Hydrangea "Unique"

9 years ago

I was just sent "Unique" 1 gallon by mistake as I did not order it. I was advised to just keep it and the right plant would be sent. It's a nice healthy plant. Has anyone grown this? What do you think of it? I really do not have room for it unless I try to prune to keep it smaller. Or maybe I will put it in the backyard and experiment with growing it in tree form. But I'm really more worried about the space it will take up. I could give it away to a friend probably. Any opinions on "Unique"?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

9 years ago

"I don't hear much about growing "unique" on this forum and I haven't seen one at a nursery (that I am aware of)."

That's because 'Unique' is an older form of paniculata (introduced in 1968) with very large flowers produced on a very large growing shrub and has been overwhelmed in the marketplace by the newer, showier and more compact recent intros. There is also a lot of confusion as to whether or not most plants sold as 'Unique' really are that plant :-)) A true Unique produces massive flowerheads (16" long by 10" wide) with a preponderance of very large (2") sterile florets - fertile florets are sparse and completely hidden. Unique also develops minimal pink tones with age. It is about double the size of Pinky Winky, both in the size of the shrub and the size of the individual flower panicles. Unique is a very robust and upright variety that lends itself well to training into tree form.

Early in my horticultural career, Unique, together with PeeGee and Tardiva were about the only paniculatas available for planting, both as shrub forms as well as the standard or tree forms. It is only in recent years (last 30 or so, with most emphasis on the last decade) that the market has been inundated with other paniculata cultivars.

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Comments (11)

hyed
9 years ago
Hi Mary, I say put it in your back yard, have fun you have nothing to lose ... free plant...
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
9 years ago
If there is somewhere you could use a small flowering tree, put it there and prune it to raise the canopy.
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Jon
9 years ago
I don't hear much about growing "unique" on this forum and I haven't seen one at a nursery (that I am aware of). But it is listed as a parent plant on several patents for very popular paniculata hydrangeas. If I recall, Limelight is an offspring from a female "unique."
hyed
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
From the pictures I've seen it looks like a white Pinky Winky very pointy and upright
luis_pr
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
From Dirr's book Hydrangeas For American Gardens 2004:

"Unique was grown and introduced in 1968 by the de Belders for its large, pure white, sterile florets (about 2" across) and rounded sepals. The showy sepals almost completely conceal the fertile flowers. The inflorescences may reach 16" long by 10" wide. This selection resulted from seedlings of Floribunda. The seedlings were uprooted by birds and the one plant that remained was properly named Unique The plant will grow 10 to 14' high. Later flowering, approx mid-July in Zone 7b. This cultivar is horribly confused in nursery commerce and seldom is the true form, as described, provided. I have grown three so-called Unique, none true-to-description. A great plant friend, Ted Stephens, Nurseries Caroliana, North Augusta, SC and I commiserated about the almost total confusion. Ted was able to secure the true Unique from Mike Buffin, curator at the Hillier Arboretum,and now offers the same as True Unique."

Sorry for any typos; those would be mea culpa. Hee hee hee! ;o)
mary1nys
Original Author
9 years ago
Great Info, thanks so much! I wonder if I have the true Unique? Now I have to grow it so I can find out! Ha.
hyed
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Gardengal,my PW can get too 10x10 http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4138254/name-this-hydrangea?n=19 I doubt that Uni.can double that ... but I respect your opinion ...still in the dark as to what kind of hy , could be Uni...Thank you .. sorry about the post
mary1nys
Original Author
9 years ago
Wow..I really don't have room if it's twice that size! I took a long bike ride this evening and passed by an old cemetery. It had around 10 very large and very old hydrangea trees..maybe 25 feet tall. The flowers were all changing color. I wondered if these were the Pee Gee trees that were sold 50 years ago.?
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
Very likely :-)) They can get pretty darn big!

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hyed
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Gardengal , confused, picture shown PeeGee? ..not large upright blooms like you describe ..just saying