Hydrangea paniculata Magical Moonlight: variety description, photos, gardener reviews

Description of the variety Magical Moonlight

Content:

Description of hydrangea Magical Moonlight
Characteristics of the variety
Advantages and Disadvantages of Magical Moonlight
Brief agricultural technology
Rules for planting seedlings
Further care for hydrangea
Frost resistance and preparation for winter
Reviews from gardeners about hydrangea Magical Moonlight
Hydrangea “Magic Moonlight” in landscape design

Video review of paniculate hydrangea Magical Moonlight:

Among the representatives of the luxurious paniculate hydrangea, the variety Magical Moonlight (translated as “Magic Moonlight”) occupies a special place. The shrub is characterized by abundant flowering, huge cone-shaped inflorescences, and unusual flower color. Every gardener dreams of getting such beauty, especially since the variety is unpretentious and shows high frost resistance.

Description of the hydrangea variety Magical Moonlight

The bush is collected, tall, erect with a fan-shaped crown. The shoots are thick, dark brown, heavily leafy, growing vertically upward. The leaf blades are elongated, oval-shaped, rich green in color, carved along the edges. By the end of October the leaves become bright yellow.

The inflorescences are dense, very large, and consist mainly of sterile flowers. Fertile buds are present in small quantities. When blooming, the inflorescences have a round shape; as they grow, they stretch out, taking on a pyramidal, sharp-conical shape with a wide base. The flowers are large, four-petaled, the aroma is barely noticeable.

Characteristics of the Magical Moonlight variety

Bush height. In the bulk it grows up to 1.5 m, maximum height 2 m.
Bush diameter. The crown is wide, varying from 1.2 to 1.5 m.
Growth rate. A vigorous variety, even with short pruning it produces new shoots up to 1.5 m long.
Does the bush require support? Gartering the shoots is mandatory; it will protect them from breakage in strong winds and heavy rains.
Inflorescence size. At the height of flowering it reaches 35-40 cm in length, with a diameter of 28-30 cm at the base.
Flowering period. The buds begin to bloom in the first ten days of July, flowering continues until the end of October.
Does the color of the inflorescences change? The delicate green color of the panicles at the beginning of flowering gradually changes to a creamy white color.
On which shoots does flowering occur? Inflorescences form on young shoots of the current year.
Frost resistance zone. The variety belongs to frost resistance zone 4 (USDA), withstands temperatures down to -34°C.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The Magical Moonlight variety has a number of advantages over its relatives:

The bush does not fall apart if the skeleton is formed correctly in the fall and the shoots are cut short.
The plant increases its decorative value when grown on a trunk.
Even after pruning to zero, new shoots grow quickly.
Retains white color with lime splashes, does not turn pink with the onset of autumn.
When fully dissolved, the crown of the inflorescence remains light green in color.
Flowering is abundant. At the height of the season, the bush is buried in a snow-white cloud of inflorescences.

The variety also has disadvantages, but they are few:

The shoots, although powerful, are not flexible and brittle. They are afraid of strong winds. Without carefully processing the tree trunk circle, you can easily break the stem.
The branches need to be tied up; they do not hold large inflorescences after heavy rains and break.
Flowers rot after rain, burn and turn brown in the bright sun.

At the initial stage of flowering, lime panicles

Brief agricultural technology

The beauty and duration of flowering, decorativeness and health of the bush directly depend on the conditions in which the plant grows. The Magical Moonlight hydrangea variety is not capricious; with proper agricultural technology it will manifest itself in all its glory.

