PUSHING THE BORDERS

Its their season
But surely we should grub out all those cheap crass things for a classy H.aspera-such as Bellevue

Hi Neil I just looked up Hydrangea aspera Bellevue as I did not know what it looked like but I do now.

John

https://www.promessedefleurs.ie/media/o ... 657-1.webp

Well,as with all plants which come in and out of fashion such as dahlias and hydrangeas, it’s a matter of opinion. Personally I love the “crass” ones. A long season of colour, a huge range of colour and they look good together. I think that for instance in places like Madeira and the Azores they look amazing. Bellevue is certainly splendid and like sargentiana, which I grow, makes an impressive plant but I also grow lots of the ones which you would refer to as “crass”. Remember the stick Monty got for his comments on begonias! I feel there is too much snobbery in horticulture at the top end and not everyone subscribes to the almost monotone, predominantly green, green and green gardens so often coveted by the growers of tender and subtropical plants. As I’ve just planted a bed of the “crass” types, I just thought I would make the point and no, will not be wanting to “surely grub them out.” ;)

Your opinion is, of course, entirely yours to air as you see fit. But adding a winking emoticon at the end doesn't make your phrasing and choice or words any less rude, Martin. You might take time to reread, reflect and rewrite?

But, in any case, I think the exotic potential of Hortensia Hydrangeas has probably been fully explored by now. Given the title of this forum, maybe you'd feel happier on Mumsnet? :lol:

I’m afraid I totally disagree Paul. I found the wording of Neil’s post annoying and, possibly, rude to the masses of folk who love the plant Neil clearly hates, suggesting that their choice of plant should be chucked out. I’m surprised you found my response inappropriate. I thought it rather restrained. As for Mumsnet, I occasionally look in.

It's funny how you can read a post and get a completely different view about what was written.

I read Neil's original post with an image of Neil winking as he cheekily stirred an aesthetic pot.

He even misspelled the title of the post; wasn't that a big enough clue?

And I read Martin's post as continuing the jest!

Now I don't know who was joking, if anyone was.

Honi soit qui mal y pense perhaps?

It has killed any discussion though.

Chad

ps.
I have collections of both 'modern' H.macrophylla and H.aspera forms.

Including a green 'flowered' ['embracted'?] hortensia.

Each to their own of course ...good to share views - I just happen to agree with these guys
https://bestall.co/from-the-garden/hydr ... ouse-farm/

To return to sanity and to the topic of hydrangeas, yes Neil, the lace caps are indeed very lovely. I have a few, as well as arborescens and paniculata, the mop heads and petiolaris. Indeed, I adore all hydrangeas and possibly, even more to Paul’s annoyance ( ;) = just for you Paul!), I even have a couple of variegated forms. Bellevue is a stunner but too big for my garden. Hard to come by but I think Pan Global may once have offered it. At least, I seem to recall a giant hydrangea with a French name being offered with a description going somewhere along the lines of 3 or 4 metres in height. When I had my very big garden, I remember being quite keen to get hold of it.

I may have been a bit grumpy, sorry. Tip of the day* - if you have flu and COVID jabs whilst already suffering from a dose of man-flu, keep away from the internet. :lol:

I can't grow snobby hydrangeas here as they turn into dry husks - even with vast amounts of extra irrigation there just isn't enough humidity.


*Another top tip. When cleaning the flesh from aroid berries - wear gloves. Otherwise the calcium oxalate needle crystals they contain will cause a painful irritation that lasts for days. Ask me how I know. :roll:

So why not have the best of both?
Hortensia type inflorescence on a Hydrangea aspera