Hydrangea polar bear planting and grooming outdoors

By crossing the varieties "Grandiflora" and "Limelight" we managed to get a new unique subspecies: Panicle Hydrangea Polar Bear, emphasizing the gloss and charm of any garden. Age, of course young, was born in 2013, but has already managed to gain popularity among professionals and amateurs. This variety, reaching an average of half a meter in height, is a small tree or shrub. At the same time, the crown has almost the same dimensions - 1.5 m. This creates an effective and compact structure, giving the plant airiness due to the dense conical inflorescences. They represent the main characteristic of this variety.

Hydrangea paniculata polar bear: description

Located on strong stems, the inflorescences, represented by sterile, very large flowers, reach 40 cm in length. In an even layer, covering the bush, they form a light fluffy cap. Large inflorescences grow into large snow-white flowers. At their initial appearance, the color is usually light pistachio.

In adulthood, they acquire a pure white color, then turning into cream. At the end of summer, pink shades appear on the flowers.
Due to the even distribution of inflorescences along the crown of the plant, the bush is perceived as a huge bouquet, planted in the ground, like in a flowerpot. This variety blooms a little later than the others, in July, but its rapid flowering pleases the eye until the first frost. The shoots of this specimen are very strong, so a large number of large inflorescences do not bend them with their weight. Leaves are rich green, elliptical or ovoid.

Hydrangea paniculata Polar Bear, like all other varieties, is resistant to cold, but this species demonstrates particularly high rates in this. It is a record holder for frost resistance, able to survive in frost down to -40 degrees Celsius.

Hydrangea paniculata polar bear: planting and care

Caring for this species involves the presence of some requirements that must be observed in order for the hydrangea to please with its presence.

This plant prefers soil with moderate moisture, but it can stay in an environment with stagnant water for some time. Loam is preferable, sandy soil, too, of course, will not let the plant die, but the bushes and flowers will be smaller. The acidity of the soil can also vary, but an acidic environment is most favorable.

The plant can become a wonderful protective barrier, keeping harmful substances in the air, since it is itself very resistant to this factor.

Loves light, but will grow in darkness. Like other paniculate Polar Bears, it responds well to fertilizers.

In early spring, it is necessary to remove weak shoots and dried inflorescences, and in the fall to mulch the near-stem zone. This will help keep the root system from drying out during winter periods with little snow.
Blooming hydrangea in your garden is an unforgettable sight that you will want to look at again and again. A particularly mesmerizing sight occurs in the midst of flowering, when you can see two, three colors of panicles, or even more.

And it happens that on one panicle there will be two different shades at once.

Looks great both in single performance and in group compositions, for example: with conifers or one-year-olds.

This hydrangea variety has appeared quite recently, but has already gained popularity among amateur gardeners and professional flower growers. Today, the heroine of our article will be the luxurious polar bear hydrangea (panicle). Photos, reviews of the owners will allow you to evaluate its advantages and find out if this plant has disadvantages.

"Polar Bear": description

This variety became known to a wide range of flower growers in 2013. Holland breeders, who crossed the Limelight and Grandiflora varieties, were able to achieve an amazing result - a unique subspecies appeared that can decorate any garden, backyard, square or park.

Hydrangea paniculata "polar bear" is a shrub or tree, no more than one and a half meters high. The crown is almost the same size. It is a compact and spectacular structure, characterized by airiness, which is given to it by huge dense conical inflorescences. They are the peculiarity of the variety.

Inflorescences up to forty centimeters long (thirty centimeters are more common) are located on strong stems. They cover the bush evenly, forming a fluffy lightweight cap. Initially, the flowers are light pistachio-colored. In an adult plant, they are white, and by the end of flowering they acquire a creamy shade.

Due to the fact that the inflorescences are evenly distributed over the bush, it gives the impression of a huge bouquet planted in the ground, like in a flowerpot. The flowers of this hydrangea are very large - over three centimeters in diameter. Hydrangea paniculata "polar bear", the photo of which you can see below, begins to bloom a little later than the others - in July, but flowering continues until the first frost.

