There are a number of different varieties of Hydrangea shrubs that are often grown into tree form. Many people don’t realize that a Tree Hydrangea is actually a Hydrangea shrub that was simply trained to grow as a flowering tree. This is also done with Rose of Sharon, I’ve seen it done with Red Twig Dogwood, a number of different viburnums and even Wisteria can be trained to grow as ornamental trees.
The steps to do this are as follows and there’s also a video on this page as well.
- Training Flowering Shrubs into Tree Form.
In this example I am using a variegated weigela that we just potted up as an example because . . . it’s what I had handy to write this article. And this plant is a good example of what you are typically starting with when you train a flowering shrub into tree form.
This plant doesn’t look like it would make a nice tree because it has side branches and it has a serious case of “double leader”. Two stems each competing to grow upright as the main stem of the plant. To grow this plant into a single stem flowering tree do the following;
1. Remove one of those double leaders. In this example they are about equal so which one you remove doesn’t matter. But at this point remove one and also remove that little stub that at one time was the leader but it was either pruned off or it died back.
2. At this point I would only make those two cuts because we need those other side branches to make leaves and feed this plant through photosynthesis until the main leader puts on new growth and leaves. As that happens and the tree has plenty of leaves coming off the main leader you can remove those lower branches that will eventually detract from the tree.
3. Never allow any branches that need to be remove get larger than 3/8 of an inch in diameter. Ideally remove them when they are 1/4″ or about as thick as a pencil.
4. Using some kind of a plant stake, bamboo or other wise, stake up the main leader and secure it to the stake so it grows nice and straight. I often use duct tape for this because when the tape is out in the sun it only holds up for about 12 months before the glue dries and the tape falls off. Other tape might not come off as easily and it will eventually damage the tree.
5. Allow the main leader to grow straight as a single stem. If the main leader produces side shoots they will eventually have to be removed, but keep in mind that the tree needs lots of leaves in the early stages so you may want to leave those side shoots temporarily.
6. Early next spring you need to cut the top off of the main leader at the point where you want the branching to begin. Usually about 30 to 36 inches off the ground is ideal. Just snip the top off.
7. The snipping off the terminal bud will force the plant to start putting out lateral branches right below where you make that cut. Those branches will develop into the head of the tree.
8. As the branches that will make up the head of the tree start to develop and produce lots of leaves, you can remove all of the growth (side branches) from the ground to the point where the head of the tree starts.
9. As the head of the tree grows it’s important to do some trimming so the head grows nice and full and not lanky. In the video you can see where the trees I am using as examples were trimmed and how much the trees filled out after each pruning.
Questions or comments? Post them below.
My kids
Hi Mike,
is it possible to do any of these procedures on a few year old tree? My current crape myrtle is about 3-4 years old but only about 3 feet tall. from the base of the plant, there are 3 main stems (with no side growth), which grow about 28-30 inches before they break out horizontally. Can i just prune off the 2 side branches, and let the middle one grow straight up?
Frank,
Yes, you should be able to do that.
Great, thanks. And what season is best to move this plant from one part of my yard to another? (live on Long Island NY)
Frank,
Transplanting season begins after Thanksgiving and ends in early to mid April in the north.
Hi Mike, are there any climbing hydrangeas that have a Mophead flower. If no, is it possible to graft a Mophead onto a climbing hydrangea? Thanks
Jill,
I have no idea but if the graft took it would likely fail the first winter.
Hi Mike! I just bought a hydrangea bush with the intent to train it to become a tree. It has one nice vertical and a few side growths (which I already cut off). The remaining stem has leaves and a flower on top. Should I cut the flower off now or wait until spring? How far below the flower should I cut?
Stephanie,
You can remove that flower at any time, just cut down to the node right below the flower. Come spring start training one leader from that point to the height that you want.
I just recently purchased a hydrangea bush that I would like to turn into a tree. It probably has 6 or 7 shoots and blossoms on it. It’s only been in the ground a day, is it too late to prune off some of those branches and start it growing with one stock?
Elsa,
Absolutely not, you should be able to prune it into tree form as long as the remaining stem has plenty of leaves on it. If not, just remove a few stems at a time.
Should I wait until fall? Or do you think it’s ok it do it now?
Elsa,
Fall would be better.
Hi Mike,
My town has a free tree giveaway every year (awesome, right?), and this year the selection included phantom hydrangeas. My husband went down to get 2 for us, and only then did we realize that they had been trained into tree form. They won’t work for what we had planned. Is it possible to train a tree hydrangea back to bush form?
Caren,
Sure is. If the trees are still dormant simply cut them down to about 10″ and they’ll bush out from there. If not dormant I’d plant them and usually they’ll try and send out shoots down low and from the bottom. Let those grow then eventually remove the tall stem from down low. But don’t do that until the plant has lots of other leaves that will be left after pruning.
