Hydrangea arborescens "Annabelle"

Photo taken in "Millennium" garden on 27.6.2006. Many people ask if they should prune "Annabelle" and we always say no, just remove the dead heads at the start of spring. The flowers may be a little smaller, but you get more of them and the stems become woody and need far less support. If pruned you get larger flowers but they fall over in the slightest wind or rain. The flowers on "Annabelle" remain fresh from July until the first frosts. It will grow in full sun, but will also flower well in light shade, as in our Millennium garden.