Hydrangea macrophylla - Bigleaf, Mophead, French Hydrangea, Hortensia

Origins S. E. Asia, N. America, S. America
Type Perennial (deciduous)
Hardiness Zones 6 - 9
Bloom Spring, Summer, Fall
Height 3 - 6 ft (92 - 183 cm)

Cultivation
Sunny, or semi-shaded locations, and most well drained soils. Extend flowering season by deadheading old blooms. Hydrangeas like pruning. Prune in the Fall after the blooms faded away. If you
decide to prune in the Spring, then cut back branches that produced last year's blooms only, and keep the new growth (it will produce this year's blooms).

Propagation
By seed, or by cuttings (take semi-soft cuttings in Summer, and hardwood ones in Winter).

Other
Beautiful blooms, and a great asset in any garden. Blooms come in variety of colors, depending on the level of soil's acidity, so don't be surprised if that pretty pink Hydrangea you planted last season produces blue flowers, only.

Hydrangeas make a good soil type indicator. Acidic soil will make Hydrangea produce blue flowers, neutral soils creamy blooms, and alkaline soils are great for pinks and purples! For added interest try climbing varieties, such as: Hydrangea anomala

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References - Find more about: Hardiness Zones, Hydrangeas
Special Thanks
Special Thanks to Town & Country Gardens Contributors: amandawriter, blogger, David Kovaluk, dive-angel (Karin), flickr, misscharo, Jasmine&Roses, Rita Crane Photography. Rita Crane, daughter of LIFE magazine photographer Ralph Crane. Her work can be seen on Flickr at Rita Crane Photography or on her website., TMR Davies, W.D. Williams