This collection, which now includes a white mophead called 'Blushing Bride', started with a single plant - Endless Summer The Original. This plant has been proven over the past few years to be an exceptional addition to any garden. They can be used as specimen plants in a perennial bed, or they can be great addition to a shady spot under a tree. They can be pink or blue depending on what type of soil you have them planted in. In order to get them to bloom blue the soil must be aluminum-based with a pH 5.0. For a pink color, the soil must be non-aluminum, neutral, or alkaline.

This plant has been intensely researched at the University of Georgia. Their greenhouse, nursery, and field data all showed that it did indeed flower on new growth, has foliage flat medium green; moderate mildew susceptibility; estimating 3 to 5 feet height and as wide; have suffered cold damage in the trials but the new shoots develop flower buds and fully expressed inflorescences (blooms).

It will bloom May and June with a second full flush in October and November. Studies have shown that when flowers are removed, it takes 10 - 12 weeks before new shoots develop full sized inflorescences. For continuous color, the gardener might remove one half the inflorescences (blooms), allowing the remainder to dry on the plant while the new shoots are producing flower buds for the later in the fall. The reason Endless Summer can bloom for so long is that the colorful heads aren't really flowers at all. Rather, they are actually sepals that are sterile and grouped in clusters of 3 to 5. The fertile florets are in the center of the cluster and are very small.

If you have these gorgeous plants in your yard, you will probably be tempted to bring some of the blooms inside for you and your family's enjoyment. Hydrangeas make wonderful bouquets and the Endless Summer hydrangea is no exception. Many people make blue hydrangea wedding bouquets for their special day. The trick is to water the plants thoroughly the day before cutting them and plunge them immediately into a clean bucket of tepid water with a little bleach in it to kill bacteria. Remove lower leaves that will be under water. If wilting occurs, place stems in boiling water for a few seconds. If you prefer, the mopheads can even be dried quite easily if you wait until later in their blooming season, when they are practically drying on the bush.

Endless Summer hydrangeas bloom on both old and new growth. That's a good thing because so often if we get a late season frost, many varieties of hydrangeas that only grow on new growth, will not bloom that year. That's why we love the Endless Summer hydrangea so much.

With these beauties, you will get all summer pink or blue flowers depending on the variety you chose. Be sure and check with your local garden center or online catalogs to purchase yours today for a perennial that blooms all summer long.