Flowers are an integral part of the earth's flora. Gardeners decorate their summer cottages with them, not only because of the beauty of the plants, but also to attract insects that pollinate other crops. Hydrangea Vanilla Melba and Fries Melba are very popular in this regard, but we will talk about the second variety.

General information

Hydrangea Fries Melba blooms profusely almost from spring to autumn. The color scheme of the hybrid gives unusual transitions from crimson to white shades that adorn the edges of the petal part, elongated in the form of an elongated pyramid.

A distinctive feature of the plant is its flowering in the first year after planting. Moreover, this process takes place regardless of the state of the bush. Additional care of the hybrid is not needed. The paniculate form of Fries differs from its progenitors by increased frost resistance, the ability to change color throughout the year: pink petals turn white, and light ones acquire a crimson color. The plant can live 30-40 years

Hydrangea Fries Melba

Hybrid history and technical data

Hydrangea Vanilla Fraze- description, planting and care

This type of hydrangea Fraise Melba Renba bred in the middle of the 20th century. Jean Reno. Then the breeding activity of scientists concentrated on obtaining the panicle variety Vanilla. Long-term experiments ended in 2014 with the creation of the Fraise Melba hydrangea hybrid, which immediately gained worldwide popularity. The reason for this is the ability to breed it in different climatic conditions.

Technical characteristics of the plant:

  • The height of the bush ranges from 1.7 to 2.1 m. The branches are rigid, almost straight, painted in a burgundy color with a brown tint.
  • Leaves are ordinary, narrow, with a serrate structure of raised edges, egg-shaped. They form a "boat". Painted in dark shades of green.
  • The inflorescence looks like a pyramid. The average length is 0.3-0.4 m, and with appropriate care, the size increases to 0.45-0.55 m.

    Hydrangea Fries Melba

Description of colors:

  • they are densely located along the entire cone;
  • the initial milky color of the petals becomes pink at first, and then acquires a crimson color;
  • when blooming, the inflorescence retains a white tone;
  • in early autumn, some types of this hybrid change the color of the tips of the petals.

This hydrangea blooms at the end of July, and the process continues until late autumn. Fraz Melba hydrangea is not afraid of severe cold weather. This variety grows rapidly. To obtain large inflorescences, the summer resident must cut off the hybrid in early spring.

Important!If the petals of a plant are dried under the rays of the sun, then they retain their original aroma for a long time.

How to plant a flower

Hydrangea Earley Sensation - variety description, planting and care

Hydrangea Freyzy Melba loves soils containing a small amount of lime. The variety calmly tolerates places in the sun and partial shade. The hybrid needs a lot of moisture to grow, so it is better to plant it in areas where subsoil water passes close. For countries like Russia, the optimal time for planting sprouts is spring.

After purchasing the seedlings of the desired variety, a hole is dug in the ground with dimensions of 0.3 X 0.3 X 0.3 m. Turf, river sand, organic (manure) and mineral (superphosphate) fertilizers are poured into it, and a little peat is added.

Hydrangea seedling

Planting is done after shortening the roots. The bush is watered abundantly with warm water. Mulching is done with humus.Its layer should be up to 50 mm thick. If hydrangeas are planted in small groups, then the distance between the bushes should be at least 100 cm.

Important! These flowers are propagated by cuttings, dividing a bush or layering. In the first case, the harvesting of seedlings is carried out in late spring or summer. Annual shoots up to 120 mm long are cut, leaves are removed, treated with a stimulant, planted in a greenhouse. After the development of the seedling, it is transferred to open ground.

Melba hydrangea bushes are divided in autumn and spring. They are dug up, divided into parts, leaving renewable buds, and then planted in new flower beds.

Cuttings are obtained from shoots 12 months old. They are bent to the ground, covered with earth, the top is left 0.2 m. In the spring, a new shoot is separated and transplanted. These flowers practically do not propagate by seeds.

Growing hydrangeas in the garden

Hydrangea in the garden

Hydrangea Dolly - description, planting and care

Plant care involves the following operations:

  • Top dressing of bushes with fertilizers is carried out 1 time in 10 days. First, nitrogen mixtures are used, then during the development of inflorescences the hybrid is transferred to potassium and phosphorus solutions. Fertilization is last applied in the fall. From organic matter, humus or slurry is used.
  • The variety loves watering. This requires water with a pH of no more than 5.5. Irrigation is carried out 3 times a week. If the summer is hot, it is recommended to increase the volume of water used by 2-3 times.
  • After planting, loosening of the soil is carried out 3 times per season. The immersion depth of the tool in the ground should not exceed 50-100 mm. This operation can be combined with watering.
  • The variety needs to be protected from various weeds. They are weeded every week.

Important! It is recommended to constantly renew the mulch, otherwise the hydrangea will begin to fade from overheating.

Pruning Melba hydrangea is done as follows:

  • after swelling of the buds in the spring, the bushes are cut by 1/3 of the length;
  • before wintering, the branches of young seedlings are reduced to 3-4 buds;
  • the old plant is cut at the root;
  • the formation of cuttings is carried out for 4-5 years.

Important!If the variety is blooming for the first time, it is recommended to remove the buds. This will allow you to get a more lush crown next year.

Diseases and pests of the variety

Hydrangea paniculata Fries Melba can get sick (turn yellow) due to the bright sun, waterlogged soil, lack of fertilizers or low acidity of the soil. The foliage of hybrids can fall off due to unsatisfactory watering, low humidity, and a lack of substances necessary for the plant.

Hydrangea disease

When planting hydrangeas in open ground, the variety is affected by the following diseases:

  • Chlorosis. He is treated with ferrovit or antichlorosis drugs. You can independently prepare a solution: 4 g of citric acid and 2 g of ferrous sulfate in 1 liter of water. This mixture is sprayed on the leaves.
  • When affected by white rot, hydrangea is treated with phytosporin or copper oxychloride fungicides. They watered plantings 3 times per season.
  • Gray rot is eliminated with pure flowers or soon. The bushes are watered with drugs every 20 days. The same means are used to combat powdery mildew.
  • Septoria is eliminated with solutions containing copper.

Important!The disease of ring spot is practically not cured. To prevent it, you need to select healthy seedlings.

Pests of any varieties of hydrangea are aphids, spider mites and slugs. The first insect is destroyed with soapy water or spark, acarina and the like. The second type of pests dies after treating the bushes with thiophos or fitoverm preparations. Slugs are eliminated with molluscicide granules. They are scattered under the bushes of hydrangeas.

Using flowers in garden decoration

Garden decoration

Many lovers decorate their summer cottages with paniculate hydrangea Freise Melba. Various landscape compositions are created using these colors. Plants of this type go well with stonecrop or phlox. Eye-pleasing ensembles are obtained from various varieties of hydrangeas and rhododendrons, cuffs. But it is not recommended to plant Melba hydrangeas near birches due to possible competition for moisture.

When planting flowers in separate flower beds, you need to try so that there are no more than 3-4 bushes on each of them. It is desirable to breed 2-3 varieties with different colors of petals.

To diversify the flower garden with this perennial variety, much effort will not be required. The main thing is to pick up a quality seedling, check it for lesions and water it abundantly after planting. And then the first hydrangea bloom will not be long in coming.