The elliptical leaves have a rich green color. The variety is unpretentious in care, has a very high frost resistance, the plant easily tolerates frosts down to -40 ° C, in addition, the plant is resistant to many diseases.

Planting a plant

Hydrangea "polar bear", a photo of which is increasingly seen in floriculture publications, can be planted in autumn or early spring. Autumn planting will require additional work from the owner - shelter for the winter.

Hydrangea "polar bear" feels comfortable in areas that are sufficiently well lit, which are exposed to direct sunlight in the morning and illuminate the area for at least six hours. It is important to protect the plant from drafts, since sap flow begins in early spring, when winds and night frosts are quite frequent.

Before planting, it is necessary to prepare a pit measuring 40 x 50 x 50 cm. As a rule, planting takes two days. On the first day, you should dig a hole and pour three buckets of water into it. The workpiece is left in this state until morning. It is very important for the "polar bear" that the soil is well saturated with moisture.

Now fertilizer must be applied to the pit. Mix equal amounts of fertile soil with peat. Mix the sand and humus separately. Both compositions should be thoroughly mixed in a 2: 1 ratio. Superphosphate, potassium sulfate and urea are added to the resulting mixture. The composition is ready and it only remains to bring it into the pit almost to the top, leaving no more than fifteen centimeters.

Place a seedling in the resulting soil, carefully spreading the roots, and sprinkle them with earth left after digging a hole. Hydrangea "polar bear" needs replanting only if the soil and the place for landing were initially chosen incorrectly. In the fall, the planted hydrangea must be covered.

What should be the soil?

Hydrangea "polar bear" (reviews of gardeners confirm this) prefers fertile, slightly acidified soils - black soil, loam. Ammonium sulfate and ferrous sulfate can serve as an acidifier. Peat or coniferous litter is suitable from natural materials.When planting in sandy soils, additional feeding is required.

Care

Despite the fact that the polar bear hydrangea is an unpretentious plant to care for, certain rules must be followed. For active growth and development of the plant, the following measures should be taken:

• Mulching. It is required to protect the roots of the plant from overheating and drying out, since they are located shallow and compact. For this, you can use peat, sawdust, covering materials.
• Watering. Hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant that needs regular watering, since its roots do not tolerate drying out. The weekly rate of water is thirty liters per bush. Experienced flower growers recommend adding a little potassium permanganate to the water for irrigation.
• Bush formation, pruning. To prevent hydrangea bushes from thickening, pruning should be carried out annually in the spring. When the branches are too close to each other, it can lead to a decrease in the plant's immunity due to insufficient air and light. In this case, the inflorescences become much smaller, and the bush can infect pests and infections.

Since this variety is frost-resistant, pruning can be done in early spring or late winter. The strongest 5-10 shoots must be shortened to 3-5 buds. Usually this is two-thirds of the branch, and the remaining branches are removed.

Warming for the winter

Recommended for regions with severe and little snowy winters. For this purpose, a layer of leaves, peat, spruce branches up to twenty centimeters thick is laid under the bush.

Top dressing

For active flowering of hydrangeas, it needs regular feeding. It is performed according to the following scheme:

• organic fertilizers are applied in the spring;
• when buds appear, use mixtures with superphosphate, potassium and urea;
• you will need complex fertilizers in the middle of summer (during this period, fertilizing can be combined with watering the plant);
• during the preparation of the bush for winter, you should apply special mineral fertilizers for hydrangeas.

Reproduction

Hydrangea can be propagated in several ways, but the most common is cuttings. The shoots left over after pruning the shrub can be used to propagate it:

• the remaining branches must be put in water for three days;
• then cuttings can be cut from them so that each has four internodes;
• treat the lower sections with a growth stimulant;
• plant the cutting in a soil consisting of peat and sand, in a 1: 1 ratio for two-thirds of its length;
• cover the container with the handle with plastic wrap.

Planted cuttings need constant humidity, so it is advisable to store the planting material in a cool room (for example, in the basement). The cuttings are there until the first green shoots appear. This usually happens at the end of summer. After that, they are planted in open ground.

Young seedlings should be protected from frost, since only at the age of three years does hydrangea acquire resistance to low temperatures.

