Thursday, June 12, 2014

A Most Beautiful Vine

Some plants come and go and some a gardener can grow a bit bored with over time. Some plants are reliable friends. Some plants seemed great at first but become unruly guests in the borders, but, every once in a while you plant something that will be a shining star in the garden for years. The reigning 'Queen of the Garden' here is my Hydrangea petiolaris. 

I planted this at the base of one of my oak trees in 1995 when we finally completed the third terrace on the small hill in the back garden.  It took it's own sweet time getting any sort of size to it and didn't bloom for several years, but, once it took off it climbed, and climbed and climbed. (It seems to still gain another three feet or so a year.) I estimate it's now about forty feet up the tree and every year it blooms better than the last even though the grey squirrels eat some of the buds off over the winter.  In the fall it puts on a glorious coat of brilliant, golden yellow before shedding its leaves and exposing it's gnarled and interesting structure. 

The 'Queen' currently is in full bloom and makes a statement no other plants in the garden do.










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16 comments:

  1. Mark and GazJune 12, 2014 at 7:56 AM

    It is Deanne! We love this climber, unfussy, endemanding, and yet a great performer. It can get rampant in time and given the chance but with a bit of attention it will stay behaved too.

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    1. Deanne FortnamJune 12, 2014 at 12:30 PM

      It is definitely an unfussy plant and a great performer. I've never yet had to prune it. It seems to send all it's rampant growth up the tree.

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  2. AlisonJune 12, 2014 at 8:41 AM

    This is a gorgeous vine that I've tried twice to get established in my garden, but it keeps dying on me. In all honesty, I have to admit, I've been trying it in a spot that sometimes gets missed by my summer watering. I would dearly love to get one growing up one of my Douglas firs. Maybe I'll try again and keep on it with the watering.

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    1. Deanne FortnamJune 12, 2014 at 12:31 PM

      Thanks Alison, it's definitely worth the extra care to get it established.

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  3. outlawgardenerJune 12, 2014 at 8:56 AM

    She's a beauty! It must be incredible to see that huge vine in bloom!

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  4. Kris PetersonJune 12, 2014 at 10:48 AM

    That's not a plant - it's a phenomenon! Beautiful!

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  5. danger gardenJune 12, 2014 at 10:31 PM

    40 ft? Wow, that is amazing. Kudos for placement, growing up that tall tall tree where it can just scramble and do it's thing is brilliant.

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    1. Deanne FortnamJune 13, 2014 at 5:28 AM

      Thanks! I'd always hoped it would climb well but it's performed above and beyond my expectations

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  6. sharonJune 13, 2014 at 8:53 AM

    its a stunner...my hydrangea is blooming and i am so proud because its florida!!..thats for visiting me!

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  7. SueJune 13, 2014 at 12:04 PM

    Yours is one of the best grown specimens I've seen.

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    1. Deanne FortnamJune 14, 2014 at 7:16 AM

      Thanks Sue, I'm hoping it still has some flowers on it when you visit in a week

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  8. ksJune 14, 2014 at 5:10 PM

    Boy I hope I don't miss the boat on this Deanne, I've never visited when it was in bloom that I can recall..just fabulous !

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  9. Hoover BooJune 23, 2014 at 9:22 PM

    Sheesh, no drought at your house. Looks fabulous!

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