Eva Lyon Holmes Mophead Hydrangea. This mophead is a remontant bloomer. We found this cultivar in the garden of Mrs. Eva Lyon Holmes in Trenton, SC. She had gotten it from her mother, who had gotten it from Mrs. Holme's grandmother, who had purchased the plant from Fruitland Nurseries here in Augusta, GA, in the mid 1800's. With a mild fall, I have seen flowers emerging from terminal growth as late as Thanksgiving. Really remarkable. The flower can be blue or pink depending on the amount of aluminum in the soil, not the pH as many teach. Aluminum induces "blueness;" whereas, a lack of it will induce "pinkness." Of course with a more acidic pH, aluminum is more available. If pruning is needed, do it immediately after flowering as the plant will have time to put on new growth that will set flower buds for the following spring. So that flowering is not affected, try to prune at or before early August. In the second picture, one can see young liners in our greenhouses of this cultivar. Notice how heavily it flowers even as a rooted cutting compared to other varieties. The last picture is of the original plant in Mrs. Holmes garden taken the day before Thanksgiving. Notice the spent flower heads around the lower parts of the plant from the first flowers in spring and the new flowers emerging from all the terminal buds even in late fall.
Zones 6-9