Application in landscape design

The magnificent flowers of the polar bear hydrangea are exquisite and solemnly elegant. These qualities are successfully used in landscape design when creating various garden compositions:

1. In a very small area, such a bush can easily replace the central tree.
2. Lawns, flower beds, tapeworms can be placed around it.
3. Coniferous-rhododendron mixborders grown under a bush look great. This part of the garden always looks very fancy.
4. An interesting composition can be created in combination with low-growing bushes, creeping plants, perennials.
5. A spectacular hydrangea "polar bear", planted along fences or walls.
6. Try to diversify the planting with vines: honeysuckle, prince, girlish grapes.
7. These flowers look great both in Japanese gardens and sunny English lawns.

Hydrangea paniculata "polar bear": reviews

Experienced gardeners and newcomers to floriculture claim that the Polar bear hydrangea was a real discovery for them. Unpretentiousness, resistance to cold weather and most diseases are attractive to many. It is important for flower growers that this magnificent plant does not need very difficult care. Observing the simplest rules, you can grow unusually beautiful inflorescences that will decorate the site. Cut snow-white flowers in a vase look no less impressive.

It is interesting that among the reviews there was not a single one in which any shortcomings of this plant would be noted. On the contrary, experienced gardeners strongly recommend that beginners grow this beautiful flower in their plots.

Hydrangea is also called hydrangea, which translates from Greek as "a vessel of water". This flower was named due to the fact that its seed pods resemble a flask or jug. The hydrangea variety Polar Bear, or Polar Bear, was bred relatively recently and was the result of the selection of Grandiflora and Limelife. The plant got its name due to its snow-white inflorescences. It is often grown to decorate the garden area.

1 Description

According to the description, the Polar Bear panicle hydrangea is a shrub or small tree up to 150 cm wide and up to 150 cm high. The inflorescences, located on strong stems, are represented by very large buds reaching 3 cm in diameter, which form a light fluffy cap. The shade of the petals is snow-white, which eventually becomes creamy. At the end of summer, the white flowers turn pink.

This variety blooms in July. Flowering continues until the first frost. The shoots are very strong, so large buds do not bend them with their weight. The leaves are deep green in color and ovoid. The root system is horizontal: the roots are close to the soil surface and grow not in depth, but in breadth. Hydrangea Polar Bear resistant to frost and able to withstand in winter up to -40 degrees. Even if the flower is damaged in cold weather, it can recover quickly and completely.

Liatris: care and planting in open ground

2 Breeding methods

Hydrangea reproduces in the following ways:

• cuttings;
• using layering;
• dividing the rhizome;
• seeds.

When propagating by cuttings, it is necessary to cut them from medium-sized annual shoots that will not break when bent. Mature and thicker branches take root much worse. The best time for the procedure is mid-summer. Cuttings are planted in a moisture-absorbing, slightly acidic substrate, consisting of one part of coarse sand mixed with two parts of peat. To preserve water in the soil, it is covered with sphagnum moss.

Another breeding method is by layering. They are obtained by bending the branches of the bush to the soil and fixing them in a horizontal position. For this, it is recommended to prepare a groove. Shoots from above are well sprinkled with earth. This method is best used in the spring or late summer. A year later, a young bush will form from the cuttings, which has its own root system, which is separated from the mother plant.

It is recommended to divide the rhizome during the transplantation of an adult specimen. It is necessary to dig out well-developed bushes, clear their roots from the ground and divide them into several parts so that each cut has 2-3 buds of growth. With the help of a solution of potassium permanganate, the sections are processed and seated.

It is rather difficult to propagate a hydrangea by seeds, and a specific variety is impractical. Such plants often do not retain all the traits and degenerate.

Planting and caring for the Pinkie Winky hydrangea variety in the open field

3 Landing rules

The place on the garden plot for growing hydrangeas is chosen shaded. Planting is carried out from spring to autumn.For plants to take root well, their roots must be healthy and dry. It is necessary to plant a hydrangea in cloudy, cool weather, since at high temperatures it does not take root well.

The shrub grows well in slightly acidic soil. To achieve this, peat and soil for azaleas are poured into the planting holes in layers. You can prepare the substrate yourself by mixing in equal amounts:

• compost;
• leaf humus;
• peat.

