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Hydrangea Curly Wurly Mixed
Overview
The Hydrangea Curly Wurly Mixed is a truly unique and eye-catching variety that transforms the traditional hydrangea with its distinctive curled petals. This compact, bushy deciduous shrub produces extraordinary flowers with tightly curled oval petals that create an almost rose-like appearance, making it a conversation starter in any garden. Available in a delightful mix of colours including pink, blue, and white, this novelty variety brings both charm and sophistication to borders, containers, and feature plantings.
Note: We are unable to specify which colour from the mix available you will receive.
Distinctive Features
Unique Flower Form: The standout feature is the curled petals that open to form strong, stable blooms composed of tightly curled ovals, creating a three-dimensional texture unlike any other hydrangea variety.
Colour Range: The 'Curly Wurly' is available in blue, white and pink, with flower colour influenced by soil pH. In alkaline soils, flowers appear pink to deep pink-red, whilst acidic soils produce stunning blue tones.
Flowering Period: Produces eye-catching flowers from June to September, providing months of summer and autumn interest with continuous blooming throughout the season.
Compact Growth: This is a compact bushy deciduous shrub with dark green leaves, making it perfect for smaller gardens and container cultivation.
Growing Conditions
Aspect: Suitable for part shade conditions, though will tolerate morning sun. Avoid harsh afternoon sun which can fade the unique curled petals.
Soil Requirements: Adaptable to most well-draining soils. Soil pH dramatically affects flower colour - acidic soil (pH 5.0-6.0) produces blue flowers, whilst neutral to alkaline soil (pH 6.5-7.5) creates pink blooms. For white varieties, maintain neutral pH around 6.5-7.0.
Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK, tolerating temperatures down to -15°C. Suitable for RHS hardiness rating H5, thriving in zones 5-9.
Water Needs: Consistent moisture is essential, especially during flowering season. Ensure soil remains moist but not waterlogged, as hydrangeas are prone to drought stress.
Planting and Care
Planting: Best planted in spring or early autumn. Space plants 1-1.5 metres apart for informal hedging, or use as individual specimen plants. Ensure the planting hole is twice the width of the root ball and incorporate plenty of organic matter.
Feeding: Apply a balanced slow-release fertiliser in early spring. For blue flowers, use an ericaceous fertiliser or add aluminium sulphate to maintain soil acidity. For pink flowers, apply garden lime to increase alkalinity.
Pruning: Prune lightly in late winter or early spring, removing only dead or weak growth. These varieties flower on old wood, so avoid heavy pruning which will reduce flowering. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continued flowering.
Mulching: Apply a thick mulch of organic matter around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. This is particularly important for the shallow root system.
Garden Uses
Container Planting: The compact nature makes this variety excellent for large containers and patio displays. The unique flower form creates stunning focal points for outdoor seating areas.
Mixed Borders: Perfect for adding texture and interest to herbaceous borders. The unusual flower form provides contrast against traditional flower shapes whilst the dark green foliage offers structure.
Feature Planting: Use as a specimen plant where the extraordinary curled flowers can be admired up close. Particularly effective near pathways or seating areas.
Cut Flowers: The distinctive blooms make exceptional cut flowers, lasting well in arrangements and providing unique texture for bouquets. The curled petals maintain their form when dried.
Seasonal Interest: Beyond the spectacular flowers, the shrub provides structure with its dark green foliage and attractive winter branch framework.
Companion Plants
Pairs beautifully with plants that complement rather than compete with the unique flower form. Consider planting with simple-flowered perennials like astilbe, hosta, or ferns. The varied colours in the mixed selection work well with silver foliage plants like artemisia or lamb's ear.
Maintenance Tips
Colour Management: To maintain consistent flower colours, test soil pH annually and adjust as needed. Blue varieties may revert to pink in alkaline conditions, whilst pink varieties can turn muddy purple in very acidic soil.
Winter Protection: In exposed locations, provide some winter protection with horticultural fleece, particularly for young plants in their first year.
Watering: Install drip irrigation or soaker hoses for consistent moisture delivery, as overhead watering can damage the delicate curled petals.
Why Choose Hydrangea Curly Wurly Mixed?
This remarkable variety offers something completely different in the hydrangea world. The extraordinary curled petals create a sculptural quality that transforms any garden space, whilst the mixed colour range provides flexibility for various garden schemes. Its compact size makes it accessible for smaller gardens, and the long flowering season ensures excellent value. For gardeners seeking a unique, conversation-starting plant that combines novelty with reliability, the Curly Wurly Mixed delivers exceptional garden performance with unmistakable style.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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