Bigleaf Hydrangea - Hydrangea macrophylla

Plant Expert:

Michael Dirr

Hydrangea macrophylla

Common Names:
Bigleaf Hydrangea

More Images:

Share on Facebook

Questions? Talk about this plant in our Message Board

Origin:
	Japan

Sun/Water Requirements:

Partial/Full sun.
Moderate climate.
Dirr says: "Shade more imperative in Zone 7 to 9; moisture is a necessity or plants will wilt and die. Moist, well-drained soil which has been amended with peat, leaf mold and the like."

Climate / Hardiness Zones:

Zone 5 to Zone 9

Dirr says: "Does not do well in Zone 5 unless extremely well-sited, as one goes south and east this becomes a very common plant. I have seen the most magnificent specimens on Cape Cod, MA; in Athens, GA (Zone 7b), where the plant should prosper, I have had trouble with late spring frosts injuring and killing developing leaves and flowers. Cool, even climates makes the difference. Will withstand seashore conditions and actually flourish near the shore"

Growth:
	Range: Grows to 5'. Dirr says: "3 to 6' in height, but can grow to 10', spread would be equal to or greater than the height. Rounded shrub of many erect, usually unbranched, thick stems."

Flowers:

Color(s): Blue, Pink, Purple, Red
Season(s): Late Spring, Early Summer

Dirr says: "Very difficult to adequately describe the typical species flower because of numerous selections; the sterile, outer flowers are pink, bluish, purple, entire or toothed, up to 2" or more in diameter, the fertile flowers are usually blue or pink; both are borne in large, broad, flat-topped, much-branched, corymbs; July through August; June - July in Athens, GA; prune after flowering since buds are formed on previous season's growth. Flower color on some cultivars is strongly affected by soil pH."

Foliage:
	Deciduous Color: Leaves are dark green and green in the summer and yellow in the fall. Dirr says: "Leaves are quite fleshy (succulent) with a waxy consistency."

Fruit:
	Color: Black Season(s): Fall

Landscape Value:
	Can be used as a grouping plant. Dirr says: "Probably a good plant for the shrub border in southern areas; makes a good flower display; good choice for coastal areas; one of the great garden plants and with the 500 or so extant cultivars surely there is at least one for every gardener."

Other:
	Is Salt Tolerant

Other Hydrangea macrophylla References & Articles:

Hydrangea Questions and Answers
The most popular species is Hydrangea macrophylla, which is commonly known as bigleaf, ... Bigleaf hydrangea responds quickly to warm temperatures in late winter and early spring by breaking ...

U.S. National Arboretum: Research: Plant Introductions: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra'
... hydrangea in your garden! 'Nigra' Bigleaf Hydrangea Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ( ... Hydrangea macrophylla grows best in moist, well-drained soil, in full sun to partial shade.

Planting a Lady in Red Hydrangea adds interest to your Georgia garden.
Planting a Lady in Red Hydrangea adds interest to your Georgia garden. ... newfound excitement is due to the recent introduction of the Lady in Red Hydrangea (H. macrophylla ‘Lady in Red’).

Add Old-Fashioned Charm to Your Virginia Landscape with Hydrangeas
... are a few you may want to consider: Nigra Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala), Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia), and Peegee Hydrangea ( ...

Pink Flowering Shrubs
Especially in Bigleaf Hydranges the color of the flower is determined by the pH of ... include; Azaleas, both deciduous and evergreen, Bigleaf Hydrangea, Blueberries and Cranberries which are ...

U.S. National Arboretum: Gardens: Pest Management Tips: February
Bigleaf hydrangea plants broke dormancy during the warm spell and their leaves began to unfurl from terminal buds.

Blue Flowering Shrubs
In Bigleaf Hydranges the color of the flower is determined by the pH of the soil. ... Also consider the Blood-on-the-snow Hydrangea and the Japanese Mountain Hydrangea.

Purple Flowering Shrubs
In Bigleaf Hydranges the color of the flower is determined by the pH of the soil. ... Also consider Blood-on-the-snow Hydrangea and Tea of Heaven, which is extremely hardy.

Hot New Plants - Flowering Shrubs For 2007
Four new Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) will be adding drama to the shady garden ... fourth plant is from a group of Bigleaf Hydrangeas known as Lacecaps, a term that refers to ...