Superphosphate or potassium sulfate can be used instead of compost.

Before planting, the roots of the seedlings should be shortened, and the shoots should be cut to 3-5 buds. This allows the crown to become more lush. The sprouts are placed in holes, covered with soil mixture, watered and mulched. Straw, pine needles, sawdust or film are used as mulch. This ensures optimal air exchange and prevents crust formation.

Description of the hydrangea variety Vanilla Freise, planting and care in the open field

4 Care

Hydrangea Polar Bear is an unpretentious plant, but gardeners should adhere to the following rules when caring for it outdoors:

• The shrub loves moisture, so you need to water it regularly and abundantly. Each plant should receive about 30 liters of water per week. In order to prevent diseases, you can add a small amount of potassium permanganate.
• Hydrangea needs feeding. For this, mullein and complex fertilizers are used. Top dressing is applied simultaneously with watering.
• For a plant to thrive, its roots must receive the required amount of oxygen. To do this, you need to loosen the topsoil to a depth of 5 cm.
• Mulching protects the hydrangea roots from overheating and helps to retain moisture. Needles, peat or sawdust are used as a covering material.
• The transplant is carried out as needed, if the bush is sick or, due to old age, has acquired an unattractive appearance. This is done in early spring, until the young shoots have grown.
• Hydrangea bushes tend to thicken. To prevent this and give the plant a neat crown, preventive pruning is carried out every spring, removing damaged shoots or branches sticking out to the sides. Such an event also allows you to ensure full air exchange and increase immunity. In the fall, rejuvenating pruning is carried out. The branches of old shrubs are shortened to 2–4 buds, and in the spring they get rid of dried and damaged shoots. At the same time, the tops of last year's branches are not touched.

5 Diseases and pests

Hydrangea Polar Bear rarely gets sick. This is mainly due to improper care.

Tracheomycotic wilting is a fungal disease that affects the vessels and roots of the bush. Because of this, metabolic disorders occur, the plant withers and dries up. The causative agent is able to live in the remains for many years, so the diseased shrub is destroyed. For prevention purposes, all organic waste must be removed.

Powdery mildew is caused by a fungus. The disease manifests itself as yellow spots on the leaf plate. To cure the plant, it is treated with fungicides - Topaz, Quadris, Tiovit Jet - and the number of watering is reduced.

Rot affects the roots and spreads to all tissues of the hydrangea, leading to its death. For treatment, a transplant is required, during which all damaged parts are removed, and the sections are treated with activated carbon. Then use fungicides and reduce watering.

Of the pests, spider mites, thrips, snails, butterflies, scoops, leaf rollers attack hydrangeas. To get rid of them, the flower is treated with insecticides - Biotlin, Iskra, Malathion. If the plant is too badly affected, it is destroyed.

Panicle hydrangea is an ornamental garden plant popular all over the world, a feature of which is the inflorescences growing in the form of panicles.On the basis of panicle hydrangea, breeders have bred many new varieties that are distinguished by frost resistance and decorativeness of inflorescences and leaves. One of these frost-resistant varieties is the Polar bear variety, which can withstand frosts down to -40 degrees.

general information

The Polar bear variety responds well to careful care, is unpretentious to growing conditions, resistant to high and low temperatures, diseases and pests typical of hydrangeas. At the same time, Polar bear is an excellent honey plant, so it can be grown in apiaries.

Hydrangea paniculata Polar Bear.

The variety was bred by crossing two varieties of hydrangea paniculata Limelight and Grandiflora. From Grandiflora, the white polar bear received beautiful and large inflorescences, from Limelight - resistance to disease and weathering.

But the Polar Bear did not inherit the shortcomings of these varieties. For example, if Grandiflora has very thin branches that break from the severity of the inflorescences, because of which the bush needs additional support, then the Polar Bear is able to hold them on its own.

Description: panicle hydrangea of ​​the Polar bear variety is a shrub about two meters high and more than one and a half meters in volume. This must be taken into account when planting bushes, if they grow too close to each other, they lack sun, air, moisture and nutrients, which will definitely affect their appearance and well-being.

