?The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

?Don’t Forget Your PGs
At this time in the season, many landscapes are starting to look somewhat spent and withered, having succumbed to the strong heat, sun and winds of August. Lucky for gardeners, one of the faster growing shrubs provides late season appeal and splash when very few garden plants are in bloom. One hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) is a favorite in the Hamptons at this time of year, producing large white blooms up to eight inches long and four inches in diameter at the base. The flowers bloom for several weeks in late summer and early fall.
Often referred to as the “PeeGee Hydrangea” (a contraction of the scientific name which is Paniculata Grandiflora Hydrangea) this plant produces an excellent specimen shrub or small tree. Next to the Nikko blue hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) that blooms in June/July, the PeeGee is the most commonly planted hydrangea because of its massive displays of flowers in late summer. Today’s plants are quite similar to an old form of hydrangea that was introduced into cultivation in the 1860s. (Obviously, quality lasts!)
The PeeGee Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub that belongs, as do other varieties, to the Hydrangeacea family of plants. Because it is suited to Zones 3 through 8, it is an ideal plant for the Hamptons. It has only moderate watering requirements and is even moderately salt tolerant, so survives near the beach. If cultivated as a bush, the plant can spread to a width of up to 16 feet and attain heights of up to 20 feet or more.
PeeGee is a vigorous, upright, rapidly growing, somewhat coarsely textured specimen plant. The conical flowers consist almost entirely of sterile florets that are tightly grouped together. (If the flowering buds are thinned to about five to eight shoots on the plant early on in the season, even larger flowers can be achieved that measure up to 18 inches long.) The flowers themselves are a vibrant, creamy white that stand out against the oval, medium green leaves. They slowly age to pink as the season progresses. In full bloom, the weight of the blooms typically causes the branches to arch downward, creating a striking effect.
At the end of the season, the flowers fade to brown or tan and will persist well into late fall or early winter. If picked when dry, the blooms are a great addition to traditional flower displays that will easily last through winter.
The PeeGee hydrangea is best grown in organically rich, well-drained soil. A full sun to partial shade location is ideal. Soil needs to be consistently moist for the plant to do well. For the best success, dig a hole about six inches wider than the root ball. Remove any root ball covering (burlap), and amend the soil with peat, compost, and a starter fertilizer before back-filling. (This provides sufficient nutrition to give the plant a winning start.) Water well for the first several weeks to help the plant get established.
Unlike the Nikko blues that bloom on the previous season’s growth, the PeeGee blooms on the current season’s growth. The plant can be pruned in late fall, winter, or early spring. Pruning involves removal of dead flowers and annual corrective pruning of shoots. You may thin and/or cut back the previous season’s growth to shape the plant to your preference. The plant can be trained to a single trunk tree or as a large, multi-stemmed shrub. (We are particularly fond of the tree shape for this hydrangea, wherein the cascading flowers and branches can create a stunning specimen on a lawn or at the back of the border.)
There are really no serious insect or disease problems with the PeeGee. As with other garden plants, aphids, mites, and scale can be issues, and need to be attended to immediately if spotted. The PeeGee can also be susceptible to some blight, leaf spot, rust, and mildew problems. Placement in areas that have adequate wind ventilation, therefore, help avoid these issues.
Frankly, we cannot imagine a summer garden without at least one specimen of the PeeGee. While some may snub their noses at a plant with white flowers that seem somewhat traditional, there is no more striking or inspiring sight that a PeeGee in full bloom against the green background of late summer. This plant is certainly worthy of consideration for every garden!
You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.