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Hardiness: Zone 5
Bloom
Time: Mid-summer
Bloom
Color: Rich blue
sterile florets surround the deep blue fertile flowers
Foliage Color:
Green
Fall
Color: Remains
green
Size:
3-5 feet tall and wide
Exposure: Full sun
to partial shade
Soil:
Well-drained soil
Pruning:
Claudie
forms its flower buds in later summer and then flowers in
late June. The best time to prune is it after it blooms,
from mid-July to mid-August. Cease pruning in mid-august to
allow time for the flower buds to form prior to winter.
As a
young plant it is best to prune or pinch your plant in order
to build a full bodied, well branched plant. If the plant
is leggy when you purchased it, shear the plant back hard by
1/3 to 1/2 its original size. Once it puts on an inch or
two of growth, pinch the branch tips to remove just the
growing tip. This tip controls branching. Once it is
removed the buds below it will turn into stems. Once these
new branches grow an inch or two, pinch the tip out again.
You can repeat this throughout the first growing season as
you are tending your garden. Although you will sacrifice
one year of bloom, this technique results in a well
branched, full bodied plant that will have more flowers in
subsequent years. The second season in the ground, repeat
the pinching practice (or lightly shear) up until
mid-August. Cease pruning and pinching to allow the flower
buds to set.
Watering: High
moisture. Moisture is a necessity of this plant.
Wildlife: None
Type:
Deciduous
Fertilizing:
Fertilize in early spring by applying a slow release
fertilizer specialized for trees & shrubs. Follow the label
for recommended rate of application. Flower color is
affected by pH. For blue flowers, the soil must be more
acidic and for pink flowers, the soil must be more
alkaline. An
easy way to induce blue flowers is to add one tablespoon of
Aluminum sulfate to a gallon of water and soak the roots in
early spring. Treat two times.
Uses:
Groupings or
masses, perennial or shrub borders, specimen, screens or
hedges, mixed container, cut flowers.
Breeder: Corinne
Mallet
Named for
the French astronaut Claudie Andre-Deshays, hydrangea
‘Claudie’ is a fitting tribute to a woman who truly “reached
the stars.” Rich blue, starry florets encircle deep blue
fertile flowers. The sterile flowers are unique,
well-separated sepals that float like stars in the sky.
Like all
Hydrangea macrophylla, ‘Claudie’ is affected by soil
pH. Acidic soil is needed for the best blue color. The
plant sets its flower buds in the fall, so pruning should be
limited to summer. Extremely cold temperatures may kill
flower buds; gardeners in northern climates may wish to
protect the plant overwinter.
Available at better nurseries, garden centers and
mail order
Sources
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