Hydrangeas’ puffball flowers are in peak bloom in the Triangle, and residents are losing their minds over their beauty.
“I have to say they’re as pretty as they’ve ever been. There are some years they’re just outstanding, and this year might be the best,” said Phil Badgett, lead meteorologist at National Weather Service Raleigh and longtime hydrangea grower.
“They’re spectacular right now. Just popping everywhere.”
The News & Observer spoke with horticulture and weather experts at Duke Gardens, North Carolina Botanical Garden and NWS Raleigh to learn why hydrangeas are extra beautiful this year — and to get some tips on keeping the plants in great shape.
What’s making Raleigh and Durham hydrangeas so gorgeous this year?
• Our mild winter: Our region didn’t experience a late heavy freeze this spring, which has a very positive impact on some types of hydrangeas.
“Mophead and lacecap, Hydrangea macrophylla, are exotic types that benefit from a mild late winter and spring. The buds at the tops of the stems tend to start growing during mild winter days and are vulnerable to late freezes,” said Bobby Mottern, Duke Garden’s director of horticulture.
“This being a mild late winter resulted in a very showy hydrangea bloom this year. Our native species are more tolerant of late freezes.”
• No freezing March dates: The RDU airport did have March overnight temperatures in the 30s, but they weren’t low or long enough to produce a frost. Suburban and rural areas along the city may have experienced occasional light frost.
“You’d need temperatures of a couple degrees below freezing for it to really frost, and for more than just an hour. I’d argue that these low temperatures in March, which were quite mild, and to not have a night below freezing were quite unusual,” said Jonathan Blaes, meteorologist-in-charge at NWS Raleigh.
“It’s true that 32 is the freezing temperature, but it’s also the melting temperature, so it doesn’t automatically mean frost.”
• Lots of rain: The Raleigh area also saw more rain than usual in March.
“During the month of March, when these plants are coming out of winter dormancy, we had 4.35 inches of rain, which is about a quarter inch above average,” Blaes said.
“That’s plenty of rain and no freezing temperatures, which can be a great recipe for strong summer plants.”
• Quick winter cold snaps: We only had one significant freeze around New Year’s, NWS’ Badgett said, and it was so quick that it might not have impacted many plants, if any.
There are typically three or four instances of teen temperatures in January, but this year there was only one.
Freezing temperatures could burn a hydrangea all the way down its stem, and it could take the plant a full year to recover and come back strong. But January’s freeze came and went so quickly that most hydrangeas didn’t die off.
An especially long, cold winter about five years ago completely killed Badgett’s hydrangeas, he said, and he had to replace them. Most years, freezes require pruning, but plants still come back in the spring.
• Overall a “perfect spring:” “We had just enough rain, lots in March and not a lot in April, then recovered quickly in May when the plants were starting to bud and flower. Weather hasn’t been too hot, and we had really good rain only a couple weeks ago to keep them hydrated,” Badgett said.
“That’s just about a perfect spring.”
How to care for hydrangeas in the Raleigh/Durham area
Hydrangeas thrive in moist soils, and native varieties can tolerate slightly drier soils (but can’t completely dry out). Organic-based soil that holds some moisture but drains well is preferred, Duke Gardens’ Mottern said.
They thrive in afternoon shade, but some varieties can tolerate much more sunlight.
The most common hydrangeas are Hydrangea macrophylla plants (commonly called the mophead or lacecap types), which are exotic to the region and have the well-known vibrant purple, pink and blue hues. The flowers’ colors come from the pH of the soil.
“You can manipulate the colors a bit. The higher your soil’s pH, the bluer your plant will be, and the lower the pH, the pinker. Blue is more popular around here because pine needles raise the pH, and we have a lot of pines,” Badgett said.
Native types to North Carolina are typically white or pinkish.
Oakleaf (Hydrangea quercifolia) (oakleaf hydrangea) and smooth (Hydrangea arborescens) varieties are two native species that are especially great for gardens, said Becca Wait, North Carolina Botanical Garden’s landscapes curator. Wait uses they/them pronouns.
“I have always loved oakleafs. They are my favorite of all hydrangea species, including the many species that are from other regions of the world,” they said.
“Oakleaf hydrangea will grow well in part-sun to part-shade, and they’ve also also had a banner spring this year. They are especially great because they hold their flowers for many months. As the flowers age, they turn from white to pink, then fade to light brown over the winter.”
You can reach out to your local NC State Extension office for help determining the best variety for your yard. Visit emgv.ces.ncsu.edu/need-gardening-help to learn from a local expert.
For planting and care tips, Mottern recommends Jim Putnam’s “How to Plant a Hydrangea” YouTube video.
Why hydrangeas should be a garden staple
“They are such great plants, and everyone should have them,” Mottern said.
Many hydrangeas can get quite large, though some have other cultivars that are bred smaller and better suited for tighter spaces.
“Most hydrangeas are well suited to our climate and are easy to care for. They really don’t need much beyond a partially shaded site and water as they get established or during periods of drought,” NCBG’s Wait said.
The flowers:
Cut well and can be brought inside for vase bouquets.
Bloom all season, usually from May through October.
Act as pollinator plants and attract bees and other pollinators to assist the rest of your garden.
This story was originally published May 24, 2024 8:00 AM.
