A Choice New Hydrangea With Variegated Foliage

At Carroll Gardens, we can't get enough of the breakthrough hydrangeas that have been introduced over the past few years. Beginning with the 'Endless Summer' Hydrangea in 2003, we have seen such choice introductions as 'Forever & Ever,''Forever & Ever Double Pink,''Forever & Ever Red' and 'Blushing Bride.'

Variegated hydrangeas have been used to brighten up shady gardens for at least a 100 years. I grew one as a kid in my fern garden. Any variegated hydrangeas I have ever encountered have had one major deficiency---sparse to non-existent blooms. For some reason, all variegated hydrangeas have lace cap blooms, even when they originated as sports (mutations) of mop head hydrangeas.

Recently, the widely popular re-blooming hydrangea Endless Summer made a variegated lace cap mutation. This hydrangea has been named 'Light O' Day.' Compared to other variegated hydrangeas, it has a more reliable bloom, better hardiness and at least as good creamy white variegation. Don't expect 'Light O' Day' to re-bloom like Endless Summer, but any bloom from a variegated hydrangea in the shade is a blessing indeed. And you will certainly get more blooms from 'Light O' Day' than from any other variegated hydrangea grown in similar conditions. For maximum bloom production, choose a spot that is lightly shaded, has dappled shade or is shaded in the afternoon with morning sun.

The inner blooms are either pink or blue, depending on the soil acidity. Surrounding the inner blooms are bright white flowers. 'Light O' Day' will reach about four feet tall and four feet wide. It prefers moist soil (not wet) in a place with afternoon shade and morning sun. 'Light O' Day' makes an excellent choice for the woodland garden or along the north side of the house or garage.

Planting and Care

  • For best results plant in early spring to late summer.

  • Prefers an area with morning sun and afternoon shade or in dappled sun all day long. Will grow handsomely, but will not bloom well in dense shade.

  • Will perform best in moist, but not wet, soil. Add Soil Moist if you think the soil is too dry.

  • For blue blooms, use Leaf Gro compost at planting and fertilize with Holly-Tone.

  • For pink blooms, use Chesapeake Blue Crab Compost at planting and fertilize with Bulb-Tone.

  • Add aluminum sulphate for blue blooms and lime for pink blooms.

  • Use a handful of fertilizer at planting and again in early December and early March.

  • Plant so the top of the root ball is a half inch below the surface of the soil.

  • Mulch with two inches of shredded hardwood mulch.

  • If a stem with all green leaves shows up, it should be removed to the base.

  • Hardy in Zones 5 to 9.

    • Click here to view Light O' Day Hydrangea on the Carroll Gardens website.

    Alan Summers, president of Carroll Gardens, Inc., has over 30 years experience in gardening and landscape design. He has made Carroll Gardens one of America