Wee Bit Innocent™ Bigleaf Hydrangea
Shrub
- Compact hydrangea is perfect for small gardens!
- Pale pink double florets turn blue in acidic soil.
- Reblooming hydrangea from Proven Winners ColorChoice Shrubs.
- Lovely & romantic in cut-flower arrangements.
- Zones 5-9,part sun, up to 2′ tall x 3′ wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are a showstopping addition to any landscape, with big pink, blue, and purple colors depending on soil acidity. These hydrangeas thrive in sunny environments and afternoon shade and are heat- and cold-tolerant. Bigleaf hydrangeas have many uses in the landscape, including borders, pathways, hedges, and more. No matter where it's planted, bigleaf hydrangeas will surely bring the flower power to your landscape!
Details
Common name: Bigleaf hydrangea, Mophead hydrangea, Florist's hydrangea, Hortensia
Zone: 5-9
Sun exposure: Sun in cool areas; part shade in warm climates.
Height x width: 2' tall x 3' wide
Flower color: Pink, blue
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Space savers, Proven Winners, heat tolerant, container plants, best sellers, best for beginners
Uses: Flower gardens, landscaping, specimen, flowering hedge
Notes on flower color: The flowers of bigleaf hydrangeas can vary from pink to purple to blue, depending on soil chemistry. You must have both an acidic soil and the presence of aluminum (a naturally occurring soil element) in order for blue/purple color to develop. Get a soil test from your local Cooperative Extension before applying any color change treatment to be certain that it will be effective.
How to Grow
Light: Plants can take part sun (4 hrs/day) in cooler areas, but afternoon shade is recommended in warm climates. If your plant frequently wilts in the afternoon even though it was recently watered, that may indicate the spot is too sunny for it.
Water: Average to abundant (as long as soil is well drained).
Spacing: min. 3' apart
Fertilizing: Fertilize in early spring, once the ground has thawed, with a granular rose fertilizer. Make an additional application in late spring/early summer if desired.
Winterizing: Do not cut plants back for winter! Doing so will cut off all of the flower buds for the following season. If plants show a lot of dieback in spring, consider moving them, as this indicates the spot may be too cold for the plant.
Maintenance & pruning: The flowers of bigleaf hydrangeas can vary from pink to purple to blue, depending on soil chemistry. You must have both an acidic soil and the presence of aluminum (a naturally occurring soil element) in order for blue/purple color to develop. Get a soil test from your local Cooperative Extension before applying any color change treatment to be certain that it will be effective.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.