Re: Hydrangea macrophylla 'pink beauty'

Barbara, all H. macraphyllas are really considered hardy only to USDA
z 6.  The actual plant will survive colder temperatures and come back
from the roots, but the flower buds won't.  I even lose flowers on
this species in my USDA z 7 garden after really hard winters or late
spring frosts.  The reason you're only getting flowers where leaves
cover the plant stems is that only there are the flower buds
protected enough not to freeze.  

All this species bloom on old wood.

Since protected stems do seem to have flower bud survival for you,
you might try erecting a burlap fence around the plant and stuffing
it with dry leaves for winter to protect buds farther up on the stem.
 Wait until it has defoliated for winter - like you've had a couple
of hard frosts - and then do it.  Just hammer in wood garden stakes
around the plant, just outside of it, and staple burlap to them.  You
can usually buy burlap by the roll at DIY centers.  Try this before
you give up the plant and see if it works.

The location where you have it is probably OK because you don't want
to put it where it will be subject to early morning sun near a house
foundation - that just causes the stems to lose their anti-freeze
when they heat up and then they can't get it back fast enough when
night falls and it gets cold again.

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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> From: WhtRos2@aol.com
> Good Day!
> I have had this plant for 5 or 6 years now.
> It dies back every winter.
> It seems to only bloom on old wood -- stems that are near the
ground and get 
> covered by leaves in the fall.
> I'm not happy with the 1 or 2 blooms I get so I am planning on
donating it to 
> the local hort plant sale tomorrow.
> Someone suggested I didn't have it planted right but he was busy
and I didn't 
> get what he thot I should do differently.
> Are any of you familiar with this plant and tell me what your
experience is 
> with this plant in the 'frozen north?'
> I have it on the North side of my house in bright shade.
> Thanx for your help, 
> Barbara.
> USDA Zone 5, Rock Island, Illinois USA 
> @}-->-->---------------------
>     @}-->-->---------------------
> 
>
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