Landing place. To plant hydrangeas, choose a place protected from the midday heat.It is optimal if shadows from trees and buildings fall on the plant. When planted in a sunny area, the inflorescences wither faster; at temperatures above +35°C, the leaf blades get sunburned. When the temperature drops, the foliage quickly recovers.
Landing dates. A plant with dormant buds can be planted as early as April. If the seedlings have buds or shoots have begun to grow, wait until the soil warms up and the return frosts end.
What soils does he prefer? Likes to grow in places with loose, airy, acidic soil. The soil should easily pass moisture and be breathable. Sandy, heavy clay and calcareous soils inhibit the plant.
Watering. Moisture-loving hydrangea needs abundant, timely watering. After planting, the seedling is moistened daily; subsequently, the frequency of watering is reduced without reducing the volume. Make sure that the tree trunk circle is constantly moistened.
Feeding. The variety is demanding in terms of nutrition, it approves of: mineral fertilizers (simple and complex), organic natural fertilizers (manure, peat, compost), mixed (combine organic matter, minerals, microelements).
Trimming. In the spring, before the sap begins to flow, the stems are thoroughly pruned to increase the size of the inflorescences and reduce their number. In this case, the bush will be medium-sized and will not reach 2 m in height. Last year's shoots are pruned, leaving no more than 4 buds, otherwise during prolonged rains the stems will fall along with the inflorescences.
Mulching. Hydrangeas are vital. The protective layer protects the surface of the earth from overheating, prevents the evaporation of moisture from the soil, the formation of crust, and the growth of weeds. Peat, compost, bark, and pine needles are used as mulch.
Reproduction methods. For the Magical Moonlight variety, both vegetative and seed propagation methods are acceptable. Vegetative methods are characterized by simplicity and high survival rate: layering, dividing the bush, cuttings of shoots.
Resistance to diseases and pests. Improper care, unfavorable weather conditions and contaminated planting material can cause infection with diseases characteristic of hydrangea: powdery mildew, chlorosis, rust. Weakened bushes readily attack colonies of aphids and spider mites.
Can it be grown in pots? It is preferable to grow low-growing varieties of hydrangea in containers; Magical Moonlight is not one of them. When growing in pots, the owner has the added hassle of having to replant into larger pots and fixing tall, up to 2 m, shoots.
Wintering. The variety is a winter-hardy variety, occupying zone 4 of the USDA frost resistance scale. In order for the plant to safely overwinter, the bush is prepared in advance for cold weather. In mid-October, give autumn fertilizers, water abundantly, and increase the layer of mulch.

Planting and caring for Magical Moonlight hydrangeas

There are clear rules that guide when planting hydrangeas. By adhering to them, over time you will get a healthy ornamental shrub, delighting with the beauty of flowering.

Selecting a location

The variety is placed in partial shade, in a place protected from direct sunlight, strong winds, and drafts. Hydrangea grows well in acidic, loose, well-drained soil.

For information! The color of the inflorescences depends on the place of growth. When grown in a shaded area, the flowers will be greenish-cream throughout the flowering period.

Landing dates

It is preferable to plant in spring.When planting in the fall, there is a possibility that the plant will not be able to prepare for winter.

For better survival, the plant is planted either early in the morning or in the evening.

Video about the rules for planting paniculate hydrangeas:

Technology of planting seedlings

Before the procedure, the seedling is watered. It is better to soak in a bucket of water for 6 hours, adding the root formation stimulator “Kornevin” (10 grams per 10 liters of water).

Dig a planting hole, focusing on the volume of the root system. When planting a potted seedling, the planting depth should be at the same level as in the container. For a small sprout there is no point in digging a large, deep hole.
A layer of drainage (expanded clay, pine cones) is placed at the bottom.
The substrate for filling the pit directly depends on the quality of the soil on the site. If the soil is heavy, mix equal parts: garden soil, sand, acidic peat, humus. Superphosphate (50 g) and potassium sulfate (40 g) are added to the mixture.

If the soil on the site is light, moisture-permeable and breathable (sandy, sandy loam), leavening agents in the form of vermiculite and sand are not added.

Spring planting hydrangeas

The hole is half filled with prepared soil and watered.
Place the plant in the center of the hole, lightly press down to remove air from the roots, and water generously.
Mulch the tree trunk circle with bark, peat, and pine needles. The seedling is shaded for 2 weeks.
After 7-10 days, water with a solution containing any growth stimulator.

