The Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea is a truly exceptional reblooming hydrangea, renowned for its consistent and vibrant blooms each year, regardless of whether you are gardening in the cooler climates of Michigan or the warmer regions of Florida. This Hydrangea macrophylla × serrata hybrid, identified as ‘SMNHSME’ and protected under PP#34,327; CBRAF, is a proud selection from the acclaimed Let’s Dance® breeding program. It stands out not only for its resilience in preserving old wood buds through unpredictable weather but also for its remarkable ability to continuously produce new flowers throughout the season.
One of the most captivating features of the Sky View Hydrangea is how effortlessly it transforms into a stunning blue hue, a color transformation highly recommended to fully appreciate its beauty. The flowers emerge in a delicate soft blue, characterized by an enchanting honeydew-green eye at the center, before maturing into a breathtaking full sky blue. Imagine these sky-blue blossoms dancing in your garden, bringing a touch of serene beauty to your outdoor space.
The compact growth habit of the Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea further enhances its versatility, making it an excellent choice for both container gardening and planting directly in garden beds. Whether you’re looking to adorn your patio with vibrant blooms or create eye-catching borders in your garden, this hydrangea is a perfect fit.
This improved variety offers several key benefits:
- Reblooming Capability: Enjoy continuous blooms throughout the summer and fall.
- Easy to “Blue”: Achieve the desirable sky-blue flower color with ease by managing soil pH.
- Versatile Use: Suitable for containers, garden beds, borders, and even low hedges.
- Reliable Blooming: Consistent yearly blooming, even after weather challenges.
General Care for Your Sky View Hydrangea
To ensure your Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea thrives and graces your garden with its sky-blue “dance,” follow these simple yet effective care guidelines:
Soil:
For optimal growth, plant your Sky View Hydrangea in moist, well-drained soil. While these hydrangeas can tolerate a range of soil pH levels, it’s important to note that soil pH directly influences flower color. To encourage the signature sky-blue blooms, acidic soil is key. Amend your soil with peat moss or use a fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants to lower the pH. Conversely, in more alkaline soils, the flowers will tend towards pink. Avoid overly dry or waterlogged conditions, as both extremes can stress the plant.
Pruning:
Pruning is minimal for bigleaf hydrangeas like the Sky View. The best approach is to avoid pruning altogether, except for removing any dead or damaged wood in late winter or early spring. Bigleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood (growth from the previous season) and new wood. Therefore, avoid any extensive pruning or trimming at any time of year, as this can significantly reduce or eliminate flowering for the current or following season. Deadheading spent blooms is acceptable and can encourage more flowering, but it’s not strictly necessary.
Light and Exposure:
Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea thrives in full sun to part sun conditions. While it can tolerate full sun, especially in cooler climates, providing afternoon shade is beneficial, particularly in hotter regions. Afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch and keeps the plant cooler during the hottest part of the day, promoting healthier growth and vibrant flower color.
Watering:
Consistent moisture is crucial for hydrangeas, especially during dry spells. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot. Mulching around the base of the plant helps retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Fertilizing:
To encourage vigorous growth and abundant blooming, fertilize your Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea in early spring with a granular fertilizer formulated for flowering shrubs, such as a rose fertilizer. If you notice the leaves starting to yellow (chlorosis), it could indicate a nutrient deficiency. In this case, a supplemental feeding with a balanced fertilizer or iron chelate may be beneficial.
Uses in the Landscape:
Bigleaf hydrangeas like Let’s Dance Sky View® are classic and versatile choices for various landscape applications:
- Flower Gardens and Cottage Gardens: Their romantic blooms and lush foliage make them perfect additions to traditional flower gardens and charming cottage-style gardens.
- Seaside Plantings: Hydrangeas are often well-suited for seaside locations, tolerating salt spray and adding beautiful color to coastal landscapes.
- Foundation Plantings: They can create a showy and colorful border around your home’s foundation.
- Low Hedges and Edging: Their compact size makes them ideal for creating low hedges or defining garden edges.
- Container Gardening: Their adaptability to containers allows you to enjoy their beauty on patios, balconies, and decks.
Key Features at a Glance:
- USDA Zones: 4-9 (Hardy down to -30°F/-34.4°C)
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun
- Height: 2-3 feet
- Width: 2-4 feet
- Bloom Time: Summer to Fall
- Flower Color: Blue, Pink (depending on soil pH)
- Foliage Color: Green
- Type: Deciduous
Let your garden come alive with the dancing sky-blue blooms of Let’s Dance Sky View® Hydrangea! This reliable, reblooming hydrangea is sure to bring years of beauty and enjoyment to your outdoor spaces.
