Hydrangea arborescens ‘Strong Annabelle’®

Description

Hydrangea arborescens ‘Strong Annabelle’® is a 2004 variety, a selection of the breeding programme of the American company Spring Meadow Nursery of Grand Haven, Michigan. It is an improved version of the ‘Annabelle’ variety. Its inflorescences resemble this well-known and popular variety, but are larger than it and form on stronger and longer stems.
The shrub grows strongly, is dense and ball-shaped, reaching 1.2-1.8 m in height and about 2.5 m in width. The spherical inflorescences reach up to 40 cm in diameter. At first the flowers are celadon-cream, white when in full bloom, and turn a nice green as they bloom, a colour which persists throughout autumn. The stems are very strong and sturdy and do not bend under the weight of the huge inflorescences even after heavy rains.
. The shrub is easy to grow, is rarely affected by diseases and pests, and is completely frost hardy in Poland. It grows well in partial shade and sunny positions, has no special soil requirements, but prefers slightly acidic, moderately moist soil.
The shrub is suitable for both home gardens and larger gardens and parks, planted under trees in partial shade, in the company of other shrubs, at the edges of ponds and along watercourses, preferably in large groups, also in beds, hedges and rows.
. The inflorescences, due to their good persistence, are suitable for floral compositions, both fresh and dried. It requires pruning in early spring to make the plants denser and flower more profusely.
This variety is also known as Hydrangea arborescens INCREDIBALL ‘Abetwo’.
. Will probably be a worthy item in any garden.
. The variety was awarded: Plantarium Bronze Medal 2011 and Landscape Shrub of the Year 2022..