Hydrangea macrophylla
The mop-head and lace-caps of today descend from plants native to a small area in eastern Japan. They are long lived plants, easy to grow, thriving in shade, woodland gardens and near the coast, whilst they also thrive in shady spots. Their flowers range through green, white, pink, blue, red and purple. The flowers give a fine display from June until November. The traditional Hortensias (H. macrophylla), have two basic types of flowerheads.
- LACE-CAPS are usually flat with small flowers without petals in the centre and showy flowers with petals on the outside.
- MOP-HEADS have a ball of flowers at the end of the stems of the current seasons growth.
The Flower colour of Hydrangea macrophylla will vary with soil type and most will form round bushes between 1m and 3m tall.
Flower colour of Hydrangea macrophylla varieties
- The flowers of the pink Hydrangea macrophylla varieties will usually go blue in acid soils, but stay pink in alkaline soils. Blue flowers will only remain blue if the soil is acid and there is sufficient Aluminium Sulphate in the compost or soil in your garden, if the soil is alkaline the flowers will be pink. White varieties do not change colour with the soil.
- If you purchase a Hydrangea macrophylla with blue or pink in its name, on the nursery we have grown the blue ones in an acid compost and the pink ones in a neutral compost. The blue one will also have Aluminium Sulphate added to the compost. As soon as the Hydrangeas are re potted or planted in your garden the colour of the flowers may change depending upon the pH (acidity) of the soil.
- If you use a Peat free compost for blue varieties they will almost certainly come out pink.
- The technical explanation - the blue colour of Hydrangea macrophylla flowers is determined by the presence of an Anthrocynin Delphinidin 3 - Monoglucoside. The blue colour is caused by the binding of Aluminium Sulphate with the Anthrocynin. This happens under acid soil conditions.
*Please note the white and pale coloured flowered varieties will often burn if grown in full sun.
Pruning Hydrangea macrophylla varieties.
- Remove dead heads in spring (late March/early April), and thin out weak and dead stems. You can thin the brown stems to get larger flowers.
- Do not prune in the autumn as the old flowers give some frost protection to young shoots in early spring. The brown flower heads also look great in winter when covered in frost.
- If you need to shorten the plant always cut above a bud.
*Please note any hydrangeas with no add to cart button unless otherwise stated are currently out of stock or are only available in limited numbers. Please contact us to check availability 01622 833218 thank you.
As we are a growing, working nursery please note all our hydrangea plants will be dispatched for delivery either with or without flowers on at time of order.
A mop head hydrangea with pink flowers in summer turning to a dark pink red.
A mop head with red purple blue flowers in summer turning a dark red purple blue.
Large balls of slender pink flowers from July to September.
A very compact variety with firm red mop head flowers on strong stems in summer.
Beautiful lace cap pale blue or pink flowers from July to August.
Large flat pinkish white lace cap flowers from July to September.
A compact Hydrangea with rich clear blue mop head flowers.
A compact Hydrangea with rich clear blue mop head flowers.
Bright carmine red Mop head flowers in summer.
Lace-cap flowers with vivid red outer florets and inside a mixture of smaller pink flowers.
Lace-cap flowers with vivid purple blue outer florets and inside a mixture of smaller lilac blue flowers.
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Large clusters of rounded pink flowers with cream white centres and fringed edges.
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A bushy bi coloured Mop head with pink flowers edged white.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
Clusters of flat lace-cap bright red flowers opening with green centres turning red with age.
Beautiful variegated variety with large pink or blue flushed white lace cap flowers.
Large balls of rich red to deep pink Mop head flowers turning mottled.
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Large balls of rich red to deep pink Mop head flowers turning mottled.
White lace-cap flowers with pink or blue centres depending upon soil type.
White lace-cap flowers with pink or blue centres depending upon soil type.
An elegant variegated hydrangea with lace cap flowers from July to September.
An elegant, variegated hydrangea with lace cap flowers from July to September.
Bi-coloured lace-cap flowers with sterile florets opening to white with pink margins and centres turning soft pink.
Dark green leaves and white-pink Mop head flowers in summer.
A Mop head with large balls of delicate pink flowers in summer.
A Mop head with large balls of delicate pink flowers in summer.
Large balls of spectacular flowers green with bluish purple spots to a deep green.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
Large balls of spectacular flowers green with pinkish purple spots to a deep green.
Strong white mop head flowers opening in summer fading to green with soft red edges through the season. A good variety to use as cut flowers.
Firm bright red mop head flowers in summer and the most reliable red flowering variety for holding its red flower colour.
Firm bubble gum pink ruffled mop head flowers in summer changing to petrol green. Good for cut flowers.
