I had picked up a Shooting Star hydrangea in the supermarket in Montana a couple of years ago. It didn't survive. Been looking for one ever since. Found this blurb online: ...the true name of this variety is Hanabi which means falling or shooting star in Japanese. That's a real loose translation, some say it means Fireworks or Sky fire. There are several varieties of hydrangea that are close and have the same bloom and cascading effect - Fuji Waterfall maybe Shirofuji.
Shooting Star is a re-named plant that is really Hydrangea macrophylla Hanabi. A tissue culture firm introduced Hanabi to this country under the name Fuji Waterfall. So H. m. Shooting Star equals H.m. Hanabi equals H.m. Fuji Waterfall and also H. m. Fireworks. Just to confuse you, there is also a hydrangea serrata Fuji-no-taki (and that translates to Fuji waterfall). http://www.hydrangeasplus.com/product.php?productid=213">
Sources include
Wilkerson Mill Gardens, (770) 463-2400 hydrangea.com
Hydrangeas Plus, (866)433-7896 hydrangeasplus.com.
I also found links to Amazon - they sell Shooting Stars, potted, at Christmas time, in bloom, but they are not available now.
Ordered a 'Fuji Waterfall' Hydrangea yesterday from Hydrangeas Plus. Two actually. To increase the chances for survival.
Also found this version: ‘Hayes Starburst’ (H. arb. radiata) A superb new Hydrangea with completely sterile, dome shaped flower heads comprised of fully doubled star-like flowers. Hayes Jackson of Anniston, NATIVE: North America. Zone 4, 3-4 feet, gr 1, It's at springmeadownursery.com They have Shirofuji, too.
Update! Wow! My Fuji Waterfall's arrived today - and they're nice! Big! And in little pots! Not just bare root. The packing material still moist, keeping them safe.
I'm very impressed - and I definitely recommend Hydrangeas Plus!
July 4th - picked up a 'florist' Shooting Star in full bloom. With three working for me - I should be successful. Gotta say it is GORGEOUS. Subtle hints of color, spectacular flowers. Really really nice! And so far surviving quite well, potted, and outside.
◼ General Care
Step 1: Provide at least partial shade. The shooting star hydrangea grows best in morning sun and afternoon shade. Full sun will scorch the plant.
Step 2: Surround your shooting star hydrangea with an inch of organic mulch in the spring before it begins to bloom. This will encourage flower growth and reduce weed growth.
Step 3: Fertilize your hydrangea once in early summer with balanced (10-10-10) slow-release fertilizer.
Step 4: Prune immediately after the blooms start to fade, as the shooting star hydrangea is an old wood plant. This means that the blooms develop on the second-year wood.
◼ More info:
Shooting Star is not the same plant as Fuji Waterfall. Shooting Star is a Hydrangea macrophylla (Big-leaf) and is most likely a renaming of H. mac 'Hanabi' (Fireworks) and is sometimes listed as 'Sumida no Hanabi' (Fireworks of Sumida), developed as an indoor, potted plant for the Florist market.
'Fuji Waterfall' is a H. serrata (Mountain Hydrangea, small leaf) and is said to be the same as the Japanese cultivar, 'Fuji no taki', which means "Waterfall of Fuji"
The confusion developed when a nursery began distributing 'Hanabi' with the 'Fuji Waterfall' label, whether knowingly or unknowingly and since the florets of the two are similar, no one questioned the name.
...Since the fertile flower colors of both, H.macrophylla and H.serrata, are pH sensitive, you will need to maintain the current acidity level of your potted plants, to retain the blue color (tinge). A small amount of Aluminum sulphate, applied 2 or 3 times each year should suffice. but be careful not to apply too much. Fertilizers containing a small amount of Sulphur can also maintain the correct pH.
The ongoing saga: One, planted in the front yard has languished until this year, finally a couple of sturdy branches, with rich, healthy, macrophylla leaves, AND a bud emerging. Two more, still struggling to keep a couple leaves going, in pots.
Meanwhile, two full grown large potted hydrangeas, a pink(red) and white, doing great. Going to put the white one (with slightly chartreuse leaves) in the Japanese garden corner under the Bloodgood Maple. Seems funny to be reaching backwards and going with hydrangeas, but they're big, lush, flowery, rewarding and virtually indestructible.
July, 2013 - YEARS down the road, just bought TWO Shooting Star Hydrangeas at the local nursery, so they've finally made it to the nursery market. These two aren't blooming yet, so we'll see if the they're properly named. But they're big and they're healthy, in gallon pots.
July, 2016 - They're big, lush, healthy, and blooming beautifully. Love them. White with that delicate hint of blue, just spectacular. Haven't seen any in the nursery this year, so i am glad I got those while they were available.
 |
| SUCCESS! Big, beautiful and lush! Worth it! |
1 comment:
OK, the two from last year are still alive, one planted under the tree, and one in a pot, they have both survived the winter, but they are so far just one stem, not bushy, not lush, and not exactly "thriving."
But they are alive and maybe as the weather warms up, and with a little fertilizer, they'll show some vibrancy.
Also just boght two more at Safeway in the floral dept. Seems to be the only wat to get them. They are both lush and bushy and flowering. Will plant them and see how they do.
Post a Comment