8 Great Plants for Wow!

Heavenly Hydrangeas

Southerners can't get enough of French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla). We'd love for them to bloom, not just in summer, but through fall too. Three selections make the dream come true: 'Endless Summer,' 'All Summer Beauty,' and 'Penny Mac.' Each of these hydrangeas should bloom repeatedly until late fall, although they may need a year or two in the ground first. Their flowers will be blue in acid soil (below pH 7) and pink in alkaline soil (above pH 7).

French Hydrangea
Type: shrub
Size: 4 to 6 feet tall and wide
Light: morning sun, light shade in afternoon
Soil: moist, fertile, well drained
Water: likes lots of water during warm, dry weather

SOURCE: Available at garden centers.