If you haven’t yet grown a hydrangea in your garden, it is time to give this big blooming plant a try.

Hydrangeas offer big beautiful leaves and large clusters of long lasting, spectacular flowers in white, pink, red and blue from mid to late summer, gradually fading in colour. With their wonderful texture and blooms, hydrangeas are lush, attractive and once established, easy to care for, generally they are garden showstoppers!

Hydrangea macrophylla (big-leaf hydrangea) are undoubtedly the most popular. The big-leaf hydrangea is the familiar “mop-headed” blue, pink or white species that is frequently seen. Its enormous flower clusters look like pom-poms and remain attractive even after blooming, because the flower clusters – being composed of sepals and not petals – do not fall but remain on the plant until early winter. They often change to lovely shades of red, pink and green, and can easily be cut and dried for indoor use.

A special category of big-leaf hydrangea and gaining in popularity is the lacecap. Their flat heads feature a central area of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by a “lace” of large, flat, showy sterile ones.

An interesting aspect of hydrangeas is the soil pH often determines flower colour. Blue flowers are produced in acid soil and pink in alkaline soils. For example, a pink hydrangea planted in acid soil would change to blue and visa versa. However, some hydrangeas, such as the white flowering types, often retail their flower colour regardless of the soil pH. A colourant would help you fight mother nature, such as Vitax Hydrangea Colourant 250g £3.25, but regular application is necessary. All hydrangeas need a moist, well-drained soil, generously enriched with compost (an ericaceous feed would be suitable for blue hydrangeas).

Caring for your hydrangea is very easy. Fertilise with a balanced fertiliser or amend soil to change flower colour if desired. Watch out for chlorosis, yellow/very pale leaves caused by iron deficiency, we recommend applying Vitax Epsom Salts 1.25kg £5.50 if needed. Take cuttings to start new plants in summer months. In October, cut all stems that have bloomed to 6 or 8 inches to control growth and promote more flowers.

We have 100’s of large hydrangeas in bud that we have grown on site. Hydrangeas are hardy, reliable and can be an outstanding addition to any garden. Our Hydrangeas are looking superb and if looked after, will provide years of enjoyment for everyone, from novice to expert gardener.