![Summer Shrub](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/8091/385322/5dd27211c2e5b/Summer-shrub.jpg)
With their big blousy heads of blue or pink flowers, hydrangeas are a feature of summer gardens. They are well suited to that shaded part of the garden on the east or southern side of the house and are easy to grow from cuttings, which are taken in winter when the plants are dormant.
Once seen as old-fashioned and a bit nanna-ish, this shrub has had a makeover since 21st-century plant breeders began to modernise it. A visit to your local garden centre this summer will reveal hydrangeas with cute double flowers, repeat bloomers and bicolour blooms plus plants that are compact enough for growing in containers.
Hydrangea macrophylla is native to Japan and that’s where some exciting breeding work has been underway.
Breeders have also been at work in the US and it was there that the modern hydrangea revolution kicked off.
It all started just over 15 years ago when nurseryman Michael Dirr of Dirr’s Plants introduced the first ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea. This variety flowers on new growth, which means it keeps flowering through summer and into autumn.
US gardeners welcomed these repeat flowering varieties, which were soon available in Australia. By 2011 around 18 million plants had been sold across the world and the success of ‘Endless Summer’ has led to the release of other long-flowering varieties.
Not only does long flowering make this a better performer than older varieties, it also overcomes problems with nonflowering. As traditional hydrangeas flower on last season’s growth, overzealous or late pruning can cause old-style hydrangeas to fail to flower. Hard pruning in winter or late frost in spring can remove the next summer’s flowers.
The flowers of ‘Endless Summer’ form on new wood so hard pruning or frost doesn’t reduce flowering as new flowering wood is formed right through summer.
Denne historien er fra Good Organic Gardening #10.5-utgaven av Good Organic Gardening.
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Denne historien er fra Good Organic Gardening #10.5-utgaven av Good Organic Gardening.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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![Glamour girls](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c409ab4dc93/crp_Glamour-girls.jpg)
Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
![FRIED VEG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41411ea417/crp_FRIED-VEG.jpg)
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
![BEYOND BIG RED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41a6eb04df/crp_BEYOND-BIG-RED.jpg)
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
![EVEN MORE TROPPO](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c32491c5ad8/crp_EVEN-MORE-TROPPO.jpg)
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
![LET'S STALK RHUBARB](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c40f021899b/crp_LETS-STALK-RHUBARB.jpg)
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
![FOOD OF THE GODS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c4058e00ced/crp_FOOD-OF-THE-GODS.jpg)
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
![MAKING GOOD BETTER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c41d9eb93a1/crp_MAKING-GOOD.jpg)
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
![True lily](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c417732dad4/crp_True-lily.jpg)
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
![SALTY BUDS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/814504/61c403da6a8e1/crp_SALTY-BUDS.jpg)
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
![Ducks on duty](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/8091/768731/6171113ae4f17/crp_Ducks-on-duty.jpg)
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!