Dutch garden classics such as petunias, hydrangeas, and pansies are not made for above-average sunny and dry summers. This is what Frans van Oostveen, plant specialist at the Utrecht garden center Steck, tells RTV Utrecht in an item in which he advocates other plants in the garden, such as periwinkle or snakeweed.
Frans expects the Dutch hydrangea population to "decline significantly" over the next five years. "You can already see them hanging limp because they need so much water." In the item, Gert Kramer of garden center Eurofleur also speaks. He sees that garden centers are already anticipating drier periods.