Microsoft Word - plant intro list genus.doc
... ’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Diana’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Helene’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minerva’ Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Vulcan’ HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea) Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nigra’ ILEX (Holly) Ilex ‘ ...

Microsoft Word - plant intro list common.doc
... ‘Sparkleberry’ Ilex serrata ‘Sundrops’ Ilex x attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ Ilex ‘Tanager’ Ilex crenata ‘Twiggy’ Ilex ‘Venus’ HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea) Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nigra’ IRIS (Iris) Iris ...

Long Blooming Shrubs For The Home Gardener
Hydrangea of several types but especially the Bigleaf Hydrangeas (H. macrophylla), flower from early summer into fall.

Arboretum Introductions -- Listed by Name
... ‘Sparkleberry’ Ilex serrata ‘Sundrops’ Ilex x attenuata ‘Sunny Foster’ Ilex ‘Tanager’ Ilex crenata ‘Twiggy’ Ilex ‘Venus’ HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea) Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nigra’ IRIS (Iris) Iris ...

Arboretum Introductions -- Listed by Genus
... ’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Diana’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Helene’ Hibiscus syriacus ‘Minerva’ Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Vulcan’ HYDRANGEA (Hydrangea) Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nigra’ ILEX (Holly) Ilex ‘ ...

Arboretum Fact Sheets & Award Winners
Hibiscus syriacus 'Aphrodite', 'Helene', and 'Minerva' Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra' Ilex 'Sparkleberry' Ilex x attentuata 'Sunny Foster'

What Is Flowering Now In Early June
The last must-have addition to every garden is the Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla).

U.S. National Arboretum: Gardens: Pest Management Tips: December 2006 & January 2007
Bigleaf hydrangea plants broke dormancy during the warm spell and their leaves began to unfurl from terminal buds.

Red Flowering Shrubs
Other suggestions for shrubs with red blooms are: Bigleaf Hydrangea, Camellia, Crapemyrtle, Mountain Laurel, Rose of Sharon and Winter Jasmine.

Hydrangea macrophylla is hardy in these areas:

Alameda, CA	Alamo, CA	Alsip, IL
American Canyon, CA	Angwin, CA	Antioch, CA
Baltimore, MD	Bayside, NY	Bronx, NY
Brooklyn, NY	Brownsville, TX	Canton, MI
Chicago, IL	Cicero, IL	College Point, NY
Conneaut, OH	Corona, NY	Danville, CA
Detroit, MI	Dorset, OH	East Claridon, OH
East Elmhurst, NY	Ecorse, MI	Elmhurst, NY
Elmwood Park, IL	Elyria, OH	Essex, CA
Evergreen Park, IL	Fawnskin, CA	Ferndale, MI
Florence, SC	Flushing, NY	Fontana, CA
Forest Falls, CA	Forest Hills, NY	Fort Eustis, VA
Fresh Meadows, NY	Glen Burnie, MD	Gwynn Oak, MD
Harper Woods, MI	Harrison Township, MI	Hunt Valley, MD
Jackson Heights, NY	Leasburg, NC	Lexington, NC
Liberty, NC	Linwood, NC	Little Neck, NY
Ludlow, CA	Macomb, MI	Marysville, MI
Maspeth, NY	Memphis, MI	Mercedes, TX
Middle Village, NY	Mission, TX	Modesto, CA
Moreno Valley, CA	Morgantown, WV	Mount Clemens, MI
New Baltimore, MI	New Haven, MI	New York, NY
Newport News, VA	North Ridgeville, OH	North Street, MI
Oakland Gardens, NY	Olmito, TX	Penitas, TX
Pharr, TX	Phelan, CA	Philadelphia, PA
Pikesville, MD	Pinon Hills, CA	Port Isabel, TX
Progreso, TX	Redlands, CA	Rego Park, NY
Rialto, CA	Ridgewood, NY	Rimforest, CA
Riverdale, IL	Saratoga, CA	Soquel, CA
Sparrows Point, MD	Staten Island, NY	Taylor, MI
Temperance, MI	Temple City, CA	Towson, MD
Trenton, MI	Tres Pinos, CA	Upland, CA
Virginia Beach, VA	Walnut, CA	Watsonville, CA
Wayne, MI	Westland, MI	Whitestone, NY
Whitmore Lake, MI

close tag