HI Mike, loved the video, thanks. I have a mock orange that I rescued (scraggly as all get out), but doing GREAT in a container with regular watering — pushing out big beautiful leaves. And best of all, pushed out a brand new, straight UP shoot, which I will use for the ‘trunk’. Not sure what to do with the leaves on the ‘trunk’ after I prune for branching — leave them until the branching happens?
Also, you mentioned in the video to keep lower branches for photosynthesis benefit, but in my case the plant was many years left to the elements in a small pot so the starting points for all the branches are not young and tender and I worry about shocking the plant if I cut it all back except for the ‘trunk’ shoot (which is just over 2 feet now).
Thanks for any comments you’d like to offer.
Sahari,
Yes, leave the lower leaves until branching starts to happen, then once you have ample leaves up top, remove all lower growth.
I picked up eight limelight hydrangea on clearance today, 3 gallon nursery pots for a steal of a deal. Most of them are for a hedge I plan so that’s fine. But one of them pretty much has one main stem that’s about three feet high , naturally the stem has already flowered as these are fully grown out shrubs. Is there any way for me to train this one as a standard? In this late stage? As a shrub I’d have to cut it back to the ground, it really has no other branches except very spindly ones about 3 inches from the dirt in the pot. If I could post a photo I would. Thanks for any response.
Rachael,
Just stake up that one stem to make it straight, then come early winter remove all the other branches. Next spring train the plant as described here.
I took your advice about wheelbarrows last year, a year after back surgery. Although I was not supposed to be using it at all, I found that I was able to move light loads using this tip…and with no ill affects! Other than getting the work done! Thanks, Mike! I read and watch about everything you write and create…and much of it has found its way into my gardening routine. Looking forward to a Mantis tiller this year but finances are tight so it may be next year. Thanks again for all you do for us .
Melanie,
I so wish others would pay attention to these wheelbarrow tips. They make a huge difference.
Hi Mike! Can you repost the wheelbarrow tip? I’ve had rotator cuff surgery and need all the help I can get asap. thanks! : )
Tess, here it is. https://mikesbackyardnursery.com/2013/05/wheelbarrow-review-which-wheelbarrow-should-you-or-i-buy/
I have beautiful hydrangea plants that don’t bloom. I know not to cut off old wood but what do I do for them to bloom?
i have the same problem been here two years and they grow full but no buds or flowers
Mary,
Some hydrangeas bloom better than others, you just have to be patient. Macrophylla hydrangea flower buds have to survive the winter and if it’s a bad winter they don’t make it.
Mike, do you carry Snowball Hydrangeas at your Nursery and can anyone come and buy them?
Mike, my pg hydranga is probably 4 feet high and is more like a bush. With the humid weather this summer they have huge flowers which almost bring the boughs down to the ground. I have never tried to prune it except to cut out the dead. Is it too late to prune into a tree? It’s expanded into the chain link fence and I thought that might raise it up? It looks so crowded!
Mike I just planted 2 varigated lacecap hydrangeas. the weather just went from the 70’s to the 90’s and my plants are very wilted. They get sun from early morning to early afternoon, then are shaded the rest of the day. I’m afraid I may overwater trying to get them to perk back up. Any suggestions on what I should do?
Jan,
Water as needed but don’t make the ground soggy. Rig up some portable shade over them. A tarp over two old chairs works.
Mike, I have 2 gardenias, one mini and one regular size flower, that have suffered winter damage. White Fly have plagued them for the last few summers, resulting in the black soot on the leaves. Both plats look pathetic this spring, and even the stems are covered with the black soot yuk!!!! I’ve washed the leaves in the past, but that has not proved o be a long lasting benefit. Any suggestions?
Kathy, see this http://pender.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/05/how-do-i-treat-whitefly-on-gardenia/
Hello Mike…I am learning about trees and shrubs and everything in between.. I have some azalias out front and they aren’t blooming yet. I live in N. Ga. area, frost clear. I do have a green thumb, I’m not sure how to prune. I liked this video about beginning trees
Keeneth, Ideally prune your azaleas right after they bloom, just prune them to give them uniform shape. They can be trimmed at any time, but right after flowering is the ideal time.
Thanks Mike! I Love gardening and I love doing the lolly popping the trees, but the hydrangeas? I never thought of that! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I am doing more to fund raise for my charity work for Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. I think, with your knowledgeable help, I will do well! I will keep you posted when I make my first $100.00AUD in a day!
How do I tell which hydrangdea I have? Bought at a action a few years ago. grows upwards to 3 feet tall and has may branches from bottom of plant. Could I cut off branches and start new bushes and then make them into a tree hydrangdea
Rita,
You can root them like this http://www.freeplants.com/homemade-plant-propagation.htm, then try training them into trees. Macrophyllas like Nikko Blue and Endless Summer don’t work well as trees. The white flowering varieties make nice trees.
Thanks for the info. I have been gardening since I was 7 and now I am 52. This was one piece of info I can use and put in my personal memoirs. I am now getting ready to separate a delicate tree hibiscus that my mother in law says is rare variety. I believe there is about 9 plants in it now, wish me luck.