{"product_id":"hydrangea-anomala-subsp-petiolaris-flying-saucer","title":"Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris 'Flying Saucer'","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHydrangea petiolaris 'Flying Saucer'\u003c\/strong\u003e is a large-flowered selection of the familiar climbing hydrangea, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hydrangea-anomala-subsp-petiolaris\"\u003eHydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris\u003c\/a\u003e. It climbs in the same way, gripping walls, fences and tree trunks with aerial roots, and has the same broad, heart-shaped, glossy green leaves, but its flat, rounded lacecap heads are noticeably bigger than the ordinary form, with a wide collar of creamy white sterile florets around a centre of tiny fertile flowers. Held out flat from the stems, the heads really do look like saucers hovering against the foliage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardiness and seasons.\u003c\/strong\u003e The species is rated H5 by the RHS and holds the Award of Garden Merit, and 'Flying Saucer' is every bit as tough, standing severe winters across most of the UK. It is deciduous: bare in winter, with the bright green leaves unfurling in spring, flowers from late May into July and a good \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/hardy-exotics-what-to-expect\"\u003ebutter yellow autumn colour\u003c\/a\u003e before the leaves fall.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow and where to grow.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant it at the foot of a wall, fence or mature tree and tie in the young shoots for the first season; after that it is self-clinging. It grows in sun, partial shade or full shade and is one of the best climbers for a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-shade\"\u003enorth or east facing wall\u003c\/a\u003e, though it flowers most freely where it gets some light. Any fertile, moist but well-drained soil suits it, ideally acid to neutral clay, loam or sand, in a spot sheltered from cold, drying winds. Slow to establish, it then grows strongly and can reach 8 to 10m with a spread of around 5m, so it is a climber for a whole house wall or a big tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUsing it in the garden.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use 'Flying Saucer' where you would use the ordinary climbing hydrangea but want more flower: a shaded house wall, a north boundary fence, a garage or an old tree trunk. The fertile flowers are \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pollinators\"\u003evisited by bees and hoverflies\u003c\/a\u003e, and the leafy curtain \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/screening-plants\"\u003egives privacy\u003c\/a\u003e and cover for garden birds. It combines well with \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/hardy-ferns\"\u003eferns\u003c\/a\u003e, hostas and shade-tolerant shrubs, and it will even grow as ground cover where there is nothing to climb.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"17cm \/ 2L","offer_id":58254023917951,"sku":"HYDRFLYSAU17","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0361\/9645\/0348\/files\/flyingsaucer.jpg?v=1787853660","url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/hydrangea-anomala-subsp-petiolaris-flying-saucer","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}