Hydrangea Bombshell

What are the garden uses for Hydrangea Bombshell in NZ?

Hydrangea Bombshell is a much-loved shrub in NZ gardens. It is most commonly grown as specimen, used as an informal hedge, added to a mixed planting, or included as a backdrop for smaller plants. It is a great complement to a modern or cottage garden, bringing both colour and elegance to a space. It is the gorgeous foliage and beautiful flowers of this plant that makes Hydrangea Bombshell an excellent choice for a NZ garden.

What growing conditions does the Bombshell Hydrangea need?

The Bombshell Hydrangea grows best in NZ when positioned in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained soil that is slightly acidic. It is tolerant of frost, cool climates, coastal environments, and humid climates. Wind protection is important to ensure branches are not snapped and this will also result in a better formed plant that will flower more prolifically.

Hydrangea Bombshell for sale in NZ

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Why is my Bombshell Hydrangea not blooming?

There are a few reasons why your Bombshell Hydrangea might not be flowering. One of the most common reasons is the plants are in too shadier spot. In these circumstances the plants tend to stretch towards light at the expense of flowering. Poor pruning technique is the next most likely reason. Bombshell Hydrangeas bloom on new wood which means they produce flowers on the current season's growth. Excessive pruning or a lack of pruning coupled with poor growing conditions can result in the flower buds failing. Finally, over-fertilizing, particularly with high-nitrogen fertilizers, can promote leafy growth at the expense of flowers. If the plants experience environmental stress such as late frost or prolonged drought can also stress the plant and prevent it from blooming. Determining why your Bombshell Hydrangea is not blooming is therefore a process of elimination.

Hydrangea Bombshell care

Hydrangea Bombshell care is simply about getting a few easy things right so the plant thrives. they prefer a sheltered spot in either full sun or part shade. Only in very hot climates should full sun positions be avoided. A well-drained, fertile soil is crucial. Adding organic matter like compost into the soil during planting will help with soil fertility. They prefer a moist soil so consistent watering is essential, especially during dry periods but be careful to avoid overwatering as this can lead to root rot. Applying shrub fertiliser in spring will keep the Hydrangea Bombshell plants well-fed for the year. Prune in late winter or early spring and continue to remove spent flowers to encourage further blooming. Applying mulch around the base of the plant helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Monitor for pests like aphids and diseases like powdery mildew and treat as needed with appropriate measures.

How to the prune the Bombshell Hydrangea

The Hydrangea Bombshell is pruned each winter to contain growth and encourage fresh, new growth that will bear flowers. The Plant Company recommends they are pruned back to a low crown which has short stems (about 10 cm long) with at least two buds on each stem remaining. Any dead stems should also be removed at this time, along with stems that are criss-crossing or show disease. Young plants will generally be left with five stems whereas older plants can have 10 stems remaining. These can be thinned back to five-ten if desired which will help produce bigger flower heads. Longer stems can be left on younger plants while they are establishing. In general, the harder the plant is pruned back, the more contained it will grow the next season. Flowering can be affected with hard pruning but that is more likely to cause delayed flowering only. A mistake often made with pruning the Hydrangea Bombshell is to not prune the plants hard enough. This error results in a woodier plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain.

Does the Hydrangea Bombshell plant make a good hedge?

The Bombshell Hydrangea is often grown as an Informal hedge. That is, a hedge this is minimally trimmed, if at all, such that their natural, rounded shape is preserved to a degree. To create an informal hedge, space the Hydrangea plants 80 cm apart. The Bombshell hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want given it is the informality you are wanting. The Plant Company recommends that informal hedges are trimmed with a little and often approach so they become bushy yet still contained.

What height and size does the Hydrangea Bombshell grow to?

Hydrangea Bombshell grows to about 1 metre in height with a similar spread. The ultimate size is determined by how much the plants are trimmed, how hard they are pruned in winter, how much care they receive, and how warm the climate is. In warmer climates such as Northland and Auckland the plants will tend to be larger than those grown in Southland.