Shoots are straight, tough and strong, not breaking off under the weight of the inflorescences. The leaves are oblong, saturated green color, and do not change their color in autumn.

Inflorescences are dense, compact, conical, up to 35-40 cm in diameter, with large sterile flowers with a diameter of more than 3 cm, and small fruit flowers. Small fertile flowers fall off quickly, as a result, the entire bush is covered with lush inflorescences.

The color of the flowers at the beginning of flowering is pistachio, over time it becomes pale white, and then pink. Polar bear blooms from mid-July to October or even November.

Agrotechnics

Seedlings of the Polar Bear variety, as well as other varieties of panicle hydrangea, are planted in open ground in spring or autumn. Autumn planting is carried out in such a way that the plant has time to take root, but does not begin to grow - otherwise it will die from frost.

Spring planting is more reliable, since serious frosts are no longer expected at this time, the plant is easy to protect from light frosts, and you can not be afraid that it will not take root in a new place.

The variety takes root well in any region of the CIS countries.

If a seedling was planted in open ground in the fall, it needs additional care - a reliable shelter from frost. After all, so far this is not an adult "bear", but a small bear that needs to be protected.

In the spring, caring for the seedling will immediately give good results - the hydrangea will begin to grow and develop, so that in 3-4 years it will begin to bloom. This is how long it will take for a seedling to grow and accumulate enough strength for lush flowering.

For planting panicle hydrangea, you need to choose a suitable place - if by some indicators the plant does not like it, this will affect its development and flowering. Correcting mistakes will require more attentive and nurturing care.

Hydrangea paniculata of the Polar bear variety will grow well in an open, well-lit place, which is illuminated by the sun for 6-7 hours a day.

Hydrangea does not like drafts, the fact is that her sap flow begins very early, and cold spring winds will have a detrimental effect on the shoots filled with moisture. She can get sick, the growth of shoots and the formation of inflorescences will slow down.

The polar bear prefers acidified, fertile soil and black soil, but can grow on loamy and sandy loam soils.If the soil contains few nutrients, peat and humus are added to the hole when planting, and then the plant is fertilized with mineral and organic fertilizers.

On alkaline soil, panicle hydrangea grows very poorly, such soil is oxidized with peat or needles. According to gardeners, hydrangeas can be planted next to a rhododendron - these plants need the same soil.

The panicle hydrangea variety Polar bear loves watering, just like all hydrangeas. Water the bush 2-3 times a week, pouring up to 30 liters of water under one bush. Potassium permanganate, added to the water, will protect the roots from rot and fungi, and will be an additional top dressing for the plant. To retain moisture and protect the roots from overheating in summer, they are mulched with peat, sawdust or agrofibre. Such care of hydrangea paniculata is especially necessary, since its roots lie horizontally and high below ground level.

The first 2-3 years after planting, the panicle hydrangea is not cut off, only in the spring the branches that have frozen over the winter and small, weak shoots that thicken the bush are removed. When the plant begins to bloom, in the fall, the inflorescences must be removed so that in winter the snow and ice do not break off the branches.

In the spring, 6-10 of the strongest shoots are left, shortening them by 2/3 or up to 3-5 buds, the rest are cut off.

Autumn care for panicle hydrangea involves warming the roots with peat, leaves, spruce or pine spruce branches, dry grass or straw. In winter, the soil under the bushes can be additionally insulated with snow.

Reproduction

Hydrangea of ​​the Polar Bear variety is propagated by cuttings or by dividing the bush. Cuttings are cut in June or material left over from spring pruning is used. They are buried in a substrate of leafy earth, peat, sand and humus, watered and covered with a film to create greenhouse conditions. Caring for the cuttings at this time is not difficult - the cover is removed every day for ventilation, the soil is watered as needed.

As an independent plant, a seedling grown from a cuttings is planted at the age of 2 years, it will bloom in 2-3 years.

Reproduction by dividing the bush is also performed in the spring - it is buried on one side, part of the shoots is separated along with the roots and transplanted into a pre-prepared place. It is advisable to transfer them along with a clod of earth so that adaptation in a new place is more successful.