Shooting star hydrangea
I just purchased two Shooting Star hydrangeas, also known as Fiji Waterfalls, or Fireworks. We live in zone 7. Should I plant these in a large pot outdoors and bring them inside during the winter? Or can I plant them in my flower garden? Will this plant ever need pruning?
Shooting Star Hydrangea belongs to H. macrophylla-Lacecap. It is hardy in zones 7-9, (20-50F) in dormant state.
The flattened flowerhead has white double petaled “stars” (flowers) that shoot from the flower like fireworks. The flowers stay white for 4-6 weeks and then mature to a light green hue. Quite impressive!
In zone 7-9 you can plant it outdoors in well drained soil, where it will get morning sun and afternoon shade. Add a few inches on mulch around the plant to keep it evenly moist during the summer. In warmer climate more shade is preferred.
In marginal climates, zone 7, if an unusual freeze is imminent, cover it with a frost blanket to protect the flower buds.
Fertilizing
The best time to fertilize is in late winter/early spring before bud break. Spread the well-balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) or a slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote etc.) around the base of the plant. See package directions as to the rate amount. You can also feed during the growing season but no later than Aug 1st. as that would promote new growth that may not have enough time to harden off before the winter.
Another option is to repot it in a larger container, let it develop a good root system and plant it in the fall. If you get an unusual freeze cover it with a blanket to protect the flower buds.
Pruning
Shooting star hydrangea belongs to the H. macrophylla family and blooms on old wood so care must to taken when pruning. Prune (deadhead) after bloom any fading flowers by cutting below the flower head. To maintain size and thin out old branches, cut back when needed. Hard pruning should not be done after mid-August.
In cooler regions zone 6 or lower, bring it indoors for the winter.
I bought a shooting star a week ago. It’s very full with some flowers, doing good in a medium size pot. I live in western Pennsylvania. Although it’s doing great in the pot would I be able to plant it in the ground with morning sun afternoon shade and it still be ok? if so what should I do once in ground for the winter months to come?
I live in Ky and got a shooting star sent to me at the funeral home, what I need to k i.e. if I can plant it outdoors it gets really cold here sometimes in the winter?
I live in Phoenix Arizona… How can I keep my Shooting Star Hydrangea alive outside? It was a gift
We are in Vermont. Received a Fireworks hydrangea for my fathers funeral service in May. It was all blossoms .We planted it in the cemetary (sunny, hot and sandy soil), It started to turn brown and look as it it was dying. Dug it up and put in a pot. Did ok (but not really well) through summer. Now its just sticks about 2 ” high. No leaves. Was told that I was over watering… stopped watering and let dry out. Repotted in organic seed starter soil. Am sooooo afraid that it is dead…. When I repotted,, the root ball looked plenty wet, so I haven’t watered. Have put in a cooler space in sunlight, as I think it needs to go dormant…. Any ideas? PLEASE……..
I have a Shooting Star Hydrangea that I bought several years ago. I bring it in during the winter months since I live in northern Illinois. I can’t seem to get it to bloom. It’s in a large pot on my south facing front porch. It is well shaded by the porch railings. I have put Espoma organic soil asidifier on it and it still didn’t bloom. Need suggestions what I can try next.
I am also having this issue – but mine has been planted in the ground for probably 4 years? It has never bloomed. It’s full, TALL, healthy and green…with no blooms. Hopefully someone responds to your inquiry!
I have a shooting star hydrangea that I had put in a large pot in 2012 I made a cutting out of that plant the next year and put the cutting in the ground right next to my chimney. We have had a few cold winters but the in ground one has done fine because of the chimney. I think planting next to the foundation would work too.
The container one I overwinter in tool shed on a shelf every year and it also had done great. I live on Long Island, NY.
I love this variety and it truly is a conversation piece. Love the blooms, always reliably the same color each year.
I definitely recommend it.
I have a shooting star hydrangea and I live in zone 5. I will bring it in the garage for the winter however, I don’t know if it needs light or will going dormant not require light? Should I transplant it or cut it back to make it healthier? It’s still in the original container.
I have a shooting star hydrangea growing in my San Francisco garden. This past month (January and into Feb) it has been getting some bright yellow leaves which then drop off the plant. What is causing this?
I bought a shooting star hydrangea this summer, planted in a fairly large pot and it has grown 3 times it’s original size! I live in Ohio so I put it in the garage, being that it got so big. I keep an eye on the temp. because I have other plants out there. I know it has gotten in the 30’s before when temps. outside get into the teens. Is this going to be too cold for this plant?
I live in Dallas, TX zone ?. I want to buy a Shooting Star Hydrangia. Will it be OK outside? How do I water & feed? Also, if I keep it inside how do I care for it?
Hi,
I live in Pennsylvania and just bought a shooting star hydrangea. It was full of flowers. I repotted it because I thought the pot was too tiny. Since then it lost all its flowers but the leaves are still very green and very healthy looking. I am wondering what I can do to help produce some new blooms. I have it in a window that receives morning sun for a couple of hours. Also what would be a good time to move it out to our deck temperature wise. Thank you.
Can I dig part of a shooting star hydrangea up and transplant it?
