Hydrangea longipes is native to western China. It grow in dense to sparse forests or thickets along stream banks, in valleys, or on mountain slopes of Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan at elevations of 1300-2800 meters above sea level.
Hydrangea longipes also called as Long-footed Hydrangea, is a species of the genus Hydrangea. This species was described by Adrien René Franchet in 1885.
IDENTIFY HYDRANGEA LONGIPES PLANT
Hydrangea longipes is native to western China. It grow in dense to sparse forests or thickets along stream banks, in valleys, or on mountain slopes of Gansu, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan at elevations of 1300-2800 meters above sea level.
It is a shrub which reaching 1-3 meters tall with branchlets yellowish to brown, terete, pubescent. The petiole 3-15 cm, sparsely pilose to subglabrous; leaf blade usually greenish on both surfaces when dry, lanceolate, oblong-ovate or -obovate, broadly ovate, or broadly obovate, 4-22 × 3-12 cm, membranous to papery, abaxially sparsely appressed pubescent, or densely tomentose-villous with hairs spreading, brown, longer, and thicker along secondary veins and especially midvein, adaxially sparsely strigose, secondary veins 6-8 on both sides of midvein, abaxially elevated, base broadly cuneate, truncate, or shallowly cordate, margin irregularly roughly serrate, apex acute to acuminate.
Long-footed Hydrangea bloom in July-August from the corymbose cymes inflorescences, 7-20 cm wide, apex truncate to slightly arcuate; branches short, densely shortly hairy, hairs thick. The sterile flowers with sepals 4, white, obovate, broadly so, or suborbicular, 0.8-2.2 × 0.9-2.2 cm, margin entire or few denticulate. The fertile flowers with calyx tube cupular; teeth triangular, ca. 0.5 mm. Petals are white, oblong-ovate. Stamens 10, unequal; anthers broadly oblong to subglobose. Ovary inferior.
The key to identify this species is: Ovary completely inferior; capsule apex truncate; petals free; seeds winged at both ends without transverse veins; leaf blade margin serrate, membranous to thinly papery; bracts not enveloping inflorescence in bud, lanceolate; shrubs or small trees; branchlets glabrous or with simple hairs, terete or obscurely 4-angled; petiole usually long and thin or short and thick; fertile flowers white; petiole long and thin.
Some variety of this species: var. lanceolate (leaf blade lanceolate); var. fulvescens (leaf blade abaxially densely tomentose-villous, secondary veins and especially midvein with spreading, brown, long, thick hairs); var. longipes (leaf blade abaxially sparsely appressed pubescent, veins without spreading, brown, long, thick hairs).
HYDRANGEA LONGIPES PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Hydrangea longipes love the warm morning sun, but they dislike the heat of the afternoon (can grow in full sun with adequate soil moisture). The best place to plant this species is in a sheltered location with sunny mornings and shady afternoons. Avoid planting directly underneath trees, which can lead to competition for water and nutrients. Although they can be successfully grown in full shade, they will not bloom well.
Temperature:
Keep the plants in a cool location, from 18° to 24°C. This plant grow well and are reliably winter hardy. Cold winters and late spring frosts can often kill flower buds, preventing plants from blooming in the spring.
Substrate, growing media:
Long-footed Hydrangea are best planted in soil that has been amended with adequate amounts of organic matter, such as compost, leaf mold, or well-composted manure. While most hydrangeas grow better in soil that is lower in pH (acidic), they will tolerate higher pH soils (alkaline) quite well.
Watering and humidity:
Hydrangea longipes prefer consistent moisture but dislike wet feet. Mulch to help conserve moisture and cool the root system. A two- to three-inch layer of mulch will help to conserve moisture.
Fertilizer:
Fertilizing is generally not recommended unless a nutrient deficiency is observed. This plants may need little fertilizer in rich soil with organic matter applied yearly. Avoid using too much nitrogen - this can encourage foliage growth at the expense of blooms.
Pruning:
Hydrangea longipes should only be pruned immediately after they bloom and pruning should be kept to a minimum. If this type of hydrangea is pruned in the fall or winter, it will not bloom in the spring or summer, and will flower in the following growing season. Dead or diseased branches can be pruned out at any time of the year.
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