Endless Summer Hydrangea

CarrollGardens.com top selling plant in 2004 and 2005!

Endless Summer Hydrangea recaptures the feeling of a never-ending summer with ‘Endless Summer’, the first Hydrangea macrophylla that blooms on both old and new wood for repeat-blooming color all summer long. In addition to repeat blooms, ‘Endless Summer’ Hydrangea is unusually hardy, even in Zone 4 climates (its from Minnesota!). It produces big, showy flower mops – clear pink blooms in alkaline soils and blue blooms in acid soils. Makes an excellent choice for foundation, specimen and shrub or perennial borders. 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea is also sometimes referred to as Hydrangea 'Bailmer'.

Planting Instructions

1. Dig V-shaped hole 2-3 times wider than container.

2. Carefully remove container: cut any encircling roots.

3. Roughen sides of root ball for better root penetration.

4. Center plant in hole, keeping it straight.

5. Set top of root ball slightly above ground level.

6. Backfill soil to 3/4 full. Water thoroughly.

7. Finish with soil; compact lightly, then water.

8. Add 2-3 inches of organic mulch, keeping away from base of plant.

9. Ample watering during the first couple of months is essential. Two inches of shredded tan bark mulch will help preserve soil moisture.

We believe that 'Hydrangea Endless Summer' will mature at 4 feet tall by 4 feet wide, perhaps a little larger.

Site Selection
'Endless Summer' Hydrangea prefers a moist soil (not wet) in a place with afternoon shade and morning sun. If you choose a dry spot with afternoon sun, the hydrangea will wilt and the blossoms will be short lived. If you choose a place that is wet and poorly drained, the hydrangea will eventually perish. If you are concerned that the spot you have chosen may be to dry, I suggest you add Soil Moist granules to the soil. In any event the soil should be amended with compost (1/2 soil, 1/2 compost).

Pruning Instructions
'Endless Summer' Hydrangea is very forgiving and will not suffer if left unpruned or pruned at the wrong time. In fact, young, recently planted shrubs are best left alone. Unlike other Hydrangeas, your 'Endless Summer' will bloom on both old and new wood, branches that grew last year and the new branches from this year. Another unique feature is that this hydrangea will continue to set buds and bloom throughout the season; deadheading the spent flowers will encourage this. Feel free to cut the blooms for drying or fresh cut in vases because you will actually encourage the plant to produce more blossoms. Spring is the best time to prune. Many people like to leave the spent blooms on their plant because it adds winter interest. It may also act to insulate the new buds from frost and cold. They should be removed in spring however.

Changing Flower Color
The color of Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' is soil dependent. If you want blue flowers; add a couple of handfuls of aluminum sulphate at planting. If you want pink flowers; use lime. You will probably have to refresh the treatment with a single handful of the desired product each summer. If you want your hydrangea to be pink Chesapeake Blue Crab Compost is the appropriate compost to use at planting. For pink hydrangeas Bulb-Tone is the fertilizer of choice—a handful at planting, and again in early December and early March. If you want your hydrangea to be blue, use Leaf Gro as your compost. For blue hydrangeas, substitute Holly Tone for Bulb-Tone.