Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Lace-cap hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea)

Botanical name: Hydrangea macrophylla
Common name(s): Bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Lace-cap hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea
Categories: Shrubs and Perennials

Plant description:

These are among the showiest flowers in the summer garden. The first blooms appear in early summer and flowering continues into autumn. Many older cultivars lose their colour over time, eventually turning green, but modern hybrids retain their colour far longer. The plants can be pruned at the end of Winter.

Family: Hydrangeaceae

Botanical Pronunciation: hy-DRAIN-jah mak-roe-FIL-lah

Hydrangea macrophylla requirements and features

info on these icons

Evergreen

Never Sheds All of Its Foliage.

Semi Deciduous

Sheds Part of Its Foliage During Winter/Autumn.

Deciduous

Sheds Its Leaves Annually

Full Sun

Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day.

Half Sun

Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day.

Shade

Prefers Low Light Levels.

Frost Hardy

Can Handle frost without damage.

Semi Frost Hardy

Is Able to Survive Moderately Low Temperatures.

Frost Sensitive

Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost.

High Watering

Requires Frequent Watering.

Moderate Watering

Requires Regular Watering.

Low Watering

Requires Little Water.

High Maintenance

Requires Regular Maintenance.

Moderate Maintenance

Requires moderate maintenance.

Low Maintenance

Requires little maintenance.

Pruning Required

Needs to be Pruned.

Indigenous

Originates in South Africa.

Non Indigenous

Exotic to South Africa.

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Plant Attributes
Additional Information

Botanical name	Hydrangea macrophylla
Plant Care	Deciduous Deciduous – Sheds Its Leaves Annually Half Sun Half Sun – Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day. Frost Hardy Frost Hardy – Can Handle frost without damage. Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering. Low Maintenance Low Maintenance – Requires little maintenance. Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned. Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa.
Size	1 m * 1.5 m
Categories	Shrubs and Perennials
Flowers	January February March April August September October November December This plant bears flowers in many shades from Spring to Autumn.
Common name(s)	Bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Lace-cap hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea
Origin	Japan
Uses in landscape design	Lovely grown in tubs on a shady patio. Flowers are ideal for the vase. Cut flowering stems in the hard wood, otherwise the flower will not last when picked. Informal/ cottage style
Planting instructions	Planting: Blue hydrangeas need a soil pH of as low as 4.5, so add a lot of acid compost when planting to make it more acid. For pink hydrangeas, the soil does not need to be as acid (pH 6.0), so plant with ordinary compost. Watering and feeding: Water deeply, particularly during hot, dry spells. Use hydrangea food at regular intervals throughout the growing season. Keep the plants well mulched. Pruning: Prune at the end of winter. Cut back the previous year’s growth to three pairs of buds, to promote sturdy new stems with large blooms.
Maintenance	Prune plants at the end of Winter.
Soil conditions	Moist, well drained, acidic
Recommended varieties	‘Bodensee’ has sky-blue flowers, depending on the soil pH. ‘Daphne’ has pink flowers and retains its colour. ‘M. E. Moulliere’ has white flowers, ageing to a pinkish hue.

January February March April August September October November December
This plant bears flowers in many shades from Spring to Autumn.

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Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Lace-cap hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea)