Hydrangea Polar Bear

Panicle hydrangea is a fairly common and well-known ornamental plant. An important distinctive feature is its inflorescences, which are in the form of panicles. Taking this hydrangea as a basis, scientists have developed a huge variety of varieties that are distinguished by a high level of resistance to frost and decorative qualities of foliage and flowers. These include the Polar Bear hydrangea variety, which can easily survive forty-degree frosts.

Hydrangea Polar Bear: variety description and characteristics

Panicle hydrangea Polar bear: photo of the variety

The variety of panicle hydrangea Polar bear is very good at care, although it is considered a very unpretentious plant to grow. Its main characteristics include a fairly good resistance to temperature extremes, at least upwards or downwards, and also has a high level of immunity to common diseases and harmful insects. This plant will also be a wonderful helper in apiaries, as it is considered an excellent honey plant. This subspecies got its existence thanks to the crossing of two types of hydrangeas, Grandiflora and Lamlight. From one subspecies, the Hydrangea variety Polar Bear borrowed large and beautiful inflorescences, and from the other, a remarkable immunity to diseases and adverse weather events.

A huge plus in the Polar Bear hydrangea variety is that it did not take shortcomings from its fellows. So, for example, unlike Grandiflora, which has rather thin branches that break due to heavy flowers, this variety has branches much stronger and more stable, which allows it to withstand the heavy weight of the inflorescences on its own, without the help of additional support.

Hydrangea Polar bear can grow up to two meters in height and 1.5 meters in diameter and more. This fact must be remembered when planting seedlings, and leave more space for them, since planting too close will negatively affect not only the appearance of the plant, but also the well-being in general. With such a planting, they may receive less lighting, moisture, air and nutrients, so take this point into account. The shrub has quite strong, tough and straight shoots that can easily withstand a lot of inflorescences, as mentioned earlier. The leaves have an oblong shape, a bright and rich green hue, which remains unchanged even in the autumn period.

Inflorescences of the Polar Bear hydrangea have a dense structure, compact, in the form of a cone up to about 40 centimeters in diameter, as well as with large sterile flowers with a diameter of more than three centimeters and very small fruit flowers. Very small fertile flowers fall off rather quickly and as a result, a shrub remains completely covered with large inflorescences. At the beginning of the flowering period, the flowers have a pistachio hue, which after a while changes to white, and then to pink.

The flowering period for the Polar Bear hydrangea variety begins in mid-July and lasts until October, and sometimes until November.

Hydrangea Polar bear: planting and care

Panicle hydrangea Polar bear: photo of the variety

Engaged in planting polar bear hydrangeas in the spring or fall.If you are going to plant a bush in the fall, then this should be done with the expectation that the seedling has time to take root and adapt before the cold weather begins, but, at the same time, so that the plant does not have time to start growing, otherwise it may also die from frost. It is best and safer to plant a plant in the spring, since there will be no severe cold and frost, and if there are slight frosts, then you can simply cover the plant from them and not worry that it will not take root.

When planting a Hydrangea seedling of the Polar Bear variety in an open space in the autumn, it needs additional care measures, such as, for example, a very good shelter from frost. Because it is still a small and young plant, not fully adapted to the growing environment.

In the spring, caring for the polar bear panicle hydrangea will instantly give positive results, such as good growth and development, so that after three years, approximately, a lush flowering period begins. For a given plant, this is exactly the amount of time it takes to accumulate strength for the most beautiful flowering.

Before planting a polar bear hydrangea seedling, you must initially choose a suitable site for the plant, since if the wrong place is chosen, this will certainly manifest itself negatively on its flowering, development and growth. To then correct this unpleasant situation will take a lot of effort and expense. Therefore, be careful when choosing a place for growing. This shrub prefers to grow in a fairly open area with enough light, about 5-7 hours a day. Hydrangea of ​​the Polar Bear variety starts sap flow quite early, so cold winds in the spring can have a negative effect on the shoots filled with moisture. The bush at such a time is capable of getting sick, and the growth of shoots and the formation of inflorescences will noticeably decrease. That is why the polar bear panicle hydrangea should be protected from drafts.

Panicle hydrangea Polar bear: photo of the variety

Hydrangea varieties Polar Bear, like many other subspecies of hydrangeas, require a special soil composition. For this variety, a fertile, slightly acidic soil and black soil should be used, although it can calmly grow on sandy loam or loamy soils. With small amounts of nutrients in the soil, humus and peat are added to the hole before planting. And then mineral and organic fertilizers are applied. This plant grows extremely poorly on alkaline soil, therefore it is oxidized with spruce branches or peat.

Hydrangea Polar bear is very good at watering procedures, in principle, like all varieties of hydrangeas. Therefore, observe a certain regime, such as: mandatory watering 2-3 times a week, and up to 35 liters of water is poured under each bush. You can add potassium permanganate to the water, it will help protect the roots from various rot and fungus, plus everything will be an excellent top dressing for the bush. To keep moisture in the soil and to fence off the hydrangea roots from overheating in the summer, mulching is carried out. Sawdust, agrofibre and peat are used as mulch. Such measures for the care of the polar bear hydrangea are very important and necessary for him, since the root system of this shrub is horizontal and close to the surface of the earth.

The first three years of the life of the panicle hydrangea Polar bear does not carry out the pruning procedure, only in the spring they remove the frozen branches, as well as weak and smallish shoots that thicken the hydrangea. After the flowering period in the autumn season, the inflorescences are removed from the bush, so that in winter, snow and ice, falling on the inflorescences, cannot break off the branches of the plant. In the spring, shoots are completely cut off, leaving only 7-10 more persistent and strong ones and are reduced by about two-thirds, or up to 4-5 buds.In the fall, caring for this plant consists in insulating the roots of the shrub with peat, needles, fallen leaves or straw. Well, in the frosty season, you can supplement the insulation with a layer of snow.

Features of breeding varieties

Panicle hydrangea Polar bear: photo of the variety

Reproduction of the polar bear hydrangea variety is carried out in two ways - this is the method of dividing the bush and cuttings. Cuttings for propagation are cut at the beginning of summer, or the material that remains after the spring pruning procedure is used. These cuttings are deepened into the soil, which includes peat, leafy soil, humus and fine sand. Then they water and create greenhouse conditions for him, in the form of a shelter with a garden film. It is not difficult to take care of the cuttings at this point in time, they simply remove the film for airing every day, and water the soil as necessary with water. They begin to plant a seedling as an independent bush in two years, and after three years it will already begin to give color.

The method of dividing the bush for breeding hydrangeas The polar bear is also done in the spring. To do this, it is slightly undermined on one side, while separating part of the shoots together with the roots, and then transplanted into a previously prepared place. It will be better if you move them to a new place along with an earthen lump, this will help your Polar Bear hydrangea to adapt faster and better to a new place.

Panicle hydrangea Polar bear: video about the variety

Hydrangea Polar Bear: reviews of gardeners

• Natalia Alexandrovna, Leningrad region: “Panicle hydrangea The polar bear is an amazing variety. Fell in love with him at first sight, as soon as she saw him at her friend's dacha. The next summer I decided to plant a variety at home. It turned out just incredibly beautiful. Real snow-white giants have grown up. "
• Sofia Viktorovna, Sverdlovsk region: “The hydrangea variety Polar Bear has been growing with me for several years now. The bushes of this hydrangea look like real trees. Somehow, for the sake of interest, my husband and I measured the height of these flowers - 2.5 meters! Taking care of the Polar Bear hydrangea variety is not as difficult as it might seem. However, one should not forget about leaving, otherwise such giants as ours should not be expected. "