Twist N Shout vs Lady in Red

13 years ago

I just bought Lady in Red and love the folliage. I hear it needs some winter protection. I haven't seen LIR bloom and hope it makes it through my zone 5. On the other hand I don't have Twist N Shout and was curious how different it is than LIR. What are the pros and cons of each? What has better fall color? Is TS really hardier? When I say TS over the summer after it bloomed once and were spent, it looked like someone burnt the tops off of the blooms which I did not find appealing. Thoughts?

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Comments (6)

luis_pr
13 years ago
Browning of the blooms happens often when the plant is stressed for water so it makes sense that it occurs in the summer. It can happen with either LIR or TS, given the proper conditions of course. I prefer the blooms in TS and the stems of LIR. Then again, TS is remontant but LIR is not. The leaves in the fall look slightly different but if choosing on this attribute, you may want to look at them in person since this is a personal choice. I do not have pictures so I looked around and found this one of TS:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v368/anderson_dc/Plants%20and%20Trees/?action=view&current=DSCN1764.jpg

and this one of LIR:

http://www.lpstatile.com/picts/Hydrangea_lady_in_red_plant.jpg

No comment about hardiness in Z5 from me since I am in 7b/8A. Officially though, TS is rated hardy on Zones 4-9 and LIR is rated hardy on Zones 6-9. LIR's website says LIR needs to be winter protected in Z5.
ego45
13 years ago
Can't comment on hardiness issue either, but of all 100's hydrangeas I grow, LIR has the most outstanding fall foliage color.
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daylilyluver
13 years ago
@ego45

I'm in RI. Do you winter protect your hydrangeas? I'm thinking with the amount you grow that the answer is no.
ego45
13 years ago
No, I don't winterprotect any of them, but I grow some non-hardy (to z6) cultivars in pots and overwinter them in unheated garage.
LiR is in the open ground and never failed to bloom for the last 5 years.
daylilyluver
13 years ago
That's good to know, thanks for the information. I'm up to 5 varities now. Masja, Shamrock, Angel's Smile, Parzifal and a varigated variety. I'm pleased with them. I don't winter protect and they have done well.
blueeskimo
13 years ago
Don't have LR. But have Twist-n-Shout for over a year now. It's the most impressive mac. hydrangea I have in the recent years for our cold region (well, maybe F&E 'Together', too). In my opinion more reliable than the origal ES. I do minimum protection in the winter. Put a big pot on top without filling in anything. With the same method, 'Shamrock' has NOT done anything for me (one flower each year and that's maybe). Whereas Twist-n-Shout starts to bloom early. If cut the spent flowers off, it'll continue all summer. Definitely more endless than the original one. Right now the color of the flower is very similar to that of paniculata type, say 'Angel's Blush' or 'Quick Fire' (I have planted them side by side).
Twist-n-Shout is very hardy and productive plant.