How to dry hydrangea flowers
I do not know the kind of hydrangea i have but would like to know how to dry them. i did it one year but then not successful after that. thanks
Shooting star hydrangea hardiness
I am soooo set on getting a shooting star hydrangea but I am concerned that because I live in New York State that I won’t be able to put it in the ground and leave it there for the fall and winter months? I have read that on a few different sites that It can tolerate zones 5-10 and others 7-10? Now I am undecided. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I also keep the container plant inside, I know I do do not live in the correct zone for an outdoor environment.
I purchased a shooting star hydrangea two weeks ago. The white flowers are drooped and some of the lacelike ares are turning brown. I have the hydrangea in a container. The leaves seem healthy and there is new growth at the base. How do I care for the plant? How often do I water? I live in Iowa.
Thank you.
No bloom
I’ve had my shooting star hydranges in the ground for 4 years and it has never bloomed. The plant looks healthy ever season. I live in the Pacific Northwest and have several types of hydrangeas in my yard they all bloom. What’s the problem?
Heat hardy?
Hi, I live in Southern Calif’s Inland Empire where temps easily reach 100 in summer. I’m not sure of what zone I am in. Is the SHOOTING STAR HYDRANGEA suitable for a shady, to a filtered-shady spot on my patio?? They are very pretty, but not sure if it would take the heat. I will be setting up a drip-system soon, I’m sure that would help, but still….? Thanks.
Hardiness
i bought the shooting star from a grocery store it is blooming right now, i live in nebraska, i was wondering can i plant this in a large planter and leave it thru the winter or is it better to bring it inside maybe like the garage? and what is the best for trimming it thanks
I just received a shooting star hydrangea about a week ago. I potted it in a pot and have kept it inside and watered it when the soil seemed to be drying out. All of the big white buds have drooped and are hanging down and some leaves look droopy as well. Some spots on the branches look a tiny bit brown. Any tips on how I can revive it? It it just going dormant or am I killing it?
My husband just received a shooting star hydrangea for father’s day. We placed it outside on our patio, sun in the am and shade in the afternoon. If I bring it in this winter and place it in the basement (no windows), do I still water it, or should I move it to a room with some light? Thank you.
Hi
I live on the gulf coast and my Shooting Star Hydrangea is in a flower pot and doing great!
What I would like to know is how do I take cuttings and make new plants?
Thank you
I live in Boone NC and received a Shooting Star Hydrangea last Christmas. I want to plant it outside. If I do so in a protected area that gets morning sun and is shady in the afternoon; is that a good location for it. Also, is it deciduous? Will it be bothered if we have snow in the winter that collects on it?
I have a Shooting Star hydrangea that the blooms have all turned brown, but it is still shooting blossoms out. How do I prune the dead ones and how far down do I dare to cut them back without damaging the plant. The leaves are still green and new shoots are coming in from the bottom. Its in the house all the time.
I live in Michigan. I bought a shooting star Aug 2008. It was beautiful for a long time. then I let it get too dry. The blooms turned brown, so I picked them all off. the leaves looked okay. I’ve been watering regularly, but now the leaves are turning yellow. I have new growth at the botton that looks very healthy. Not sure what to do with it. Does it need to be cut back, or put in a bigger pot? It’s inside all the time, I do move it around the house once or twice a week so it can get better light coming through the windows. Any help would be great, I don’t want to lose it.
I have a shooting star hydrangea, but cannot get it to bloom again. It was in full bloom when I bought it last year, but since then – nothing. Leaves are still very healthy. It is indoors to guard against the cold. Any info would be helpful!!
Hi Melanie
If you bought a blooming shooting star last year at this time (Nov.) then it was forced to bloom in the greenhouse. It most likely is going to grow as all other hydrangeas and bloom in early summer. I have a potted lacecap hydrangea that I left dormant for the winter. It lost all its leaves and I kept it dry and cool. It leafed out nicely in spring and then to my surprise started to bloom. I enjoyed the flowers for several months. I’m not sure what your plant will do. Your plant may also need a dormant period in order to rebloom.
I have a shooting Star Hyrangea. I live in the costal south, some 35 miles northwest of Savannah Georgia. I don’t know my zone, but need to know if it will survive the heat here. Thank you.
I bought an expensive shooting star hydrangea. it was rootbound, so transplanted. i think that i may have overwatered, so i replanted again. still has some previos flowers but the buds have all turned brown. please help. my husbands fav and think i ruined it thank you i advance
Patti ( pattijomcd@insightbb.com / )
I bought a hydrangea plant in a Publix grocery store in Florida. It was called Shooting Star Lacecap white flowers with side shooting white starlike blooms around the edge. I brought it home to Illinois, potted it in a larger pot. It has round white powdery spots on the leaves, maybe mildew? The pics of powdery mildew I’ve seen dust the whole leaf. These are spots on top of leaf between 1/4 and 3/8 inch in diameter. I bought the only plant that didn’t have a tag on it, dang it.
I have a Shooting Star Hydrangea and I need to know if it is a hardy perennial that I can plant outside. I live in Ohio, and some winters get very cold. Thank You!
Zone 10 in July – can I put a shooting star hydrangea outside? If so, what are the optimum conditions for givng it the best chance of thriving?