Aftercare for Magical Moonlight

Caring for planted hydrangeas will not be difficult. A well-groomed beauty will not hesitate to show its decorative qualities and will envelop you in a long wave of stunning flowering.

When fully dissolved, the top of the hydrangea remains green

Don't forget to read:

Propagation of hydrangeas by cuttings and layering at home ⇒

Watering

The Magical Moonlight variety does not forgive lack of watering; soil moisture is kept under constant control. The procedure is carried out in the morning or evening strictly at the root. Flowers and leaves are not moistened; this will negatively affect the decorative appearance of the bush.

Every 7-10 days, an adult plant needs 2-3 buckets of water, a young seedling needs half as much. During drought, watering is carried out more often, 2 times a week. During prolonged rains, do not irrigate, otherwise the development of rot can be provoked.

For information! In the heat, Magical Moonlight wilts greatly, but after irrigation it quickly recovers.

Watering a hydrangea seedling

Do not miss:

Growing and caring for paniculate hydrangeas in pots at home ⇒

Top dressing

The Magical Moonlight variety requires good nutrition. Fertilizing is carried out according to the following plan (grams are indicated per 1 m²):

in early spring, urea (20-30 g), superphosphate (35-40 g), sulfuric potassium (30-35 g) are added over the snow;
during the formation of inflorescences, superphosphate (65-80 g), potassium sulfate (40-45 g) are given;
in early autumn, superphosphate is added in the same proportion, and the tree trunk circle is mulched with compost.

Video about the rules for pruning paniculate hydrangeas:

Pruning hydrangea

To obtain large inflorescences, short spring pruning is necessary; the more radical it is, the more magnificent the flowering will be.

In the fall, they form a skeleton and cut out all the small things. Only 5-7 of the strongest shoots are left, the rest are removed, otherwise the bush will fall apart.

Short spring pruning

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Frost resistance and preparation for winter

Paniculata hydrangea is winter-hardy, and the Magical Moonlight variety is no exception; it can withstand cold temperatures down to -34°C.In central Russia and in regions with more severe climates, it winters persistently without shelter.

To preserve the health of the hydrangea and the possibility of its flowering next year, the bush is prepared for the coming cold weather:

Remove faded inflorescences so that the shoots do not break under the weight of snow.
Apply a thick layer (5-7 cm) of fertilizer - humus or compost.
Water abundantly (at least 3 buckets per plant).
Mulch with a layer of tree bark.

To be on the safe side, in case of a frosty, snowless winter, some gardeners still cover their beauty. Use a standard or frame method of shelter:

With the standard method, the shoots are bent to the ground, agrofibre or a wooden box is laid on them, and covered with spruce branches on top.

Standard method of covering hydrangeas for the winter

The frame method involves constructing a frame half a meter around the plant. The structure is made 10-15 cm above the hydrangea, the space is filled with dry leaves. Used to protect mature bushes, as they are difficult to bend to the ground.

Frame method of shelter

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Reviews of hydrangea Magical Moonlight

The impression of the variety is formed according to the reviews of the owners, who, over several years of cultivation, managed to study the positive and negative aspects of Magical Moonlight:

“Magical Moonlight has a larger flower, a larger brush and very interesting color shifts from white to green.”

“M. Moonlight has very large inflorescences, up to 45-50 cm. And, as it were... with cheeks. They are heavy and even without rain they tend to the ground. And the shoots are fragile, which is why I tie them to supports before flowering, because last year I wanted to lift the drooping inflorescences, and the shoot remained in my hand, separately from the bush.”

Three simple ways to propagate hydrangeas from cuttings:

Using hydrangea in landscape design

Thanks to its gorgeous flowering, Magical Moonlight is often used in landscape design to decorate summer cottages and recreation areas. Masters of garden design use culture as:

Hedge