| Hydrangea
macrophylla is the most common class of hydrangea. The hydrangea
macrophylla have large, round flower heads that range in color
from white to deep red and blue. The flowers bloom in late spring,
over a rounded canopy of dense foliage. Hydrangea macrophylla,
also called bigleaf hydrangea, have large, oval-shaped leaves
that often taper to a point. |
The
flower color of the hydrangea macrophylla depends on the acidity
level of the soil. In acidic soil, the hydrangea macrophylla
has blue flowers, while in alkaline soil, the blooms tend
to be pinker. In the transition range, many of the hydrangea
macrophylla blooms are a muddy mauve. Some cultivars of hydrangea
macrophylla color best in only one pH range, while others
are effective in both. The most common of the blue flowering
hydrangea macrophylla is the ‘Nikko Blue,’ which
has deep blue flowers in acidic soil. The ‘Pink ‘n
Pretty’ hydrangea macrophylla has bold pink blooms.
Hydrangea
macrophylla grow best in fertile, well-drained soils. They
are not very drought tolerant, and should be watered regularly
during dry periods. The hydrangea macrophylla prefer full
sun, but should be given half shade in areas that have overly
hot summers. The rounded hydrangea macrophylla shrubs grow
from three to five feet tall.
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| Hardy
in zones five through nine, the hydrangea macrophylla have
lustrous bright green leaves and lovely flower colors. They
work well as an accent plant, or can be placed in a border.
The hydrangea macrophylla blooms on large buds formed on growth
from the previous season. Because of this, any pruning should
be done immediately after flowering.
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