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Hydrangea melba: description, variety
Growing hydrangeas is a painstaking and time consuming job. The plant is capricious and requires regular supervision. Despite their complexity, flowers are popular in landscaping because of their aesthetic properties.
Description of hydrangea “Melba”
A distinctive feature of the shrub is its size. Powerful branches can reach a height of up to 2 m. Large leaves give the crown splendor and density. The leaf plate is wider than that of other varieties. She has a dark and deep green color. The crown diameter is about 2 m. Strong shoots stretch to the top. This gives the plant the shape of an elongated sphere.
Hydrangea “Melba” changes shade gradually
Adult shrubs have an amazing color of inflorescences. Their top is colored white, while the rest remains bright pink. The shape of the inflorescences is elongated, elliptical. The top is narrowed. The length can be up to half a meter.
The inflorescences do not immediately stand out for their unique color. Initially, they are snow-white, and then they acquire a combined shade.
The shrub is distinguished not only by abundant, but also by long flowering. The formation of inflorescences begins with the arrival of summer and continues until late autumn. The plant blooms already in the first year of life.
Hydrangea: growing the Melba variety
For abundant flowering, it is necessary to provide the shrub with an optimal soil composition. He is especially picky about its quality. The soil should always be abundantly moistened. The root system absorbs a large amount of trace elements and minerals, so their deficiency should not be allowed. Hydrangea “Melba” is more resistant to changing environmental conditions than other varieties. She is able to endure:
- frosts – this allows you to grow a plant even in Siberia;
- strong wind – strong branches do not break from external influences, which makes it possible to refuse to tie them up;
- lack of sunlight – the shrub can grow in partial shade and shade;
- diseases – hydrangea is resistant to most diseases and pests.
When growing the plant, it is important to keep the soil low in lime. Unlike other varieties, “Melba” does not need it. Organic fertilizers can be used as top dressing. They will not only provide the root system with nutrients, but also prevent it from freezing in winter.
The Melba variety is less whimsical to care for than other varieties of hydrangea. It is much easier to grow it. At the same time, it is not inferior in aesthetic properties to other varieties.