Keeping 'Endless Summer' hydrangea growing strong

My 'Endless Summer' hydrangea isn't blooming, what can I do to keep it growing strong? What other blue flowering plants would you suggest?

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##FULL QUESTION## Dear *Gardening Life*, I garden in southern Muskoka (Zone 4b). I have had a blue 'Endless Summer' hydrangea (purchased in Muskoka and allegedly hardy there) for foursummers now. The first year it grew a little and had two small blooms. Since then, nothing. I moved it early spring before last to where it would get more sunshine, but still no blooms. I water it with Miracid as directed. Do I chuck it? I love blue flowers. Any other suggestions? Thanks. *—Joan Milburn*

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##FULL ANSWER## Joan, I understand that 'Endless Summer' hydrangeas do take their time to get established and are worth some extra care and attention at the outset, but it sounds as if you have been giving it TLC. Even though they supposedly bloom on both new and old wood, they are still very susceptible to early fall and late spring frosts, which will certainly affect blooming. Here's a link to an excellent article from Northscaping Info Zone on 'Endless Summer' which should be helpful (if not entirely encouraging!): http://www.northscaping.com/InfoZone/IS-0124/IS-0124.shtml. Blue-flowering shrubs aren't that common; one thought I had was Caryopteris but it wouldn't be hardy in Zone 4, I'm afraid. Blue arctic willow (*Salix purpurea* 'Nana') would give you some blue-green foliage but not flowers. In perennials, you could try giant blue lobelia (*Lobelia syphilitica*) — it's hardy and takes sun or shade as long as it has moist soil. Blue scabiosa and some campanulas should also be good for you. Hope that helps! *—Karen York, Botanical Editor* Other questions recently answered by the GL team: Growing on a septic field How to battle weeds between flagstone and alternative options Mysterious orange powder on the lawn What to do with end-of-season potatoes on the vine How to control Japanese knotweed What to grow in a dry area The proper way to plant astrantia What is the star flower and how do I manage it? How do I eliminate my ant problem? Preventing red beetles from attacking lilies Vine types to grow on a new pergola Maintaining purple fountain grass Keeping bougainvilllea healthy throughout the winer How to rid invasive green goutweed Good garden uses for fireplace ashes Growing grape hyacinth indoors The best way to convert a lawn into a meadow The proper way to grow rhododendrons Eliminating beetle damage to spruce trees Annual resembling Japanese maple Planting ivy near cedar trees In search of the 'Sundance Kid' sunflower Caring for canna bulbs A supplier for barren strawberry ground cover Winter care for roses Cutting back mauna loa The best time to harvest curly-leaf lettuce Eliminating invasive trumpet Caring for double-flowering hibiscus trees Eliminating white aphids from honeysuckle vine Where to purchase Japanese blood grass An alternative to rhododendrons Growing a vegetable garden over a septic field Dividing and replanting daylilies Proper care for oakleaf hydrangea The best care for shrub roses 'The Fairy' Pest eating purple leaf sand cherry Preventing lawn brown spots Keeping plants sturdy Preventing suckers from a cut-down serviceberry tree Best tomato seeds to sow Preventing wind damage to grasses Plants to highlight a pool Reshaping yew tree The best way to replace a lawn Best screening plants for privacy Buying snowberries in Montreal

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