Hydrangea Silver Dollar - description

Hydrangea blooms for a long time and is distinguished by its decorative effect. Today there are up to 80 varieties of this plant, most of them are intended for outdoor cultivation. The panicle hydrangea of ​​the Silver Dollar variety is a variety of flowering plants of the Hortensia family. The flowering period is from July to the end of September.

The origin of the hydrangea Silver Dollar

Flowers of the Hortensiev family were first grown in the countries of Southeast Asia. By the 14th century, plants were brought to Russia and European countries. In 1990, breeders bred a separate plant species - the Silver Dollar hydrangea, which translates as the silver dollar.

Hydrangea bush

The flower got its name due to the color of the inflorescences - at the beginning of the season, the inflorescences acquire a silvery-green hue that resembles dollar bills. Tulip Silver Dollar also got its name from the color of the bud.

Hydrangea looks like an ornamental shrub, the height of which does not exceed 2-2.5 meters. Over time, the plant can take the form of a vine or a small tree. The shoots are strong, grow vertically, the maximum crown size is 1.5-1.8 meters wide. At the end of spring, the shrub is covered with large green elongated leaves.

Descriptione hydrangea flower silver dollar

Shrubs differ in the shape of the inflorescences and their color. One of the famous varieties of the plant is the Silver Dollar hydrangea, short description of the flower:

• Numerous small flowers, collected in large inflorescences;
• Paniculate inflorescences of a pyramidal shape bloom at the end of each shoot;
• Abundant flowering, the entire surface of the shrub is covered with lush inflorescences;
• At the beginning of the season, the flowers are white or cream-colored with a green tint;
• By September, the flowers become pink;
• Inflorescences are sterile, crumble at the end of the flowering season.

White inflorescence

Transplant after purchase in open ground

Hydrangea is planted on the lawn singly or in groups of shrubs. In order for it to take root, it is necessary to plant it correctly in open soil.

To plant hydrangeas you need:

• Hydrangea seedlings;
• Sand;
• Peat;
• Humus;
• Water.

ABOUToptimal place

Hydrangea is not a picky plant, but for it to grow well, you need to find a suitable planting site. Main characteristics:

• Adequate lighting. In the shade, the flowers become smaller over time. Avoid direct sunlight at lunchtime;
• The soil should be clayey with an acidic or slightly acidic reaction. The plant does not tolerate alkaline soils;
• Strong wind protection. Open drained areas are not suitable for disembarkation;
• Landing in places of occurrence of underground waters is allowed.

Step-by-step planting process

Having found a suitable place, you can start planting:

1. First, you need to dig a hole 40x40 cm in size, 30-40 cm deep;
2. If the soil is acidic, the excavated part is mixed with sand and peat in a 2: 1: 1 ratio;
3. The roots of the seedling are spread in the planting pit and covered with earth with additives. The root collar should not be buried;
4. The seedling is poured with 5-7 liters of water.

Reproduction

The Silver Dollar hydrangea is propagated by cuttings or grown from seeds. Each of the processes has its own characteristics.

Propagation by cuttings

In the fall, when pruning a shrub, you can get any number of cuttings, after which they are cut into pieces 13-15 cm long and placed in a container with earth. The roots grow quickly, but the plant can only be planted next year in the spring.

Growing from seeds

When buying, you should pay attention to the integrity and color of the seeds. Hydrangea seeds have an oblong shape, are painted in dark brown color without splashes.

What seeds look like

Growing sequence:

1. Cover the saucer with several layers of gauze, spread the seeds and cover with boiled water. Cover with a layer of gauze or cotton wool, leave for 1-2 days;
2. Prepare the soil, it should contain turf, humus, peat and sand in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1;
3. The earth is poured into a box with a depth of at least 30 cm. Put the swollen seeds on top and crush them with earth; you do not need to make a deepening;
4. Water the ground and cover the box with glass until the first seedlings appear;
5. The seeds can be planted directly into open soil. It is necessary to scatter them on the ground and trample them, sprinkle them with sand on top.

Hydrangea Care Silver Dollar

Care for hydrangea Silver Dollar involves proper watering, feeding and preparation for the cold.

Watering mode

In spring and autumn, it is enough to water the hydrangea every other day, in dry weather without precipitation. In hot weather, the plant is watered every day, 20-30 liters of water are poured onto 1 bush at a time. The shrub is watered in the morning or evening, water is poured under the roots, it should not fall on foliage and inflorescences.

Chlorinated water should not be used for irrigation in order to prevent chlorosis of the leaves. The running water from the tap must be defended for at least 12 hours in buckets in the open air so that the excess chlorine evaporates. In order for the soil to retain moisture longer, it is covered with bark and branches of coniferous trees, sawdust or shavings.

Top dressing

Top dressing should be done several times during the season:

1. For the first feeding in April, nitrogen fertilizers are used, urea and manure are also taken in a ratio of 1:10 to water;
2. In early June, the plant is fed with fertilizers containing potassium;
3. After the hydrangea has faded, the last feeding is carried out with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.

Features of care during flowering

It is not difficult to take care of the hydrangea, it is enough to provide the shrub with partial shade and regular watering. During the flowering period, it is necessary to loosen the soil to a depth of 4-6 cm, 3-4 loosening per season is enough.

Features of care during the rest period

The presented species should have a rounded bush shape, for this every year it is necessary to shorten the longest shoots by 1-3 buds. In early spring, before sap flow has begun, the shrubs are pruned. Frozen and deformed branches, dried inflorescences are removed. If the shrub did not have time to cut, the next pruning is carried out when the first leaves are blooming.

Pruning dry inflorescences

Preparing for winter

Hydrangea Silver Dollar is winter-hardy and can withstand up to -25 ° C. In latitudes with a temperate climate, shrubs are not covered for the winter. At the end of autumn, the base of the shrub is covered with dry grass and leaves. You do not need to cut the shoots, otherwise the hydrangea will not bloom.

In regions with cold winters, the plant is sheltered from the cold. A frame of boards or wire is built around the shrub, after which it is tightened with a film, and it is covered with dry foliage or grass from above.

Hydrangea Silver Dollar is an unpretentious plant that does not require large physical and material costs for planting and care. The bush inflorescences have a noble silvery-greenish color and can decorate any garden or suburban area.