What happens to the buds? Are they being eaten by pests or do they brown out? if the buds abort, have a oticed a pattern indicating why they aborted? A late frost or lack of water could kill the buds. Is the first part hardy to your zone?

Nothing happens. I get more and more buds. it's still growing buds, but they just don't open. They're all a nice healthy color. No browning or getting eaten. I'm in zone 6B, and pretty close to 7A, so the whole thing should be hardy to my zone. All the others around this area are blooming. that's why I know somethings up, but I don't know what's wrong.

thanks for taking your time

crazydaisylou

You might check the thread linked below--see in particular the last post there if your hydrangea looks like the picture that poster provided a link to.

Basically what it says is that if your hydrangea is a lacecap, it will not bloom like a mophead.

Kate

Here is a link that might be useful: Not flowering

ok. thanks. I remember when I first was looking, I didn't want a lacecap just because i'm not particularly fond of lace, but I don't know for sure whether or not I avoided buying one. It's hard to tell if it's like that one because none of the buds are flowering, so I'll have to look at mine a little harder and study it a bit more. The leaves on mine are varigated green/white, so that's different. thanks again.

oh, and i DO know that lace has nothing to do with the type of plant it is. LOL

I went back out and looked at it again, and I think it almost definitely looks like a lacecap. Although I still think when I bought it I didn't buy a lacecap. guess it doesn't matter. got it either way. Thanks again for your help.

If you bought your hydrangeas from a local garden center, there is always the possibility that they became mislabled. Happens a lot at some garden centers. Only way to know for sure is to wait until it is blooming before you buy it.

The only variagated hydrangea I know is growing next door in my neighbor's garden. The variagated leaves are interesting, but my neighbor regularly complains that it is a very poor bloomer. I think she said the couple blooms she got this year are the first ones she has seen in several years. Maybe there are different kinds of variagated hydrangea, but my neighbor's experience would seem to be duplicating yours.

Kate

Forgot to add: My neighbor's variagated hydrangea that doesn't bloom very well is a lacecap.

Kate

I actually found a picture of a lacecap that looks a lot like my hydrangea, except, of course, the flowers.

If mine is like your neighbors, hopefully it will start flowering in the next year or two.

Thanks again for your help.

Here is a link that might be useful: