Will hydrangeas grow in NW Nebraska or is the climate too harsh, also, magnolia trees & decorative grasses?

Question

actually, the summer temps can be as high as the 100's during the day and rarely drop below 50 in the evenings. is it just that the winter would be too harsh, for the hydrangeas particularly? Thanks for the tip on the grasses!

Answer 1

Way too cold there for the flowers or a magnolia. Pampas grass would grow fine, though.

Answer 2

Hydrangeas grow in zones 1-21. Protect against overhead sun inland.Most magnolias will grow in your area. Ask a local nurseryman for advice. The same can be said for ornamental grasses. Pampas grass grows in zones 4-9, 14-24. Root hardy in zones 2-3.
Pennesetum setaceum, Fountain Grass likes full sun.Blue Fescue a perennial ornamental grass , forms blue gray tufts 4-10 in tall, grows in all zones

Answer 3

It depends on your zone. Look it up on a gardening site. There are maps and they tell you the zone for growing you are in and then plants are listed with what zones they will grow in. I am thinking you are probably in zone 4 to 5. You should have luck with Annabelle hydrangeas - they are very hardy. I live in zone 5 Michigan area and mine do great. I think if you look for the hardier forms of Magnolia you should be ok too. Just put in in a protected area - somewhere with a wind break from the winter winds. Snow is better for plants than being exposed in frozen ground. It works like insulation. Make sure you mulch your plants well too and that will help them thru the winter.

Answer 4

There are some varieties of hydrangeas that will grow. I live in Vermont and some of my neighbors have magnolia tress. You can go to gardening web sites, find the growing zone you live in and see what varieties of plants that they have that will grown where you live. You could also try a local garden center.

Answer 5

My father has always been able to grow whatever he wants to in Nebraska... you just have to really time the waterings to avoid overdrying in the afternoon sun. Check with people at the local green houses... they are so helpful in Nebraska because gardening is such a big deal.