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Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Lanarth White’
lacecap hydrangea
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Printer-friendly Fact Sheet
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| Outstanding Qualities |
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The best in pure white lacecap hydrangeas is ‘Larnath White’. This reliable cultivar produces abundant flowers with a particularly lacey appearance. Virginal white sterile-florets loosely corral the tiny, baby-blue fertile flowers within a delicate disk. The display begins in early summer and lasts until autumn. The entire effect is enhanced by the light green foliage, giving a luminescent effect to the lightly shaded garden. Plant with dark evergreen foliage, such as rhododendrons and azaleas to heighten the experience. Shade loving perennials like hostas and epimedium make a great foil around this prized summer bloomer. |
| Culture |
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The best growth is in partial to bright shade. A location avoiding hot sun will keep the foliage and flowers from prematurely fading or scorching. A fertile organic soil with good drainage and plenty of organic matter produces the best growth and flowering. Hydrangeas are not drought tolerant and will grow and flower more prolifically with regular summer watering. The large showy sterile florets will not change colors in different types of soil, but the typically acidic soils of the Pacific Northwest will cause the variable central and small fertile flowers to bloom toward blues and lilacs. For pink fertile flowers add lime to raise the pH and sweeten the soil. Changing the color can often take a few years to accomplish with more than one application of lime. For an accurate quantity of lime needed, a soil test should be done. Hydrangeas will bloom heaviest on one year old branches and to a lesser extent on new growth. Prune only to remove a few old twiggy branches to the ground yearly or lightly tip back rangy growth to improve the overall shape. Heavy pruning can ruin the flowering for the following year. |
| Growing Habit |
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Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Larnath White’ is a medium sized deciduous shrub growing to about five feet tall and slightly wider in ten years. It has a good vigorous habit with mature shrubs developing a rounded to slightly mounded appearance over time. |
| Hardiness |
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USDA zones 6 to 9 |
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© 2009 Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden
Funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Carey Miller Charitable Foundation
Administered by the Elisabeth Carey Miller Botanical Garden