Research Garden DesignBrowse photos, get design ideas & see the hottest plants
As a baby , Skye Hamilton of Hamilton House Designs got lost in the pages of books such asThe Secret Gardenby Frances Hodgson Burnett andAnne of Green Gablesby L.M. Montgomery . Idyllic storybook garden bursting with blooming flowers occupied a exceptional position in her mind , and it ’s those visions that coif the wheels in movement for what would number later .
Fast - forward to 2015 : Skye and her husband were living in California , but the two knew they want to get back to Idaho to be with crime syndicate . With an eye on house list for cut-rate sale , Skye arrive across a farmhouse in Eagle , Idaho , with a wraparound porch that needed some workplace . “ I remember thinking , that porch needs hydrangea , ” state Skye . At that breaker point , Skye had already been an interior fashion designer for more than a 10 , so she was no stranger to transforming position that needed TLC . “ I see the potential difference in the house and control my husband I could make it particular . ” It took a little convincing , but Skye and her husband finally grease one’s palms the piazza — sight unseen .
Skye ’s Top 6 Hydrangea Growing Tips|Skye ’s Hydrangea Recommendations
Within two week of moving into her newfangled home in Idaho , Skye Hamilton of Hamilton House Designs and her husband planted 16 Incrediball hydrangea around the front porch . The number of hydrangeas ( and Skye ’s love for them ) has only grown ever since . exposure by : Skye Hamilton
When they impress into the farmhouse , they had scarce been there two weeks when they ripped out the barberry that surrounded the porch . “ We had barely opened our moving box , but there we were , rip out bushes with our automobile and a roach . ” From there , Skye headed to the approximate greenhouse and talked to the head of the shrub department , who was also a master nurseryman , and told her what she require to do . “ She select me over to the Incrediballs and say they ’d be gross for what I want to do . ” Skye brought home 16 Incrediball hydrangea and planted them around the porch .
Dubbed “ Hydrangea Queen ” by other gardener , Skye has become a wealth of knowledge and generator of inspiration on all things hydrangea ( and other gardening topics ) to people all around the country . Photo by : Ampersand Studios
That was just the start . “ From that full stop , I became obsessed , ” share Skye . She kept add more and more hydrangeas until she had 50 in 2020 . And that ’s when the whole reality started shutting down .
With the chatter on social medium becoming too much to handle , Skye blocked out the negativity and begin only follow two mathematical group on Facebook : Hydrangea Happiness and Proven Winners ColorChoice . She started post picture of her house , and the questions rolled in . “ People asked about my hydrangea , and I developed a little routine of a following , ” Skye say . “ It was kind of like therapy , being in that kingdom . ” This new forum sparked her sexual love of help oneself people and talking about gardening . “ I was also able to learn a lot from master gardeners all around the commonwealth . ” She dig into different types of hydrangeas , did a net ton of enquiry , and asked a lot of questions .
Also an interior designer , Skye has always had an eye for invention . All year long , she makes great use of her plethora of hydrangeas , using them in vases , as tabletop decor , in wreaths , and dry them for all kinds of decorative purposes . Photo by : Skye Hamilton
Skye already had an Instagram account with her midland design business,@HamiltonHouseDesigns , and decided to start out posting some pictures of her hydrangea for fun . Her account exploded almost instantly . Now , over 200,000 people follow her chronicle . entirely self - taught , Skye has had moments of feel out of her profundity . “ I ’m not a passkey gardener or a landscape designer , ” says Skye . But her dedication to encyclopedism , hone her expertise , and willingness to partake in her knowledge with others is what make up so many gravitate toward her for garden advice and inspiration .
