personal experience like
yours that really tells the tale.  Whenever anybody posts on any list
that such and such a plant is hardy for them (or not, as the case may
be) , I save the message, thinking that one of these years, I'll be
able to compile the info. into something useful....one of these
years:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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> From: Bobbi Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU>
> Date: Sunday, July 16, 2000 8:23 AM
>
> Marge, thanks for all the very useful info. Re the lacecaps, I read
> somewhere that they are a little bit hardier than the mopheads. Now
that
> it's really the season around here, I note that a surprising number
of
> neighbors have the mopheads blooming and they tend to be in very
exposed
> positions, too. We are just on the edge of zone 5/6 in this precise
area
> and I'm seeing so many mopheads happily blooming away that I would
now
> advise people in zone 5 (at least the warmer half) to give them a
try. Of
> course, last winter was quite mild. But then again, with global
warming,
> they say we will be having more mild winters.
>
> On the oakleaf hydrangea, I've had mine for 10-15 years and again
it's in
> an exposed position. It has never missed a year of bloom. Anyone
anywhere
> in zone 5 should not hesitate to try one, IMHO.
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
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