Planting & Caring For Your Tropical Hydrangea (Pink Ball, Dombeya Wallichii)
April 28, 2011
If you are interested in adding a striking new specimen to your garden, then perhaps you might consider planting one of the Dombeya varieties. The Pink Ball, better known as Tropical Hydrangea, is a large shrub or small tree that provides a beautiful show of color in the first months of the year that last for over a month.
Some say that Dombeyas smell like frosted cake. Their pendulous flowers are round in shape and resemble pompoms hanging about the leaves. Once the flowers have finished their blooming cyle they will remain for quite some time, so it is best to remove them in order to keep a neat appearance.
Caring for Tropical Hydrangea:
- Watering your Dombeya may be necessary in the dry months as it an average to high water consumer
- Plant your new shrub in a sunny to partially sunny location
- Allow enough space for the shrub to grow up to 15 feet (it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning after the plant is done flowering)
- It can be pruned back as needed without deforming the shrub
- Dombeyas are fast growers and need some fertilizer in the growing season
- It is possible to grow Tropical Hydrangea in a container (however, they perform the best when planted in the ground)
- It performs best in temperatures above the low 30’s and it will lose its leaves if the temperature dips into the 20’s
- It is best suited for sub-tropical to tropical climates, but has been grown in zones 9B with some frost protection
We have several varieties planted at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates; a pink variety called Dombeya wallichii and a white variety known as Dombeya pulchra.
The Tropical Hydrangea will be a great addition to your garden and will offer you an exciting display when in flower. Pink Ball is available for purchase in one gallon containers at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates Garden Shoppe.
