Ruby Slipper Hydrangea

3 years ago

Hi. Zone 6 in MA. Looking to plant Ruby Slipper Oakleaf Hydrangeas under trees with all day filtered light. Can someone tell me it’s bloom time? As in, when it starts blooming and how long blooming continues? Thanks.

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
In my former garden, I grew this in full sun - from around 11 am onward. It bloomed in midsummer, generally sometime in mid July, with the flowers opening over a period of a couple of weeks, but lasting all season and gradually deepening in color. I left the flowerheads in place all winter to contrast with the brightly colored foliage, which also stays present well into winter.

IME, the less direct sun the shrub is in, the slower/later it is to flower and neither the flower or foliage color will develop as well.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
next post.. include the perennial forum ... if you wish ... maybe also the shrub forum .....

plants react to the micro climate they grow in ... you can get general answers as above.. but it is dependent on all plant culture variables... light.. water soil.. etc ..

what kind of trees dictates how aggressive the trees are in stealing all water ... like maples..... and how you are able to offset that with supplemental water ...

and then how dense the tree shade is.. barely anything will grow under norway maples.. and yet other trees just filter the light.. etc ...

defining filtered light is hard in words.. when it all boils down ... you are just going to ha e to try it all out...

length of bloom is usually dictated by weather ... if they bloom in drought.. the bloom will be shorter.. cold spring means later... etc ..

come join us in the perennial forum if you want more help ..

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
3 years ago
" come join us in the perennial forum if you want more help .. "

Since the plant in question is not a herbaceous perennial and doesn't behave like a herbaceous perennial, it makes no sense to post to that forum. It would make far more sense to post to Shrubs or Hydrangeas. Chances are folks that post there are at least familiar with the plant under discussion, may have actually grown it and can answer your question accurately. Comments like "length of bloom is usually dictated by weather ... if they bloom in drought.. the bloom will be shorter.. cold spring means later... etc .." indicate minimal understanding of how this species of hydrangea will perform.