Firm bubble gum pink ruffled mop head flowers in summer changing to petrol green. Good for cut flowers.
Beautiful mop head flowers in summer open greenish pink or greenish blue lasting through to autumn.
Ever changing red purple blue with lime green mop head flowers in summer.
Ever changing fuchsia red with lime green mophead flowers in summer.
Showy colour changing mop head flowers in summer from lime green to pink or purple and green then finally to red in autumn. A good variety for cut flowers.
Showy colour changing mop head flowers in summer from lime green to pink or purple and green then finally to red in autumn. A good variety for cut flowers.
Large balls of pink and green flowers changing to green with white margins.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
A Mop head with blue flowers taking on green yellow tones throughout season.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
A Mop head with pink flowers taking on green yellow tones throughout season.
Waxy balls of flowers opening blue turning blue green cream and then to purple blue on edges.
Waxy balls of pink flowers changing colour through to white with green as the season continues.
Large apple green mop head flowers with white centres gradually turning deep dark red in autumn. Good variety for cut flowers.
Beautiful red mop head flowers in summer fading to deep rich red wine shades by autumn.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
A compact hydrangea with large white mop head flowers in summer.
Beautiful two coloured mop head flowers of pink with white margins in summer. A good variety for cut flowers.
Dark green leaves and pale pink-blue lacecap flowers in summer.
Dark green leaves and pale pink-blue lacecap flowers in summer.
Dark green leaves with vivid red mophead flowers in summer.
Dark green leaves tinged maroon with large mop head deep crimson to deep violet flowers.
A lace cap hydrangea with pale pink to purplish pink flowers.
A lace cap with serrated edged blue white flowers.
Mop head with large balls of pink flowers. Blue on non acid soils.
Mop head with large balls of pink flowers. Blue on non acid soils.
A blue Mophead with lots of medium sized flower heads.
Mop head flowers opening cream white with intense red edges becoming larger as they open.
Mop head with double flowers edged with deep rose & soft white centres.
A compact hydrangea with large white mop head flowers with scalloped petals in summer.
Strong sturdy stems of double pink star shaped mop head flowers in summer.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
Also called Winning Edge or Piamina Winning Edge is a dwarf mop head with pink to purple red flowers in summer.
Also called Winning Edge or Piamina Winning Edge is a dwarf mop head with pink to purple red flowers in summer.
A compact variety with dense attractive soft pink mop head flowers in summer with beautiful colour variations.
Pink Mop head Hydrangea with lots of medium sized flower heads.
Large double or triple star shaped dark pink mop head flowers in summer.
Mop head Blue flowers in summer.
Bi-colour Hydrangea with balls of red pink flowers edged white.
Mop head with large round deep red flowers.
Mop head with large round deep red to purple flowers.
Mop head with rosy red pink flowers which can turn bluer on acid soil.
Mop head with rosy red pink flowers which can turn bluer on acid soil.
Attractive mop head flowers in summer with coloured stripes opening lime turning pink peach then to lime green and finally to red by the autumn. Good for patio pots.
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Firm dark pink mop head flowers in summer.
Firm dark pink mop head flowers in summer.
Pale pink mop head flowers changing colour throughout the season.
Red green mop head flowers changing colour throughout the season.
Green mop head flowers changing colour throughout the season.
Mop head hydrangea with blue flowers. Flower colour will vary with soil type.
Mop head hydrangea with blue flowers. Flower colour will vary with soil type.
Rounded clusters of star shaped triple white flushed blue, blue flushed blue flowers.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
Rounded clusters of star shaped triple pink, white flushed pink, pink flushed pink flowers.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
A compact variety with hard dark blue purple common lilac like mop head flowers in summer.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
A compact variety with hard dark blue purple common lilac like mop head flowers in summer.
Mop head with large round clusters of deep pink flowers.
Mop head with large round clusters of deep pink flowers.
Large rounded clusters of red flowers opening with green centres turning fully red with age.
**PRE ORDER OUR NEW SEASONS CROP NOW FOR DELIVERY FROM LATE MAY/JUNE 2025 ONWARDS ACCORDING TO GROWING SEASON**
A deep red Mop head hydrangea.
A dark purple mop head hydrangea.
Mop head with rounded clusters of white flowers edged with reddish pink margins.
Double clusters of mop head white flowers edged with coral pink to red.
A compact variety with large flat white lace cap flowers in summer with flushed pink edges.
Beautiful rounded clusters of blue mop head flowers in summer.
Clusters of deep red flowers with an orangey white centre gradually turning deep red.
Flat lace-cap flower heads of pink red florets which fade to pale cream in the centre.
Large rounded clusters of deep pink Mop head flowers.
Large clusters of mop head white flowers from summer to autumn.