Hydrangea 'colors'

[elleng]

[Jilly_in_VA]

1. Hydrangea color

depends on the composition of your soil. I think it has to be on the alkaline side for the blooms to stay pink year after year. We've brought home pink hydrangeas and the next year the blooms were blue, every single time, because our soil is on the acid side, and they stay that way no matter what we put in the soil.

[surfered]

2. My wife's second favorite after Peonies. Tomorrow we leave for our annual sabbatical to the land of Hydrangea

…and other natural beauties.

[elleng]

4. PEONIES are EARLY here, and have been gone for weeks.

They are FABULOUS! and then come Camellias!

[samplegirl]

3. I love them

They are so pretty

[maccafan]

5. Beautiful!

Hydrangeas are my favorites. The color depends on the soil. You can add something to the soil to get the color you desire.

[elleng]

6. Color relates to pH of the soil.

For optimal growth and blue blooms, hydrangeas generally prefer acidic soil with a pH range of 5.2 to 5.5. However, the desired pH can vary based on the hydrangea variety and the desired flower color.

A pH of 7 is neutral. Alkaline soils have a pH of 7.5 or more. Hydrangeas grow best in soil that has a pH of 5.2-5.5. If your soil is not in that range, you will need to manipulate the soil so the plant can absorb its needed nutrients.