Good Seasons by Lynette Walther
Palatka Daily News
Saturday, January 1, 2005

The holidays are past, but red is still where it's at in 2005. Forget those faded poinsettias and infuse a fresh shot of red with a brand spanking new hydrangea – Lady in Red.

Lady in Red is a breakthrough hydrangea, an open pollinated seedling of Otaksa. But what growers of this new plant will be most interested in, is that Lady In Red is a scene stealer in the garden. Early spring this lush hydrangea displays a distinctive leaf emergence of red-stemmed and dark-veined dark green leaves. Flowers are delicate pinkish lacecaps, four to five inches across. As the bloom sepals mature they reverse with the back sides visible, gracefully aging to burgundy-rose.

Compact growth, mounded habit with a very high mildew resistance and sturdy stems make this new hydrangea a wonderful addition to light up shaded garden areas. Vibrant autumn color gives this hydrangea yet another seasonal dimension.

“I believe this hydrangea will do fine in northern Florida,” says Andy Rogers of McCorkle Nurseries in Marietta, Ga. “Lady in Red has been under trial in Cairo, Ga., at Wights/Monrovia Nursery and will be grown by Flowerwood Nursery in Mobile, Ala., for distribution into the northern portion of Florida. Plants will be available for sale in northern Florida this spring.

Lady in Red was developed by Dr. Michael A. Dirr of the Department of Horticulture of the University of Georgia. Expect Lady in Red to grow to about two feet high by three feet wide. For more information, visit the Web site at: www.LadyInRedHydrangea.com.

Lynette L. Walther is the recipient of the National Garden Bureau’s Exemplary Journalism Award. She is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America and is a co-author of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s All-Region Guide, 'Gourmet Vegetables'. Her gardens are on the banks of the St. Johns River.