At this year’s Grammy Awards ceremony, while many were focused on the celebrities walking the red carpet, a stunning display of hydrangeas caught the attention of gardening enthusiasts. These beautiful blooms were none other than the Endless Summer hydrangeas, a popular variety developed by Bailey Nurseries in Newport, Minnesota.
Since their creation in 2004, Endless Summer hydrangeas have become the world’s most popular hydrangea, according to Ryan McEnaney, Bailey’s marketing and communications manager. With over 30 million units sold, these hydrangeas are now as popular as roses for gardeners worldwide.
Bailey Nurseries, a family-run company founded in 1905, is a major supplier for local Minnesota nurseries, including well-known brands like Bachman’s and Wagners Greenhouses. McEnaney, a fifth-generation member of the Bailey family, explained that what makes Endless Summer stand out is its ability to bloom every year with minimal effort, even in colder climates like Minnesota, where harsh winters usually prevent older hydrangea varieties from blooming.
Unlike traditional hydrangeas that require special care, such as bloom-boosting fertilizer and the right amount of sunlight, Endless Summer blooms consistently without such treatment. This makes it possible for people in colder regions to enjoy hydrangeas in their gardens, just like in places with ideal conditions like Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The hydrangeas featured on the Grammy red carpet were accompanied by floral arrangements from Chicago-based Tu Bloom. The display included various Endless Summer varieties, such as the raspberry-colored Summer Crush and two bluish-purple varieties, BloomStruck and Pop Star.
Ahead of the Grammy event, special care was taken to ensure the hydrangeas bloomed in time. Normally blooming in summer, the flowers had to be tricked into thinking it was mid-year. Bailey Nurseries sent the flowers to Oregon, where they were kept in a cold environment to simulate winter. In December, they were moved to a warmer location to help them bloom in February.
