Saw and purchased this plant yesterday. The blooms were used in 2 arrangements and I saw a very old specimen____probably 10' tall. It was on the north side of a building, but was so tall that I don't think it really had much shade. Trunk like a very established grape or small tree!!!
I am wondering if you have had this plant or still have it what conditions did it thrive under? How much sun or shade??
Apparently very cold hardy. The tag says -30 to -40. The blooms were really eyecatching____only reason I purchased so late in the season. Winter mulch???
Any experiences with Tardiva you have had??
Hi - I've had Hydrangea Tarvida in Chicago, and have several
planted here in Texas.
Tarvida does not grow much over 6 Ft. High. The flowerheads
are long and pendulous, hangling from delicate branches.
I can only tell you my experience with them, OK? I do not know
what others will tell you.
Chicago is Zone 5. I had 3 of them planted inside the yard, along
a privacy fence. The tops of the Tarvida would just clear the top
of the fence and be visible from the street.
They bloom later than other hydrangeas, starting to open their
buds a bit after the 4th of July. When they first open, they are
a pale lime green and will stay that way for about 3 weeks. If you
want to dry some, this is the perfect time to do it for lime green
flowers in the house.
In early August, the flowers will turn pure white and will be filled
with bees, lots of them. The pendulums will be anywhere from
4 to 10 inches long, depending on where they are on the plant,
and the weight of them will bend the branches over in a graceful
arch.
About the middle to the end of September, the flowers will turn a
muted pink and will stay that way until the frost hits them, at which
time they will turn to a soft shade of light brown. Some people
cut the flower heads off at this time, but if you leave them on and
they get covered with snow, you will have a tree of ice cream cones
in the middle of winter. :o ) It's very pretty to see.
Mine were in full sun, but that was in Chicago. When the temperatures
reach into the 90's, they need to be watered daily or the foliage droops
and they get very stressed. Just lay the hose down on the ground for
a few minutes and let it soak in. For mulch, I used pine needles and
pine bark, and just threw leaves on after Thanksgiving.
The ones I have here in Texas are having a hard time in the sun -
the foliage gets burnt to a crisp - so I will have to move them into
the shade.
It is a beautiful little tree that will bring you joy for many years to come.
Feel free to cut some flowerheads for a vase too, there will still be tons
of blooms. Enjoy.
Mahnot, Thanks so much for your input. I first saw flowers from it in a hugh arrangement with a little light blue flower and another grass. It looked elegant.
On here I read about cuttings and after planting mine in early Sept. I took 2 cuttings to try and root. It seems we never have enough white flowers in the garden.