Hydrangeas seeding around

6 years ago

I just visited a friend who has plenty of hydrangea seedlings coming up each spring, enough that she weeds them out because there are just too many. Anyone else have this "problem"? It's mostly H. paniculatas and H. serratas, but to look at them all you'd wonder if they're potentially invasive!

I have 'Limelight' seeding around in my garden. The first ones are blooming this year so that's fun, and I don't think there's much of a chance for an ugly one.

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katob Z6ish, NE Pa
Original Author

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Those look like they're seedlings, I don't think paniculata will sucker although I think the oakleaf does, but like you say the foliage is different. Suckers usually come up more vigorously as well, so those look small for suckers. Cool that 'Little Honey' seeds true.

Out of three paniculata seedlings here, one is blooming, one has a bud forming, and the third is just leaves. I have a feeling oakleaf hydrangeas might take longer, but that's just a guess since they don't do well in the dry shade I have and therefore all are dead at the moment :)

This first seedling is definitely off 'Limelight' and has come on nicely after the two tropical storms brought everything back to life. Even the grass is green again although most of it is crabgrass now.

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Comments (8)

hc mcdole
6 years ago
I've had a few seedlings (mostly paniculata) and some oakleaf (at least they are different than the oakleaf closest to them so I assume they are seedlings and not root suckers). I haven't seen any of them bloom yet so I am letting them grow on to see what they will do in the years ahead.
katob Z6ish, NE Pa thanked hc mcdole
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
Original Author
6 years ago
My biggest problem will be that they're all in terrible spots. As much as I like to think I'll move them or get rid of the less exciting ones, I know I'll just leave them as is for a couple years!

I wonder how big the oakleafs will need to get before they flower. My first paniculatas are just three years old, have never been treated well, and are full of buds.
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hc mcdole
6 years ago
None of my seedlings have bloomed and I think they are in their 3rd summer. If they don't next year, it may be time to yank them.

Here are several oakleaf volunteers. Three are two tiny yellow ones that look like Little Honey I planted six feet away 10 years ago or longer. These could all be root suckers but the colors are not right.

Ignore the lyre leaf Salvia (they are weedy)

Little Honey on the left, the offsets on the other side.

I might be wrong but this looks like a paniculata next to the volunteer oakleaf plants and the nearest paniculata is probably 20 to 30 feet away so that would be some really long roots if this was a root sucker.

I have a few more in the back that are too close to a big paniculata so not sure if they are from seed or root suckers.
katob Z6ish, NE Pa thanked hc mcdole
hc mcdole
6 years ago
Nice to see your seedlings flowering.

The place we hike at has arborescens scattered over one part of the park - near the waterfall. They are not floriferous like Annabelle.

Obviously they do seed about with some moisture from the waterfall and living on a steep clay wall.

I wished I had done these on a tripod but it is a hassle to break it out.
katob Z6ish, NE Pa thanked hc mcdole
luis_pr
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The pictures look good. Very interesting seeing them in the wild. Thanks for sharing! In addition to seeding, they may be spreading via suckers. Where were they taken?
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
Original Author
6 years ago
We have the wild H arborescens in similar areas here in NE PA as well. You barely notice them in bloom, hard to believe the amazing 'Annabelle' is just a mutation which showed up!
hc mcdole
6 years ago
I guess some plant explorer/enthusiast found a better wild H. arborescens and 'Annabelle' was born?

Kind of like oakleaf H. 'Snowflake' was found in two areas of Alabama and the rest is history from what I have read.