Position

Sun exposure:
Dappled shade, full sun
Aspect:
South facing, west facing
Position in border:
Middle

Soil

Acidic / Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy

Lacecap and mophead hydrangeas, cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla, are the most commonly grown hydrangeas in our gardens. Mopheads have full, round heads of large petals, and lacecaps have flattish flower heads of large outer petals and tiny flowers in the centre. Plants are typically rounded with mid-green leaves, and the flowers are either pink or blue, depending on your soil type – if you have acid soil there will be more lilac flowers, while alkaline soil generates pink blooms.

Grow Hydrangea macrophylla in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Shelter from cold, drying winds. To promote fresh, new, vigorous growth on established plants, cut back hard in early spring. Prune out from one-third to one-quarter of last year's growth to the base each year to encourage the plant to produce new shoots.

Find out more:

Plant calendar

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Plantyesyesyesyesyes
Flowersyesyesyes
Take cuttingsyesyes
Pruneyesyes

Hydrangea and wildlife

Hydrangea has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.

Is Hydrangea poisonous?

Hydrangea can be toxic.

Toxic to:
Is known to attract Cats
Cats
Is known to attract Dogs
Dogs
Is known to attract Horses
Horses
No reported toxicity to:
Is not known to attract Birds
Birds
Is not known to attract Livestock
Livestock
Is not known to attract People
People
Plants that go well with Hydrangea macrophylla
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