Velvet hydrangea: plant, cut and propagate

The velvet hydrangea is also known under the names rough hydrangea or fur hydrangea. We will introduce you to the most beautiful velvet hydrangea varieties and explain what needs to be considered when planting and caring for them.

The velvet hydrangea is characterized by fine hairs on the leaves, which also gives it its name. Another special feature is the two-tone color of their flower panicles.

Velvet hydrangea: flowering period, origin and properties

The velvet hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera ssp. sargentiana) is considered a wild species and originally comes from East Asia, where it thrives in sparse, moist deciduous forests. It grows as an upright, perennial subshrub and is about 2 to 3.5 meters high and just as wide. Above the opposite, ovate acuminate leaves, which are dull green in color and on both the They are delicately hairy on both the top and bottom, and are about 15 to 20 centimeters in size from July flower spikes. The pretty umbrella panicles can be seen well into August. They are composed of fertile, i.e. fertile inner flowers and sterile outer flowers. The light purple inner flowers predominate. In the course of flowering, the color changes more into a violet to blue tone. The outer pseudo-flowers are composed of 4 to 5 petals and are light pink to white in color. Insects find neither pollen nor nectar in the outer flowers, but the inner flowers offer them a lot of food.

The question remains: is the velvet hydrangea poisonous? Like other hydrangea species, velvet hydrangeas are only slightly poisonous. The flowers and leaves in particular contain, for example, hydrocyanic acid glycosides, which have a toxic effect. However, the concentration is comparatively low, so that a large amount of plant parts would have to be ingested before poisoning occurs. However, consumption is not recommended and children and pets in particular should be protected accordingly.

The most beautiful velvet hydrangea varieties

Derived from the original velvet hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera ssp. sargentiana) the cultivar exists Hydrangea aspera'Macrophylla'. This forms particularly large panicles and leaves, but otherwise hardly differs from the classic velvet hydrangea.

Plant velvet hydrangea: site requirements

Velvet hydrangeas prefer partially shaded, sheltered locations in the garden. The soil should be acidic to neutral, but definitely not calcareous. It should also be humus, fresh to moist and nutritious.

If your soil does not meet these requirements, you can create improved soil conditions through specific measures. Very sandy or very clayey soils should be treated with a high-quality and rather nutritious potting soil such as the Plantura organic universal soil mixed and improved. Lowering the soil pH value by mulching with needle litter, bark mulch or grape pomace and nutrient enrichment with organic fertilizers may also be necessary. Also, keep in mind that velvet hydrangeas can grow quickly and very large in the right conditions. Therefore, choose a place in your garden where your velvet hydrangea can develop undisturbed.

Tip: By rooting shoots lying on the ground, and also by the formation of root sprouts the velvet hydrangea can spread out over a large area, which means that they become much wider than they are tall when they get older can.

Spring is the best time to plant velvet hydrangeas. Dig a sufficiently large planting hole. It should have about twice the volume of the plant container. Put some loose soil in the hole and then put the plant ball in so that the top edge of the ball is flush with the edge of the planting hole. By loosening the plant ball with your hands or a spade, you cause minor injuries to the roots. These injuries stimulate root growth. The hole is then completely filled with soil. Press well and water generously.

A start fertilization with horn shavings or a special hydrangea fertilizer like ours Plantura organic hydrangea fertilizer and a mulch layer of leaves or bark to protect against evaporation give the velvet hydrangea the best starting conditions for good growth.

Care of velvet hydrangeas

Velvet hydrangeas have a very high water requirement. Regular fertilization supports growth and flowering. If necessary, you can cut back the velvet hydrangea. Further care measures are usually not necessary.

Fertilize and water velvet hydrangea

In addition to the above starting fertilization, velvet hydrangeas do not need to be fertilized. Regular replenishment of the nutrient depot is only recommended for hydrangeas planted in pots. However, the velvet hydrangea is not particularly suitable as a pot plant anyway due to its high growth rate. If you are looking for a suitable hydrangea for your balcony, it is best to choose one plate hydrangea or garden hydrangea decide.

The velvet hydrangea, on the other hand, does not survive long without water. Hydrangeas are among the thirstiest garden plants and need regular watering. In long dry periods in summer, velvet hydrangeas should even be watered twice a day. Always use rainwater or low-lime tap water for watering, as hydrangeas are sensitive to lime.

Tip: If the velvet hydrangea has too many nutrients available, it can make it susceptible to frost. If you want to avoid damage from winter cold, do not fertilize the plant after July so that the shoots can harden until winter.

Cut velvet hydrangea

Pruning should generally be done in spring. Shoots that die in winter should be removed with pruning shears. If necessary, the velvet hydrangea can also be severely cut back if its crown becomes too expansive. However, it can happen that the hydrangea reacts to a strong pruning in the following year by not flowering.

To prevent the velvet hydrangea from spreading too much, remove root suckers with a spade cut off and disposed of in the compost or alternatively planted in another place in the garden will.

Overwinter velvet hydrangea

Velvet hydrangeas are hardy with us. When buying, always opt for robust plants from specialist shops that have been well hardened. To be on the safe side and to avoid frost damage to the roots of the hydrangea, you can cover the ground around the hydrangea with leaves and fir branches. This measure is particularly recommended for young or newly planted velvet hydrangeas.

Multiply velvet hydrangea

Velvet hydrangeas can be propagated via cuttings or sticks. While the cuttings are leafy in the case of cuttings propagation and are cut in the spring, the leafless cuttings are only cut in the case of cuttings propagation in winter. In the period between late autumn and spring, you cut off shoots that have just grown from the last season of the hydrangea. Then you cut several sticks about 10 - 15 cm long, which each have a pair of eyes (buds) at the upper end. The thin shoot tip is not used.

The sticks can then either be stuck directly into the flower bed or into flower pots filled with substrate. Care must be taken to ensure that they get into the ground the right way around. Choose a peat-free seed soil for the flower pots, such as ours Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil. Also mix in some sand or perlite. This increases the air capacity of the soil and achieves better rooting success. The sticks are pushed into the ground so far that only the top 2 - 3 cm protrude. The cuttings will take root by next spring. Young plants of velvet hydrangea grown in flower tubs should be transplanted into the garden by the end of March.

As an alternative to propagating cuttings, root runners of velvet hydrangeas can be cut off and replanted elsewhere. With a bit of luck, new velvet hydrangeas will develop.

If you want to learn about other types of hydrangea, you might want to check out our special article on the panicle hydrangea interested.