A blue flowering Hydrangea that requires a special site for maximum performance. It really should come with a warning label.
Pronunciation
(hy-DRAN-je-ah)(mack-row-FIL-ah)
Plant Type
All Plants, Shrubs Deciduous
Hardiness Zone
4-8
Sunlight
full (if there is adequate moisture) partial sun east exposure probably the best.
Moisture
average to moist, during dry specials it becomes a mass of wilted lettuce, will not tolerate drought, wilts like leaf lettuce in full sun in a dry garden
Soil & Site
average to moisture retentive, needs a ph of 5.5 to maintain blue flower color
Temperature
cold hardy, I have had the new shoots get nipped and or killed by late frosts but has always grown back
Flowers
blue to pink depending on the ph of the soil, bloom on new and last years wood, remontant plant (blooming more than once in a season).
Leaves
large green leaves, serrated
Dimensions
reaches 4 by 4 feet.
Maintenance
Dead heading may promote a secondary bloom.
Propagation
cuttings
Cultivar Origin
Bailey's Nursery Inc., St. Paul Minnesota USA in conjunction with testing and evaluation by Michael Dirr.
Author's Notes
I would not grow this plant unless you have the perfect site. Which is moist, shaded with some sun and acidic ph. All can be artificially provided if the gardener thinks they are worth the extra effort. I give a few garden talks every year and I thing the gardening public is tired of spending money on this plant and it never gets as good looking as the plant that was purchased. (in zone #5)
Notes & Reference
#85-Hydrangeas for American Gardens (Michael Dirr)