Hydrangeas, a summer staple, add splash of color

Ah, summer. Time for vacations, laying in the hammock and backyard barbecues. Before that next barbecue add a little color to your yard with some summer flowering shrubs.

Hydrangeas are a staple of the summer garden. Hydrangea macrophylla or Bigleaf hydrangeas have become much more popular with the introduction of Endless Summer. Because of its nature to bloom on both last year's and this year's growth, Endless Summer flowers more reliable than some older varieties that were once common. The 8-inch flowers can be pink or blue depending on the alkalinity or acidity (pH) of the soil. Blooms become pink in alkaline soil and blue in acid.

Blushing Bride was the next introduction in the series, with white flowers that mature with a hint of pink. The Bigleaf Hydrangea making all the headlines this year is Twist-n-Shout, the first Lacecap hydrangea in the series. The center of the bloom is deep pink and is made up of tiny fertile flowers. The center is surrounded by larger, showy, sterile flowers either blue or pink depending on soil pH.

Endless Summer along with other Bigleaf hydrangeas need consistently moist soil. They also prefer some afternoon shade. With flowers of pink or blue, this 3- to 5-foot plant makes a showy addition.

Panicle hydrangeas, H. paniculata, are named after their flower shape, a cone shaped cluster of flowers called a panicle. Adaptable and urban tolerant, these are probably the hardiest Hydrangeas. Quick Fire is a 6- to 8-foot tall, fast-growing variety that blooms up to a month earlier than the majority of Panicle Hydrangeas. In fact, Quick Fire often produces its showy white flowers and fades to pink before other varieties even begin to bloom.

Pinky Winky is noted for its stunning flower heads. White florets are still emerging at the top, while at the base the florets have already turned pink. Limelight has unusual chartreuse flower clusters. This hydrangea reaches about 6 to 8 feet tall and really produces a lot of flowers.

Another type of hydrangea is the Smooth Hydrangea, H. paniculata usually seen as the cultivar Annabelle. Selected at the University of Illinois, Annabelle has very large, white flower heads that can reach 1-foot wide. The flowers remain effective for several weeks as they pass from green to white to brown.

One less common summer shrub is Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis. This native plant is great for wet areas. In late July into August it is covered with spiky, white, ball-shaped flowers. Another variety with pinkish white flower heads is named Sputnik. Both varieties are quite variable in height, ranging from 5 to 10 feet, depending on the soil moisture.

Bottlebrush Buckeye is a large shrub reaching at least 8 feet and spreading at least twice that wide. Aesculus parviflora blooms in June and July with large, 8- to 10-inch white bottlebrush-like flowers that stand above the foliage.

Bush-honeysuckle has upright clusters of yellow flowers held above the bright green foliage. The cultivar Butterfly was selected for its long flowering period, extending from May into July. The foliage turns purplish in autumn.

Lacy, dark purple foliage tops the elderberry variety, Black Lace. Growing 8 to 10 feet, Black Lace has pink flower buds that open to white, flat-topped flower clusters in early June. Sutherland Gold has deeply cut foliage, but it is not as lacy as Black Lace.

•Doug Hampton is a woody plant specialist at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield, IL 60190. Call (630) 293-1040 or visit planterspalette.com.