Hydrangea ‘Haas’ Halo’
* Common name: Hydrangea ‘Haas’ Halo’
Hydrangea ‘Haas’ Halo,’ about ready to open.
(Credit: Scott Arboretum)
* Botanical name: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Haas’ Halo’
* What it is: This variety of our native smooth hydrangea is not only sturdy-stemmed and heat-tough, it’s distinctive for its large, 14-inch-wide white clusters of lacecap flowers as opposed to the floppy, white balls of the straight species. Flowers start opening in July and look good into fall.
* Size: Grows a bushy five feet tall and wide.
* Where to use: Shady or partly shaded spots are best, such as in a woodland garden or along a northern or eastern fence, wall, or house foundation. Plants will tolerate full sun if kept damp in hot, dry spells.
* Care: Cut back all growth as low as ankle high at the end of winter for maximum compactness. No pruning needed if size is OK. Browned-out flower heads can be snipped off any time, or you can let them on all winter if you like the textural appearance.
An annual spring scattering of a balanced, organic granular fertilizer is helpful but usually not necessary. Water needed only in very dry spells after the first year.
Flowers are some of the best when cut and used in vase arrangements or dried.
* Great partner: Japanese forest grass, sedges, liriope, and/or crested iris are good perennial partners. Impatiens and begonias make good annual pairings.