Mini Penny™ Hydrangea – A Living Legacy of Penny McHenry
Penny McHenry, founder of the American Hydrangea Society, was a tremendous voice and source of inspiration for hydrangea lovers and gardeners throughout her life. Known by friends as the “Hydrangea Queen,” she eagerly shared her insights and gardening tips with the many visitors who traveled to tour her spectacular garden, coined “Hydrangea Heaven.” The Mini Penny™ hydrangea was developed by close friend and distinguished breeder, Dr. Michael A. Dirr, and named in honor of her. This new variety will serve as a living legacy to the passion Penny had for all hydrangeas. For more information or to join the American Hydrangea Society, please visit: www.americanhydrangeasociety.org.
The Mini Penny™ hydrangea is a compact remontant mophead with blooms of pink or blue, depending on soil pH. As it’s a remontant, or re-bloomer, there is no right or wrong time to prune a Mini Penny™ hydrangea. Newly planted Mini Penny™ hydrangeas shouldn’t actually be pruned at all. Over time, you will notice that old and new wood will both produce blooms. Deadheading old mopheads is an easy way to promote season-long setting of buds and blooms. You may also opt to leave spent blooms untouched over winter. The dried blooms can be visually appealing, and they help insulate new buds from cold weather- just be sure to remove them once spring arrives. Penny McHenry made use of dried blooms by crumbling them around the base of her hydrangeas in order to add organic nutrients to the soil.
