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Hydrangea aspera 'Macrophylla' AGM

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© RHS 1999

Characteristics

Plant type

Shrub

Habit

Bushy

Toxicity

May cause mild stomach upset if ingested; contact with foliage may aggravate skin allergies

Resilience

Hardiness

old H3 (may need winter protection)

Colour

Flower

Purple and White in Autumn and Summer

Foliage

Green in Autumn, Spring and Summer

Size

Ultimate height

1.5-2.5 metres

Ultimate spread

1.5-2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

10-20 years


Preferred common name

large-leaved scabrous hydrangea

Family

Hydrangeaceae


Hydrangea can be deciduous or evergreen shrubs, or self-clinging climbers, with flowers in clusters usually comprising both small fertile and more showy sterile flowers; often good autumn colour

'Macrophylla' is a medium-sized deciduous shrub of lax habit, with large, hairy ovate leaves to 28cm in length. Small, blue-mauve flowers in flat heads are surrounded by white sterile florets

Synonym(s)

  • Hydrangea aspera hort. macrophylla
  • Hydrangea aspera var. macrophylla
  • Hydrangea strigosa var. macrophylla

How to grow

Sunlight

  • Full sun
  • Part shade

Aspect

  • North-facing, East-facing, South-facing or West-facing
  • Sheltered or Exposed

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade

Soil

  • Well-drained or Moist but well-drained
  • Acid or Neutral
  • Sand, Clay or Loam

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City/Courtyard Gardens, Cottage/Informal Garden or Flower borders and beds


How to care

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

Aphids, capsid bug and hydrangea scale may be a problem

Diseases

May be subject to a leaf spot