Bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.
Also called bigleaf hydrangea, mophead hydrangea.
Classic mophead and lacecap hydrangea of coastal gardens. Flower colour shifts blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 1–1.8 m (3–6 ft) tall and 1–1.8 m (3–6 ft) wide; medium growth, about 6 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.25) from the #3 install size.
Bloom
Blue to pink flowers, Jun–Aug (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bigleaf hydrangea : Jun–Aug |
Design notes
- Flower buds form the previous summer; late frosts and fall pruning remove the bloom. Reblooming series flower on new wood too.
- Wilts daily in afternoon sun — morning sun and steady moisture.
Regions
Native range: Japan.
Not recorded as native to any of the three pilot regions.
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Bigleaf hydrangea
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.