Never has a point been made so clear: Yes, a cascading plant is perfect for a hanging basket. The plant of which I am speaking is the Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangea. The social media world that revolves around gardening has been like wildfire as everybody has been posting photos of baskets with Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangeas.

In a way it has been like the old "Superman" intro: It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it's Superman! This has mostly been from gardeners who had not yet heard of or seen this new hydrangea. The most common question seemed to be if it can really grow in a basket. The answer is yes, as well as any other container!

This is the amazing point of this week’s column. Son James Winter and the Eden Estate Management team of Columbus, Georgia, also took photos in the store and even posed with the Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangea hanging baskets. Their client loves white and James saw this as perfect for a redesign of a bed around a maple.

So, he purchased two baskets, and planted them with Diamond Snow euphorbia, Summer Wave White Linen torenia and tossed in a little color from Mona Lavender plectranthus and Surefire Rose begonia. The bed was eye-catching immediately.

Perhaps I should remind you that on a moment's notice you can plant a basket of Supertunia petunias, Superbena verbenas or anything else and give the illusion you are a garden pro and have been growing these for weeks.

Fairytrail Bride is a hybrid hydrangea that is recommended for zones 5-9 and will reach 4 feet tall with an equal spread. It needs about 6 hours of sun to reach its maximum blooming potential. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade protection will pay dividends. These are shallow-rooted hydrangeas so go the extra distance and provide the finishing touch of 2-3 inches of mulch.

It has a long bloom season; at neighbor Dave and Cynthia’s house, theirs were already blooming on May 1. The blooms just seem to keep on coming as they develop on old wood, so pruning is only recommended to remove dead stems.

The blooms are highly ornamental as the petals have a distinct frilly look and are in partnership with smaller fertile flowers reminiscent of those seen on lacecap types. These blooms maximize the potential of attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangea does offer you the potential of incredible hanging baskets whether you buy already made or develop on your own. The cascading habit though is stunning in tall containers and in locations where they can trail over a wall. Used at the front of the border or as James did, filling in a mixed bed, they are incredible.

Those of you who design the vase will love the new look whether they are used fresh or dried. So, when you see Fairytrail Bride Cascade Hydrangea baskets for sale, go ahead and pose with them at the store and share on Facebook and Instagram.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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