Hydrangea serrata 'Golden Sunlight' is the first of the Plants for the Millennium being released by Pride of Place Plants in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. 'Golden Sunlight' is a natural mutation of H. serrata 'Intermedia' (acuminata) discovered in 1989 by M. Kolster LAAG in Boskoop, Netherlands. This plant can be used in the landscape or as a specimen plant on a balcony, terrace or deck.

'Golden Sunlight' produces yellow foliage in spring. As leaves turn from yellow to light green, the plant produces attractive white to light-pink petals at the edge of darker-pink flowers.

For consumers, plants will do best in morning and evening light levels. If grown as a container plant, the growing medium should be kept moist. Plants in the landscape reach 24 inches wide and tall. 'Golden Sunlight' should not be pruned, but if necessary remove only one-third of the branches before the end of August. Plants are subject to frost damage.

Leafy softwood tip cuttings can be taken in the spring and they root easily. Rooting of cuttings can be improved by dipping them in an 0.08-percent solution of indolebutyric acid.

Leaf-bud cuttings can be used if tip cuttings are scarce. Two leaf-bud cuttings can be obtained from the opposite leaves at each node. Stick the cuttings in a well-drained medium and maintain an adequate moisture level.

Plants in 4-inch pots with three to five budded branches are also available if you are looking to reduce production time. These can be transplanted into 2-gallon containers, which finish in 12 weeks.

For unrooted cuttings, mist can be used at 12 seconds every six minutes to keep the medium moist and to prevent desiccation of cuttings. An anti-desiccant can be used before sticking. The medium temperature should be maintained at 72F-75F.

Cuttings usually are well rooted in four to six weeks. Transplant cuttings into 2 1/4-inch pots containing a well-drained medium with a pH of 5.7. Plants can be fed with a slow-release fertilizer (i.e., Osmocote 14-14-14, three- to four-month formulation).

After one month, the root system should be developed enough that plants can be transplanted into finished containers (2 gallon). Incorporate an eight- to nine-month slow-release fertilizer (i.e., Osmocote 18-6-12) into the growing medium at a rate of 12-15 pounds per cubic yard. A supplemental liquid feed can be used if needed. Plants are usually ready for sale 12 weeks after the 2 1/4-inch liners are transplanted into finished containers.

This naturally compact plant does not require any growth regulators. Temperatures can be lowered before shipping to help acclimate plants to outdoor conditions.

'Golden Sunlight' requires an acidic medium. Consumers can acidify soil by using aluminum sulfate at a rate of 1 pound per 7 gallons of water. In the spring as the plant starts to grow, the soil should be soaked with a solution of aluminum sulfate twice at two-week intervals as necessary to lower the pH by 1/2 point. If the soil is too acidic, the pH can be raised 1/2 point by spreading ground limestone in the spring or fall at a rate of 5 pounds per 100 square feet.

New flowers on big-leafed hydrangeas like 'Golden Sunlight' develop directly under the old flowers of the previous season's growth. Any pruning, which is usually only done to control height, should be done immediately after flowering.

For more: Pride of Place Plants, 674 Cromarty Ave., Sidney, British Columbia, Canada V8L 5G6; (250) 656-7963, fax (250) 655-0306.

SPECIFICS:
Name: Hydrangea serrata 'Golden Sunlight.'
Crop timing: From unrooted cuttings to finished plant takes about 22 weeks; from 2 1/4-inch rooted liners takes 12 weeks.
Grower benefits: This compact plant doesn't require special treatment to set flower buds. There are no major pest problems.
Selling points: Versatile plant can be used in the landscape or as a specimen plant on a balcony, terrace or deck. Plants produce attractive white to light-pink petals at the edge of darker pink flowers. This is the first golden-leafed hydrangea on the market.

© 1999 Branch-Smith Publishing