Hydrangea macrophylla

How To Grow Hydrangea macrophylla

Planting Hydrangea macrophylla involves identifying the right soil type, choosing the most ideal planting position, selecting the best variety, and ensuring the plants have the essentials to thrive. The Plant Company has the right advice to ensure success when you are growing Hydrangea macrophylla.

Is Hydrangea macrophylla Easy To Grow?

Big Leaf Hydrangeas are very easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot with good drainage. The soil should be well prepared with organic matter added from either compost or sheep pellets mixed in. Feeding your plants in spring with shrub fertiliser or fertiliser for acid loving plants will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Prune your Hydrangea in winter each year to control their growth and encourage fresh growth in spring. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.

Planting Hydrangea macrophylla

Choose a full sun position with good drainage and moderate shelter for your Hydrangea plant. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.

Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. The Plant Company recommends cutting the bag or container to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as we have proven this offers no benefit to the plant or its establishment as explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.

Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter shrub fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.

Where Does Hydrangea macrophylla Grow Best?

Hydrangea macrophylla grows best in a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage. If the drainage is poor or with over-watering, they tend to become stunted and sickly looking. At the same time, of the shade levels are too high, Hydrangeas tend to become “leggy” and flowering is often reduced. The Plant Company generally recommends a full sun position if there is no risk of the leaves being scorched through light levels being too intense. If that is a concern, opt for partially shaded spot.

Moderate shelter is also important so fresh growth is not damaged by wind and this will help produce a better shaped plant overall. Being deciduous, they are tolerant of frost and cool climates. High humidity can cause disease issues, particularly if there is no airflow, so planting in these environments should be avoided. Wherever they are grown, make sure that they will not dry out during summer, and they have plenty of room to expand.

How To Prune Hydrangea macrophylla

Deciding when to prune Hydrangea macrophylla, how to cut them back and how hard is all covered in this series of articles. We want you to empower you with information so you can prune and manicure your plants with confidence and success.

Hydrangea macrophylla Care

Caring for Hydrangea macrophylla is about making sure the plants are thriving. Our plant care articles provide the necessary details to give you the greatest chance of success and to grow amazing plants.

Hydrangea macrophylla Information

This series of articles provides information and answers to questions about Hydrangea macrophylla that have been asked over the years.

Black Leaved Hydrangea

The most prominent black-leaved Hydrangea is Hydrangea 'Tuxedo Red'. The leaves are dark-purple with a dark-green undertone which gives a near black colouring. The flowers on this variety are an elegant red and it typically grows to 1 m tall and the same wide.

Can Hydrangeas Be Transplanted?

Hydrangeas are easily transplanted during winter, and the smaller the plant, the easier and more successful this process is. The Plant Company recommends that the plants are first cut back about 40 cm above ground level. We do this because the transplanting process will remove some of the plants roots, and if we leave all of the foliage and stems, that will put a great amount of pressure on the root system to supply water which they may not be able to keep up with.

Dig out the plant and aim to keep as much soil around the roots as possible. Once the plant is transferred to its new home, be sure to water it well. The two mistakes that gardeners make that often causes the transplanting process to fail are:

1. Watering was not ongoing after transplanting which results in the plant drying out. Watering needs to continue until the plant begins to grow away strongly.

2. Fertiliser was put in the hole at planting. This is a big no-no as it causes root burn and draws moisture away from the roots. Rather, scatter shrub fertiliser onto the soil surface after planting and water the plant well.

Overall, the transplanting process is usually without issue if care is taken during the process.

Hydrangea macrophylla Growth Rate

Hydrangea macrophylla is considered to have a moderate to fast growth rate. It will establish itself and reach a decent size relatively quickly. The actual growth rate can vary as some varieties are naturally more vigorous than others. Ideal conditions like a well-drained soil, a full-sun position, regular watering, and fertiliser will all promote faster growth. Similarly, warmer climates will generally result in faster growth compared to cooler regions. All that said, the typical growth rate is 30 to 60 cm per year with normal growing conditions. It will likely take 3-5 years for it to reach its mature size of 1-2 m tall and wide.

Hydrangea macrophylla Leaves

Hydrangea macrophylla, also known as the Bigleaf Hydrangea, is known for its beautiful and distinctive leaves:

• The leaves are broadly ovate (egg-shaped) and are widest near the base.
• They are relatively large, typically ranging from 10 to 20 cm in length and the same wide.
• The leaves are usually smooth and have a slightly glossy appearance.
• The edges of the leaves are serrated.
• They are typically a deep, rich green colour, providing a beautiful backdrop for the vibrant flowers. Some varieties have leaves with dominant purple overtones. The leaves often turn shades of red or orange in autumn before falling.

Hydrangea macrophylla Size

The size of a Hydrangea macrophylla can vary depending on the specific cultivar, growing conditions, and how much the plant is pruned. In general, they typically grow to 1-2 metres tall and the same wide. However, some varieties may grow larger or smaller than this. The Plant Company has size information with each of the Hydrangea varieties available and in the database.

In colder climates, Hydrangeas may not grow as large as they would in warmer regions. Similarly, plants that are well-watered, grown in sheltered spots, and given plenty of fertiliser will grow larger. Finally, the harder plants are pruned back during winter, the smaller the plant become during the growing season.

What Is Another Name For A Macrophylla Hydrangea?

Macrophylla hydrangeas have several other names, depending on the context and specific variety:

• Bigleaf hydrangea (most common)
• French hydrangea
• Mophead hydrangea (for varieties with rounded flower clusters)
• Lacecap hydrangea (for varieties with flat flower clusters with prominent center florets)
• Snowball plant (for varieties with white blooms)

What is Bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla?

A Bigleaf Hydrangea is another name for Hydrangea macrophylla. Specifically, it is a deciduous shrub and its large and vibrant flower clusters. Bigleaf Hydrangeas are also called "French Hydrangea" or "Mophead Hydrangea".

Hydrangea macrophylla is native to Japan and are very popular garden plants due to their beauty and ease of care. The flowers are the most striking feature which are large and rounded and held as flattened clusters. The flower colour of the pinks and blues will vary depending on the soil's acidity level. With an acidic soil the flowers are blue, and otherwise pink with neutral and alkaline soils. These are produced during summer and autumn.

The foliage comprises leaves that are large and lush. They are typically dark green with serrated edges and develop yellow, orange, or red tones in autumn before falling. It generally grows to 1-2 m tall and wide.

Why is Hydrangea macrophylla called Big-Leaf Hydrangea?

Hydrangea macrophylla is called "Bigleaf Hydrangea" because it has remarkably large leaves compared to many other shrubs. The leaves can easily reach 10 to 20 cm in length. for a shrub.