Types of hydrangea photos and names
If you are thinking about decorating your garden with hydrangea, then first of all you should pay attention to the features of the various types of this plant. Then you can choose exactly the types that will best suit your garden.
It is also important to know how each species needs to be looked after. For example, a tree-like or large-leaved hydrangea must be prepared for wintering and cut somewhat differently than panicle hydrangea
If you know a lot about the rules for caring for such plants, then caring for them will not be difficult.
Hydrangea tree (Hydrangea arborescens)
This variety is very popular among gardeners living in mid-latitudes. This plant is presented in the form of shrubs. Its height can vary from 100 to 300 centimeters. Inflorescences grow on the tops of annual stems. When the flowers are just beginning to open, they have a light green color, after their full disclosure, they change their color to cream or white
The most popular varieties are: "Invizible Spirit" - flowers have a pink color; "Sterilis" - inflorescences are white, while this plant blooms very profusely; "Annabelle" and "Grandiflora" - have very large inflorescences, painted in a pure white color (note that panicle hydrangea has varieties with exactly the same names)
Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata)
Under natural conditions, such a plant has the shape of a tree or a shrub, the height of which can vary from 2 to 5 m. This species is considered one of the most popular among gardeners. Without a transplant in the same place, this type of hydrangea is able to grow and develop normally for more than 40 years. The stems of this plant are lignified in a relatively short time, which is why it is considered winter-hardy. The inflorescences grow in the upper parts of the stems of this year, while the flowering is distinguished by its abundance. However, the buds formed in the last days of June open only in August or September. The inflorescences of this type of flowers have a pyramidal shape. When only the flowers begin to open, they have a pale green color, and after full disclosure, they turn white. At the end of the summer period, they turn light pink, and then brick. When the flowering period begins to end, the flowers turn light green again. The most popular varieties are Grandiflora, Quishu, Vanilla Freise and Tardiva.
Large-leaved hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
Or garden - it is often cultivated in the garden. However, individual varieties can be grown in containers indoors or on the terrace. Dense leaves have a rich green color. This year's stems are herbaceous, which is why the bush is not very cold-resistant. It is believed that inflorescences appear on the stems of last year, since the buds for their growth are laid in the autumn, and they begin to grow in the spring. As a rule, the inflorescences have a viburnum-shaped, umbellate shape, it is also called hemispherical or Japanese. The color of the flowers depends on the pH of the soil. Interesting varieties that have recently appeared: "Endless Summer" - in acidic soil - blue color, in neutral - lilac; Renata Steinger - blue; "Expression" and "Romance" - have double flowers.
Hydrangea oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia)
It has low frost resistance and needs good insulation for the winter. It blooms very luxuriantly and has unusually attractive leaves. It has a height of about 2 m. The length of paniculate inflorescences is from 10 to 30 centimeters. Flowering begins in June – July, while the flowers are white at the beginning, and then turn purple.
Ground cover hydrangea (Hydrangea heteromalla)
Or hydrangea with different pubescence - a winter-hardy species.Under natural conditions, it can reach a height of 200-300 centimeters. Often used to form a standard form. The length of the dark green leaves is about 20 centimeters. Their front side is smooth, and the seamy side has pubescence. Loose corymbose inflorescences are initially white, and then turn pink at the end of flowering. Flowering begins in the last days of June or the first days of July. The most popular ground cover variety Bretschneider, which blooms profusely with rather large inflorescences of a milky white color.
Also, gardeners grow hydrangeas: ash, serrate, radiant, rough, Sargent. They also grow a climbing type of petiolate hydrangea, but as mentioned above, this is not a hydrangea.
Types and varieties of foxglove with photos and names
Below will be described those types and varieties of foxglove that are cultivated by gardeners most often.
Purple digitalis (Digitalis purpurea)
The homeland of this species is Southern, Central and Western Europe. This perennial plant is often cultivated as a biennial. Its height is about one and a half meters. On the surface of low-branched erect shoots there is dense pubescence, there is a rosette consisting of basal leaf plates. The upper leaf plates are of a rounded-elongated shape, crenate along the edge are sessile, their front surface is velvety, and on the back there is a tomentose pubescence. Alternate stem leaf plates have long winged petioles. The racemose one-sided inflorescence reaches 0.8 m in length, it consists of flowers five centimeters long, which can be painted in carmine, cream, white, pink or purple, there is a dark smear inside the corolla, and there are short hairs on its surface. Flowering is observed throughout the summer. It has been cultivated since ancient times.
There are several varieties, namely spotted, large-flowered and gloxiniform. Of the greatest interest of all digitalis gloxiniform hybrids is the Shirley variety: the height of the bush is about 150 cm, the flowering is long, one-sided inflorescences consist of drooping, open spotted flowers, which are painted purple, pink or cream inside. The Excelsior hybrid mix is also quite popular: the peduncles reach a height of about 1.8 m, very large flowers are placed on them in a spiral. The Peloric mix is also quite popular: the height of the peduncles is about 1.8 m, it is covered with large flowers. The one-color selective variety of this type, called Rosy Champagne, reaches a height of about 1.2 m and has a rather spectacular appearance.
Large-flowered digitalis (Digitalis grandiflora = Digitalis ambigua)
Under natural conditions, this species can be found in Western Europe, the European part of Russia, Ukraine, the Mediterranean and South-Western Siberia. The height of such a digitalis is no more than 1.2 m. The oblong-lanceolate leaf plates have pubescence, located along the edge and along the veins. Drooping racemose inflorescences consist of flowers of six centimeters in length, colored yellow, inside the corolla there are brown veins. The outer surface of the flowers is covered with light pubescence. Cultivated since 1561.
Rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea)
This species is one of the most beautiful. The height of the bush can vary from 0.7 to 1.2 m, however, there are specimens of two meters in height. Slightly pubescent or bare leaf plates have an oblong-lanceolate shape. Four centimeters long, the flowers have a shape similar to an orchid, while the lower lip is very pronounced. Flowers can be painted in a variety of color shades: from yellow-gray, turning into cinnamon-golden or rusty, to yellowish with a pink bloom. The inner surface of the corolla is covered with veins of brown-red or lilac color. Flowers are part of large racemose inflorescences. Flowering is observed from mid-June to August. Cultivated since 1597.
Woolly foxglove (Digitalis lanata)
This type is the most inconspicuous.In the wild, it is found in Moldova. This plant is medicinal and has undoubted advantages. On a single peduncle, small flowers of a yellow-brown color with purple veins bloom. Dense pubescence covers the axis of the inflorescence, the name of this species is associated precisely with this feature. The plant blooms in July. Duration of flowering is approximately 6 weeks.
Yellow foxglove (Digitalis lutea)
In nature, this species is found in the southwestern part of Europe. The height of the bush is 0.8–1 m. There is no pubescence on the shoots and oblong-oval leaf plates. The length of the yellow flowers is about 25 mm. Flowering begins in July. It has been cultivated since 1597. The most popular variety is Gelb Janus: the color of the flowers is yellowish.
Another cultivated foxglove is dark, or indistinct, Tapsi, Merton, Nevada, ciliate and some other hybrid forms and species.
