Back to Endless Summer Home    Back to Master Gardener's Section Martha Tate Plant Spotlight, April 17, 2003 Home & Garden Section, The Atlanta- Journal Constitution New Mophead will offer almost 'Endless' blooms On September 11, 1998, as he was visiting Bailey Nurseries' location near St. Paul, Minnesota, Dr. Michael Dirr, of the University of Georgia noticed a mophead Hydrangea macrophylla in bloom. This was unusual since this type of hydrangea most often blooms on old wood from the year before, and its first flush of flowers occurs in early, not late summer. Dr. Dirr immediately deduced that the blooms had occurred on new wood.      From this discovery, a new mophead hydrangea, H. macrophylla 'Endless Summer' is under mass production at several growers around the country, including at least three wholesalers in the Southeast. The plant is scheduled to make its official debut in 2004.      According to Dr. Dirr, 'Endless Summer' is not only unusual in that it is remontant (has repeat blooms, in this case after the first blooms are cut off), but because it is extremely cold hardy. This means that mophead hydrangea lovers in the northern tier of states can grow 'Endless Summer' and actually have the plants bloom. For gardeners in the Southeast, the worries of a late hard freeze that affects flower production will not be a problem with this plant.      "It's really nifty what 'Endless Summer' does. The plant flowers a little earlier than other mopheads," says Michael Dirr. "If you whack off the blooms in mid-June, it takes about 12 weeks to get another crop of flowers."      Dr. Dirr has had favorable reports on the performance of 'Endless Summer' from different sections of the United States.      "I gave it to someone in Columbus, Georgia, and he couldn't believe how long it blooms," says Dirr. "It's amazing. We kept testing it at the University of Georgia, and it couldn't stop flowering." Botanical name: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer' About the plant: Like the wonderful hydrangea 'Penny Mac' (made famous by Atlanta hydrangea guru Penny McHenry), 'Endless Summer' will produce blooms even after the first flush of flowers is removed. According to Michael Dirr, the latter is turning out to be a valuable parent plant. A white form with the same characteristics as 'Endless Summer', is now being tested at the University of Georgia. 'Endless Summer' will ultimately measure three to five feet high by the same width. In garden conditions, the ball shaped flowers can measure up to eight inches across. If grown in containers, the blooms will be smaller - about four to six inches in diameter. According to a spokesman for one of the wholesale growers, 'Endless Summer' re-blooms in six to twelve weeks after the first flush of flowers. Like many other mopheads, the flowers of 'Endless Summer' will vary with the pH of the soil. Blooms will be blue in acidic soil and pink in more alkaline conditions. The plant, which is deciduous, is hardy from Zones 4 to 9. Use in the garden: Plant in shrub borders, in pine islands, or use as specimen plants. Planting and care: Plant in well-drained, moist soil in sun or part shade. Prune after first flowering. Source: (Available after May 1) Country Gardens Nursery, 3728 Lower Fayetteville Rd., Newnan GA 30265, Ph. 770-251-2673 Chattahoochee Home & Garden, Inc., 4773 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta GA 30068, Ph. 770-977-0981 {Back to Top} Bailey Nurseries Press Release July 2002 www.baileynursery.com www.EndlessSummerBlooms.com The news in Hydrangeas is starting to spread. Endless SummerTM blooms on new wood and is hardy to Zone 4. With their size, foliage and colorful blooms, hydrangeas have always played a prized role in establishing a classic garden landscape. Over the years, many different selections have become available, giving gardeners a range of choices. Now, that palette will soon welcome one of the most exciting hydrangea discoveries in years. It's called Endless Summer, a bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla that not only blooms on new wood, but also is hardy in Zone 4 climates. That means you can have repeat blooms throughout the summer, and maybe even beyond. And the improved hardiness is welcome news to gardeners in northern areas. Developed by Bailey Nurseries of St. Paul, Minnesota, this mophead-type hydrangea produces big, showy flower mops that stand out in gardens, in pots or vases, or in dried flower arrangements. The color of the flowers is dependent on the pH makeup of your soil: it produces clear pink blooms in alkaline soils and blue flowers in acidic soils with sufficient aluminum. The flower mops can range from four to six inches in diameter in garden conditions, and up to eight inches across in containers. The foliage is a lush medium-to-deep green, and has shown good mildew resistance. The plant grows three to five feet in width and height. Hydrangeas are excellent ways to create borders to define boundaries or planting "rooms," or provide a backdrop for other flowering plants in your garden. And, of course, with their classic summer look, they can stand out on their own. Endless Summer will be a welcome addition to your landscape. And while it won't literally change the calendar, it just may make your summer feel a bit longer. For more information, visit www.EndlessSummerBlooms.com. {Back to Top} Walter Reeves Gardening in Georgia with Walter Reeves Show topic planned for the 2004 season. Revisit for specific show dates and times later this year. www.walterreeves.com Gardening in Georgia: www.griffin.peachnet.edu/ggarden/ Gardening in Georgia gives viewers practical "how-to" information on plant selection and care for gardens, landscapes, and homes. The show provides in-depth explanations of gardening problems and solutions. Host Walter Reeves presents a unique blend of real-life expertise and the latest unbiased, research-based information from The University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. {Back to Top}