How to Plant and Grow Wedding Gown Hydrangeas

The white-flowering shrub Wedding Gown Hydrangea macrophylla, also known as Dancing Snow, was introduced in North America just a few years ago. Because of its full blooms, this flowering shade shrub is popular with gardeners across North America. It's unique because it offers double flowers and is a reblooming shrub.

A modified lacecap hydrangea, Wedding Gown hydrangea has clear, pure white flowers, with a lacecap form and a center that fills in as well. The effect of this flowering shrub—with an outer ring of large double flowers and smaller double rings of flowers in the center—ends up resembling a mini bridal bouquet. The foliage is naturally dark green. Hardy in Zones 5-10, flowering begins in late spring or early summer and continues until fall. deadheading the plant encourages more blooms.

'Wedding Gown' hydrangea is toxic to animals and humans if ingested.

Where to Plant Wedding Gown Hydrangea

Wedding Gown hydrangea prefers light shade and rich, well-drained soil. It will also do fine in conditions with a bit of morning sunshine, as long as there is shade in the afternoon. Fairly disease-free when planted in the right conditions, this dwarf flowering shrub stays relatively compact, reaching just 2 ½ to 3 feet tall. The modest size makes it a good addition to the middle of a mixed border or as a row of flowering shrubs at the front of a foundation planting.

How and When to Plant Wedding Gown Hydrangea

Plant Wedding Gown hydrangea in fall or early spring to ensure it has enough time to establish its roots before it blooms. Plant during the cooler times of the day, either in the early morning or later in the afternoon. Dig a hole as deep and twice as wide as the size of the root ball. Remove the plant from its nursery pot and place it in the hole. Add organic matter into the soil and backfill in the hole, tamping soil down as you go. Cover with mulch and keep well watered until the dwarf flowering shrub becomes established.

Moving this plant to a different spot in your garden is easy. To transplant Wedding Gown hydrangea, dig out the entire root ball and give it plenty of water before and after the move to ease the transplant shock.

Wedding Gown Hydrangea Care Tips

Light

Wedding Gown hydrangea needs some shade, especially in hot climates, but too much shade will reduce the amount of flowers a plant produces. If there isn't shade, extra water is helpful.

Soil and Water

While Wedding Gown hydrangea can grow in most soils, it will do best in humus-rich soil with lots of nutrients. Water deeply twice a week to get the water deep down to the roots. Light watering isn't sufficient. When the weather gets hotter, sometimes the leaves will curl, but that doesn't mean the plant needs more water. Don't overwater since 'Wedding Gown' hydrangeas won't do well in soggy soil.

Temperature and Humidity

Some humidity is good for hydrangeas, since they can turn brown in dry climates. Mild climates, between 65ºF and 75ºF are ideal. If possible plant on the north or east side of your property to avoid seasonal very cold or very hot weather.

Fertilizer

If your soil isn't nutrient-rich, use an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer for shrubs for Wedding Gown hydrangea once a year. Don't overdo nitrogen fertilizer, because it will encourage foliage growth, not flowers.

Pruning

Wedding Gown hydrangea is a dwarf flowering shrub that blooms on new wood, so you can do pruning in early spring before growth begins. Branches can be left up during winter—like any remaining blooms—to add texture and visual interest. But avoid cutting back 'Wedding Gown' hydrangea in the fall.

Potting and Repotting Wedding Gown Hydrangea

You can grow 'Wedding Gown' hydrangea in pots outdoors, but indoors they don't do as well. They'll need a large container, at least 18 inches in diameter, since they'll get bushy as they grow. Use potting soil with organic matter and be careful not to overwater. Like hydrangeas grown in a garden, potted hydrangeas need minimal fertilizer if the soil is high-quality.

Pests and Problems

Diseases, including botrytis blight, powdery mildew, or yellow or brown leaf spotting, can infect Wedding Gown hydrangeas. Usually, a fungicide will treat these issues, but if your plant is heavily infected, it may be better to destroy it.

Garden pests can be troublesome, including Japanese beetles and aphids. Avoid harsh chemicals when treating your plants, and use an insecticidal soap instead. If the plant is flowering, it's best to hand-pick the pests off the plant instead of spraying it.

If leaves start to droop, more water is needed. Yellow leaves indicate overwatering, and brown edges on the leaves' tips result from too much fertilizer.

How to Propagate Wedding Gown Hydrangea

To propagate Wedding Gown hydrangea, take stem cuttings in early summer from semi-hardwood that contain 2-3 nodes. Remove leaves from lower half of each cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone. Place the cut end in a pot filled with moist potting mix and firm soil around the cutting. Place the pot in bright, indirect light. The cutting should root in 4-6 weeks.

Wedding Gown hydrangea doesn't produce seeds.

Companion Plants for Wedding Gown Hydrangea

Hosta

Hosta, also known as plant lily, grows well in shady spots and comes in a range of sizes to suit different landscapes. Varieties with variegated leaves do better with some sun. Zones 3-9

Astilbe

Grow astilbe in shady spots. It has fine-textured foliage and colorful flowers, and it's a mounding plant, so it stays low to the ground. Zones 4-8