Hydrangea macrophylla
Bigleaf Hydrangea

 Plant Type:
 Hardiness:
 Deciduous / Evergreen:
 Flowers:
Multi-Colored (Summer; colors range from pink, white, blue, to purple, depending on cultivar)
 Foliage:
Green (Summer foliage); Yellow (Fall; pale yellow, generally not overwhelming)
 Fruit:
Brown (Capsule; not ornamentally important)
 Ultimate Height:
3-6 feet
 Ultimate Spread:
3-6 feet
 Soil:
Needs moist organic soil; in general: highly acidic soil (pH 5.0-5.5) = blue flowers, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5-6.0) = purple flowers, alkaline soil (pH 6.0-6.5) = pink flowers
 Diagnostic Characteristics:
Leaves (4-8" long by 3-6" wide) are simple, serrated, and opposite in arrangement. Large leaf scars. Stems emerge from ground with few branches. Flower panicles persist.

Additional Information

Beautiful flowers that are borne as either mopheads (hortensias), which are globular masses of mostly showy sterile flowers, or lacecaps, which are flat-topped clusters that have an outer ring of showy flowers surrounding small, less-showy fertile flowers in the center. In general, an acidic soil will produce a very blue colored flower in most cultilvar, and alkaline pink. High quality foliage. Lower flower production in cold climates, and performs poorly on hot dry sites. A few pest problems, including scale, mites, powdery mildew, and leaf spot.

22 Hydrangea macrophylla found

Building Map...

Loading...

The Purdue Arboretum is a collaboration between the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Physical Facilities Grounds Department

Purdue Arboretum, 625 Agriculture Mall Dr, West Lafayette, IN, 47907
© 2024 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Maintained by the Purdue Arboretum
Contact Purdue Arboretum at arboretum@purdue.edu for accessibility issues with this page | Accessibility Resources | Contact Us