Incrediball hydrangea break into bloom in early summertime , make the storybook - garden atmosphere Skye dreamt of as a kid . In late summertime , blossom start to take on a light-green shade which stay until tardy fall . Photo by : Skye Hamilton
Now , in the same way the pages of the Book she devoured as a child spark off creative thinking within Skye , she is providing that Muriel Sarah Spark for gardeners all around the country . There ’s a fate of work that goes into creating the garden she has today and divvy up it with such a orotund audience , but for Skye , doing the oeuvre is healing . “ It ’s something to put my mind to , ” she says . “ I ’m building the life sentence I want to live on in . One where I can walk outside and be surrounded by efflorescence and peach . ”
SKYE’S TOP 6 HYDRANGEA GROWING TIPS
After years of experience with hydrangeas and sharing the knowledge she ’s learned with the volume , Skye has earned the well - deserved championship of “ Hydrangea Queen . ” Here , she generously shares her top six hydrangea - growing tips for those just starting out .
1. Start with an easy variety.
Limelight hydrangeas underplanted withSupertunia Vista ® Jazzberry ® andSupertunia Vista ® Paradiseflank the step leading up to Skye ’s back porch where Wriggly Fluffybottom Hamilton ( Rigg for inadequate ) lounges . Skye loves that these mantrap come back year after year . exposure by : Skye Hamilton
If you ’re novel to growing hydrangeas , Skye urge picking a panicle ( Hydrangea paniculata ) or quiet hydrangea ( H. arborescens ) change to start . “ hydrangea are n’t the cheapest plant . It ’s not like buying a pack of seeds , ” tell Skye . Panicle and still hydrangeas , which are bed for being hardy , are a keen position to initiate . panicle can handle a fair amount of sun and smooth hydrangeas are prolific , dependable botch .
Skye paint a picture starting with one of these intrepid multifariousness , then , if it go well and you are up for more of a challenge , go for a bigleaf or mophead ( H. macrophylla ) , oakleaf ( H. quercifolia ) , or mounting hydrangea ( H. petiolaris)—one of the prima donna . “ When masses set forth with bigleaf hydrangea and do n’t choose the perfect post to put it , they ’re almost setting themselves up for failure , because this is a finicky hydrangea . ”
2. Know the variety and your area.
Starting with one variety and learning about that peculiar eccentric is one way to fructify yourself up for success . When Skye started with hydrangeas , she opted for all Incrediball , which are a tranquil variety . Photo by : Skye Hamilton
Since each variety of hydrangea has a specific set of needs , there ’s a slew of misinformation out there . Advice and care tip for one type of hydrangea do not give across the board . That ’s why Skye propose that gardeners unexampled to growing hydrangeas peck one mixture to come out with , learn the basic motivation of that exceptional type and how it will turn in your area . See how that goes before you add together more into the mix . “ You do n’t postulate to take how to care for every hydrangea at once , ” says Skye .
3. Never plant hydrangeas that have blooms and come in foil wrappers.
Skye with a florist shop hydrangea . Photo by : Skye Hamilton
Those young to hydrangeas sometimes make the mistake of planting “ florist hydrangeas ” in full bloom that they ’ve have as a gift , often purchased from the grocery store . “ When you put those in the ground , they hardly ever bloom again because they have often been give so many hormones and force to bloom artificially , ” says Skye . Instead , she recommends opting for flora from dependable growers such asProven Winnerswho trial their plants in different climates to see how they ’ll do . The best time to plant a hydrangea is in spring or fall when it ’s sticks and buds and leaves . Skye shares that because hydrangea are one - season knickers , whatever is currently growing on the flora is what you ’re going to get that time of year . See Skye ’s video on florist hydrangeas here .
4. Observe what successful local gardeners are doing.
Skye teaching a hydrangea workshop .
The best way to memorize how to grow in your area ? See what gardener in your orbit are doing ! There are several places to find people to learn from :
5. When in doubt, don’t prune.
Skye encourages gardeners to know their hydrangea need before pruning , but if you ’re incertain , err on the side of not pruning rather than cut a plant back right smart too far . Photo by : Skye Hamilton
“ There ’s no hydrangea that ’s get going to be hurt by not pruning , ” says Skye . In fact , she adds that you ’re more likely to get blooms if you do n’t prune than if you prune the wrong means . Skye also emphasise that if you have a nurseryman who cares for your landscape painting , do n’t take up that they lie with how to manage for your type of hydrangea . “ All too often , I ’ve heard the tragic tale of a landscapist cutting a hydrangea bush direction too far . ” On the bright side , hardy hydrangeas are typically able to bounce back from a too - harsh pruning . See Skye ’s telecasting on pruning special hydrangea types .
