Hydrangeas are planted in almost every garden. Without a doubt, we consider them to be the most popular garden plants. If you are looking for an original specimen that will produce even more flowers, be sure to plant… a blue flower. Check the most important information about this phenomenal shrub.
Blue lilac, also known as California lilac, is an attractive ornamental shrub that belongs to the buckthorn family.. Its natural habitat is warm regions of North America, especially California.
It is therefore characterized by low frost resistance and therefore requires appropriate care. However, it is worth devoting some time to it, because it will reward you with abundant flowering.
What does a blue puffball look like? This spectacular shrub grows up to 1.5 m high in our climate. It grows quite quickly, with annual increments ranging from 20 to 30 cm. It is characterized by a dense, spreading shape and dark green, shiny leaves with a pleasant, spicy scent.
From May to July, it also produces small, blue flowers gathering in conical inflorescences about 10 cm long. The plant attracts bees and butterflies. That’s why it’s worth growing it in pollinator-friendly gardens.
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Blue Prusznik has a compact form and blooms wonderfully, so it is worth having it in home gardens and flower beds.. This shrub can be planted singly, in groups or even as a low hedge. It creates color contrasts with perennials with yellow or white flowers, e.g. sand thyme.
Also suitable for balconies and terraces. We recommend planting this specimen in a pot, especially in central and northern Poland. Then it will be easier for us to protect it from frost.
We plant the blue Prusznik in a sunny, warm place, sheltered from the wind. We will protect the specimen from drafts by placing it near a fence or wall. It prefers permeable, humus-rich soil with a slightly acidic or neutral pH. It is worth protecting the plant against water stagnation by drainage with gravel or expanded clay.
Water the California lilac regularly for two seasons after planting. Older plants are more resistant to temporary drying, but we also need to water them during hot weather. We only use soft, settled water, because hard water increases the pH of the soil and leads to leaf chlorosis.
The specimen does not require intensive fertilization because it reacts with bacteria that fix nitrogen from the air. We can additionally feed shrubs growing in poor soil with a slow-release fertilizer intended for flowering plants.
It is recommended to remove faded inflorescences and damaged or frozen shoots. The cut should not be drastic. This procedure is carried out in summer for spring-blooming varieties or in early spring for later blooming varieties.
It is extremely important to overwinter the blue bell pepper. In winter, we must cover it with agrotextile or spruce branches. These materials protect against frost and wind. Potted plants should be placed in a bright and cool room, where the temperature ranges from 5 to 10 degrees Celsius.
