Hydrangeas are a beautiful addition to any garden. They are a much loved shrub with a wide range of varieties. The Hydrangea is an ideal choice for the gardener who wants a long flowering period, with beautiful displays of colours and busy flower heads. They look amazing in containers and offer a timeless elegance to your garden.
An interesting fact about Hydrangeas is that they can be planted in different types of soil, but due to the varying pH levels, they will bloom in different colours.
Will a hydrangea be pink or blue?
The Hydrangea Macrophylla is the most common type of Hydrangea, with flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white. With blue and white flowering varieties, the colour is determined by soil pH.
In acidic soil with a pH of less than 5.5, the Hydrangea will grow blue flowers. In an alkaline soil with a pH above 7.0, it will produce beautiful pink flowers.
Growing Hydrangeas in the UK
If you have ever driven around the British countryside, travelling between borders and across different regions of the country, you may have noticed a higher volume of blue Hydrangeas in some areas compared to others, while pink will be found more in different parts of the country.
Acidic soil types are typically found in areas with a higher rainfall. While this may be considered the majority of the UK, there are different regions with more acidic soils in the country than others. For example, pH levels in areas of East Anglia have been found to be higher, and therefore are alkaline soils, where pink Hydrangeas are more likely to be found. In contrast, the North West has more acidic soils which is likely to encourage blue Hydrangea flowers.
Changing the pH of soil
While different regions will have different types of soil, if you want to enjoy the best of both worlds and grow both pink and blue Hydrangeas, it’s possible to alter the pH levels of the soil in your garden.
Using various products sold at local garden centres and online, gardeners can choose to turn Hydrangea flowers blue or pink. It’s a good idea, before doing this, to perform a soil test of your soil. Doing this will determine the current pH levels of your soil and help you use the right products in the right quantities.
To turn Hydrangea flowers blue, choose soil acidifiers from your garden centre. These products usually contain sulphur or ferrous sulphate and will lower the pH of your soil.
In order to turn blue flowers pink, lime is the product that is widely used to increase the pH level of soil.
Some things to bear in mind when growing Hydrangeas
- When trying to change your Hydrangeas from blue to pink and vice versa, you have to remember that this may take some time. You may have to wait until the next flowering season to see the difference.
- Within the first year of your soil experiment, you may notice a variety of colours of hydrangeas. Do not be put off by this. Your soil is changing in pH and it may take time to see the final results.
- Collecting rainwater and using this to water your Hydrangeas can help to maintain blue blooms.
- Your Hydrangeas will thrive best in moist soil. It is important during warmer seasons to give your Hydrangeas extra water to avoid wilting.
- You can grow hydrangeas in containers; this is an easy way to stay in control of the soil pH.
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