Hydrangea

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Hydrangea

​Hydrangea macrophylla

• Common Name: Hydrangea (other common names: French hydrangeas, Mophead, Hortensia, Bigleaf Hydrangea, Lacecap Hydrangea)
  
• Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla
  
• Family Name: Hydrangeaceae
  
• Origin: Japan
  
• Height: 3’ – 6’
  
• Width: 3’ – 6’
  
• Growth: fast growing - 25 or more inches per year until mature
  
• Zone: 5 – 11 (preparations for winter should be made to protect plants from cold temperature in zones 5 and 6)
  
• Light Needs: Full sun – Partial shade (will tolerate full sun only if the soil is consistently moist.)
  
• Salt Tolerance:  tolerant of full-strength salt spray
  
• Soil/PH/Texture: Mildly acidic – Mildly alkaline (pH 6.1 – 7.8) (The soil pH affects the color of the flower, in highly acidic soils – blue, slightly acidic to alkaline soils – pink – lilac, If your hydrangea is producing blue flowers and you want them to be pink, you’ll need to incorporate lime into the soil. To turn pink flowers to blue, use aluminum sulfate. It may take two or three blooming cycles before the flowers reach the desired color and color intensity.)
  
• Soil Moisture: regular watering, soil likes to be consistently moist, do not let it dry out.
  
• Drought Tolerance: Low
  
• Pests/Diseases: no serious disease or insect problems besides aphids occasionally and they can get bud blight, bacterial wilt, mildew or leafspot.
  
• Growing Conditions: medium maintenance, mainly pruning.
  
• Characteristics: This deciduous shrub has dark green leaves, serrate, obovate to elliptic in shape. The huge flowers bloom in the summer – fall and can be Blue, Pink, Purple or White.
  
• Propagation: by stem or cane cuttings and by division.
  
• Wildlife: attracts bees, birds and butterflies
  
• Facts: poisonous to humans, although not usually deadly.
  
• Designer Considerations: Flowers are good for cutting, drying and preserving.