hydrangea bush

Has anyone ever tried a hydrangea for bonsai?? let me know i may experment a little..thanks john

I am in the process of growing several varieties of H. Serrata as bonsai.
No doubt it will be said that they are not suitable as bonsai.........
But in Four Seasons of Bonsai by Kyuzo Murata there are a number of them featured. In the recently published Modern Bonsai they also feature in a number of the illustrations.

I have H. Serrata Shichidanka which has light violet blooms Also H. S. Beni Yama which has pale white/pink flowers which turn a bright red described as looking like a painted geisha ageing to bright red lipstick. I also have H. S. Kurenai Nishiki which is a gold variagated plant having white flowers which spot red(this is a weak variety).
all have survived or winter despite having been out but under woven shading for protection.
I got them last year and have simply planted them in largish pots to grow on ready for this year. It appears that training is by cut and grow they are also listed in Yoshimura and Giovanni Halfords book The Japanese art of miniature trees and landscapes.

If you look in issue 66 of Bonsai Today page 9 you will see a picture of Schizophragma Hydrangeoides which is a vine type plant with hydrangea type leaves.

If they follow true to hydrangea type all should be easily cultivated from cuttings certainly the ones I did from Shichidanka have all struck.

Hope this helps.
In the UK a good supplier is www.millcottageplants.co.uk which is near Shepton Mallet, Somerset.

Thank you,DAVE, Think i will give it a try. i am in w.va. usa thanks john

Some of the paniculatas (pee-gee hydrangeas) work well too. They tend to be more upright, woodier and often single trunked.

Russell

I have a climbing variety..... but it will never make a "formal" bonsai but the leaves do reduce with a semi defoliating process.
It’s also a real conversation piece as it has really long flaky stringy somewhat lacy bark.
Good luck.
Cheers G.

Thank you all for your input!!! I got myself a plant single trunk about one and a half inches,,pruned it down to broom style..we will see what it does this spring..thanks john