These lovely blossoms have an old-fashioned appeal, and when seen on a background of large, lush vines they are stunning. Climbing hydrangeas are not usually pruned. These vines are notoriously slow to become established and produce their first flowers. Pruning your climbing hydrangea vines will likely not become important until the plant has become established after those first few years. This old gardener's saying perfectly describes this flowering vine. 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Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. You’ll have a hard time getting climbing hydrangeas to bloom if you’re pruning at the wrong time of year. As stated above, newly planted climbing hydrangea vines are slow to grow and slow to bloom. Growing climbing hydrangeas is easy. Climbing hydrangea needs a rich, moist, well-drained soil. A tarp or blanket thrown over the vine is enough to protect the plant from a light frost. Climbing hydrangeas have charming lacecap flowerheads made up of a disc of tiny, tightly packed flowers surrounded by a ring of larger blossoms. When a climbing hydrangea won’t bloom, it’s sometimes the result of too much nitrogen fertilizer. The fertile flowers may also produce seed pods for propagating, if desired. Climbing hydrangeas grow well with a degree of shade, making them well-suited for east- and north-facing walls. Climbing hydrangeas need a rich, moist soil that is well-drained. Climbing hydrangea blooms in late spring and summer. These lovely blossoms have an old-fashioned appeal, and when seen on a background of large, lush vines they are stunning. There there is not much you can do about it other than to start out with the largest plants possible—of course, you will pay extra at the garden center for larger plants. If you prune late, you’ll be clipping off next year’s blooms. Interesting side note about the word hydrangea: the Greek root hydrrefers to water, and angeon comes from the Greek for "vessel.". It has a reputation as a temperamental thug, one that takes too long to grow and then grows too much when it does. this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Site and Support. In fact, several seasons may come without blossoms. It is not a difficult plant to grow if certain criteria are met. ‘Tis the season to ditch your all-white palette in favor of something a little bolder and brighter. If you become concerned about your climbing hydrangea when it fails to flower, take a look at this checklist of potential problems: A late frost can damage buds that are on the verge of opening. After a season or two comes and goes without a bloom in sight, gardeners may become worried about their vines. When a climbing hydrangea won’t bloom, it’s sometimes the result of too much nitrogen fertilizer. Grow climbing hydrangea up trees, pergolas, and arbors. Dislikes. The ideal time to plant this is early summer. The hydrangea is the undisputed Queen of the Southern Garden. It can be damaged by sunburn and prefers daytime temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures around 60 degrees. This article explains what to do when your climbing hydrangea fails to bloom. © Copyright 2020 Meredith Corporation. Apply a 3-inch layer of mulch to help retain water in the ground around the root zone and reduce weeds. One to two inches of compost applied in a layer over the … The plants can also be pruned to maintain a shrub-like form. Climbing hydrangea can also be used as ground covers, taking root where the suckers make contact with the ground and filling in the area. The climbing hydrangea (\"Hydrangea anomala petiolaris\") has many similarities to the upright shrub nydrangeas. Rest assured that they are worth the wait. Fertilize again after the flowers have bloomed in the summer. This woody vine is attractive in the winter even when the leaves have fallen. It’s perfect for a forgotten north or east wall along a garage or the side of the house. If the planting location is too shady, the plant will not flower as much; Planting. You may want to try providing protection when a late frost threatens. Southern Living is a registered trademark of, These Haircuts Are Going To Be Huge in 2021, 7 Paint Colors We’re Loving for Kitchen Cabinets in 2020, 50 Books Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Grow climbing hydrangea along a wall, building or fence where it can become a permanent fixture. In hot climates, choose a location where the plant will get some partial shade. A sudden frost can damage the buds and you may not see flowers the next year. Climbing hydrangea is one of the few hardy flowering vinesthat tolerate shade. This plant is hardy in USDA plant zones 5 through 7, does well in temperate climates but may wilt in hot, humid conditions. The flower clusters consist of a central mass of tiny, fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of larger, infertile flowers. The vines put on wonderful growth and bloom beautifully once they get settled in your garden -- and most gardeners agree that they're worth the wait. bkkm/Getty Images. Remove them back to a main branch so the plant can focus its energy on upward growth and flowers. Just make sure the structures are strong enough to … Here is one more reason to love climbing hydrangeas: they are salt-tolerant plants and are very popular in seaside communities. Nitrogen encourages hydrangeas to put on a lot of dark green foliage at the expense of flowers. That said, the one thing I can recommend is that if you prune it, wait until late June or early July to do so. The Bigleaf Hydrangea is the most common victim of the question, “Why Is My Hydrangea Not Flowering?” This is because the bigleaf needs old wood on which to bloom, but the hydrangea frequently suffers from the old wood dying back into the ground during the winter or … One to two inches of compost applied in a layer over the soil contains all the nutrients a young hydrangea vine needs. Credit: The vines become large and heavy over time so be sure that the host structure can support the weight of the vines and the structure is not something (like the side of a clapboard house) that may rot or need replacing or repainting. The good news is that once a climbing hydrangea is established, it makes up for it. Plant your climbing hydrangea in a low lighted area, but not overly shady. The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere next year. If your soil needs improvement, dig in a generous amount of compost before planting. You can leave drying flower clusters on the vine after they bloom, and they will keep their shape and add interest, even after the foliage begins to fall. The vines commonly don't bloom until they are three to five years old so just be patient. Newly planted climbing hydrangea vines are slow to grow and slow to bloom. Read more articles about Climbing Hydrangea.