6. Don’t fret about shade.
The Incrediball hydrangeas in front of Skye ’s porch get sun and dappled shade throughout the day , then full shade after 5 atomic number 61 . How much shade your hydrangea needs look on the type of hydrangea and your zone . Photo by : Skye Hamilton
hydrangea are often referred to as shade plant , so sometimes gardeners without full - shade surface area think they ca n’t grow hydrangeas . However , “ in realness , hydrangeas need a hatful more sun than people call back , ” deal Skye . “ Even oakleaf hydrangea still require about four hours of sun to be really secure bloomers . ” If you live in a hot climate like Skye , she observe that panicle do well because they ’re the most drought tolerant , adding that fluent hydrangeas often need a sight of H2O , especially in the first year . Skye ’s rule of ovolo ? “ You ca n’t go improper with morning or former good afternoon Lord’s Day and former afternoon shade . ”
See more from Skye , book her as a speaker , or check out her hydrangea row on her internet site : HamiltonHouseInc.com .
HYDRANGEA RECOMMENDATIONS FROM SKYE
Of course it ’s insufferable to pick a favorite , but here are some of Skye ’s taste - and - trues that she recommends to those getting started !
picture by : Skye Hamilton
Incrediball® Smooth Hydrangea (H. arborescens)
“ These are my number one , ” enunciate Skye . This is the variety that Skye start with back when she first travel to her attribute in 2015 — the one that led to her passion for hydrangeas .
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : fond to full sunMature size:4 to 5 feet tall and wideBloom sentence : Summer
BuyIncrediball ® hydrangeasfrom Proven Winners .
‘Limelight’ Panicle Hydrangea (H. paniculata)
Skye describes this multifariousness of hydrangea as “ tried and true , one that comes back beautifully every year . ” She loves that their hardiness and tumid height make a huge impact in the garden . By the end of summertime , the wan - green and white blooms transform to a cream and ballet - slipper pink .
Zones:3 - 9Exposure : fond to full sunMature size:6 to 8 feet tall and wideBloom prison term : Late summer to settle
Buy’Limelight ' hydrangeasfrom Proven Winners .
Photo by : Proven Winners
Little Lime® Panicle Hydrangea (H. paniculata)
“ These are similar to limelight but half the size , so they ’re great for under a window , ” says Skye . She note that you ca n’t make a hydrangea smaller than its ripe size of it , so search for a dwarf form of the character you like if you ask something more compact . “ reckon size at the beginning is going to save you heartache , ” she says . “ Whatever big variety you like , there is most probable a small miscellanea which makes sense for most people ’s landscape painting . ”
Zones:3 - 8Exposure : Partial to full sunMature size:3 to 5 feet tall and wideBloom time : summertime
BuyLittle Lime ® hydrangeasfrom Proven Winners .
Let’s Dance® Series Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla)
This is a relatively new series from Proven Winners . “ These macrophylla hybrids do n’t postulate as much cosset as some of the older variety show , ” says Skye . There are 11 varieties in the series that are fairly compact , ranging from 2 to 4 feet grandiloquent and wide .
Zones:5 - 9 , with the elision of Sky View ® , Can Do ® , and ¡ Arriba ! ® which are dauntless down to Zone 4.Exposure : Partial to full sunMature size:2 to 4 animal foot magniloquent and wideBloom sentence : Summer
BuyLet ’s Dance series hydrangeasfrom Proven Winners . ( Let ’s Dance Lovable ™ pictured )
Gatsby Moon® Oakleaf Hydrangea (H. quercifolia)
“ This one has really gorgeous blooms all summertime long , and beautiful maroon foliage in drop . "
Zones:5 - 9Exposure : fond to full sunMature size:6 to 8 foundation tall and wideBloom sentence : summertime
BuyGatsby Moon ® hydrangeasfrom Proven Winners .
