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Hydrangea H

ydrangeas are the beacons of a summer landscape and one of the mostloved shrubs in the world. And for good reason! They bring colorful flowers from spring through fall with the wide range of species and varieties. By knowing what type of hydrangea you have, or what you’re looking for, you can set yourself up to maximize blooms year after year.

Let’s take a journey through the season, looking at the types of hydrangeas that thrive in Kansas City and the surrounding area. And, of course, we have to talk about some of the best of the best new varieties available for your landscape! Let’s dig in.

Typically, the earliest hydrangea to bloom is the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia). The oak-shaped leaves emerge in spring followed by white flowers in May or June that age to parchment or pink. The red fall foliage makes it a real gem. In the winter, the exfoliating bark of the stems adds great texture to the garden.

My favorite underutilized oakleaf hydrangea is Jetstream™ Oakleaf Hydrangea. It’s denser and compact, so it doesn’t overtake the landscape and has strong stems to support the blooms. Jetstream™ has some of the most intense fall color of any oakleaf hydrangea, which makes it a must-have in my book!

Follow these steps to help your oakleaf hydrangeas thrive in the landscape:

• Sun Exposure: Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal but can tolerate a bit more shade.

• Soil: Moist and well-drained soil is preferred.

• Pruning: Deadhead spent blooms in summer or wait until late winter. Never hard prune in fall; only prune for size or shape after flowering.

In early summer, you will start to see the blooms of smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea ar-

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