What is the difference between Endless Summer and hydrangea?

Endless Summer is a variety of hydrangea; it got this name because its flowering period stretches continuously from late spring through summer and autumn. So, what is the difference between Endless Summer and hydrangea?

1. The difference between Endless Summer and hydrangea

1. Different flowering periods

The flowering period of Endless Summer is from June to August, about 10-12 weeks longer than the flowering period of ordinary hydrangea. It begins to produce its first batch of flowers in May. The flower head is made up of several hundred small flowers. The small flowers visible to the naked eye are not the true flowers; the true flowers are hidden inside the flower head. The flower head can show blue and pink flowers at the same time.

The flowering period of hydrangea is also from June to August, but from flowering to fading it lasts about 25 days. The flowers of hydrangea are full in shape, large and beautiful, and their color can be red or blue.

2. Different appearance

The leaves of Endless Summer are relatively narrow and thin, and the color looks somewhat paler, with more obvious serrations along the leaf edges. The flower head is at least about 18 cm in diameter.

The leaves of hydrangea are relatively thick, 6-15 cm long and 4-11.5 cm wide. The color is purple-gray to light gray, somewhat darker. The petals are oblong, 3-3.5 mm long. The corymbose cyme is nearly spherical, 8-20 cm in diameter.

2. How do you grow Endless Summer?

1. Soil

Endless Summer produces flowers of different colors depending on the pH of the soil. Grown in acidic soil, it produces blue flowers; grown in neutral or alkaline soil, it can produce blue and pink flowers. Planting the plant requires soil with good water permeability and high looseness.

2. Light

It is a short-day plant, and daily light must not be less than three hours; below the light threshold, its normal metabolism will be affected and it will not bloom. For it to grow normally, it must receive about six hours of light per day. It can receive normal light in the morning and evening, and needs appropriate shading at noon.

3. Temperature

The plant likes warmth, and a growing temperature of 18 degrees is most suitable. In winter, the growing temperature must not be lower than 5 degrees, so in winter it needs appropriate warmth to overwinter safely.

4. Water and fertilizer

Its leaves are relatively thin and large, and water evaporates quickly, so in the hot summer it needs watering every day, and the leaves should be sprayed with water to keep them moist. In autumn and winter, water appropriately according to the soil condition; when the soil is found to be dry and cracking, it needs watering; if the soil is dry, do not water. It grows quickly and consumes fertilizer heavily, so in spring and summer it needs fertilizing once every half month; in autumn and winter, no fertilizing is needed.

As sunlight changes and time passes, the flower head of Endless Summer gradually takes on color and keeps swelling, and it can bloom throughout the whole summer, with high ornamental value.