Hydrangea macrophylla 'All Summer Beauty'
syn. Hydrangea hortensis; Hydrangea opuloides
Bigleaf Hydrangea, Florist's Hydrangea
Type Shrub, woody plant
Hardy range 5B to 9A
Height 4' to 6' / 1.20m to 1.80m
Spread 6' to 8' / 1.80m to 2.40m
Growth rate Average
Form Rounded
Exposure Full shade to partial sun
Bloom Color Blue and purple
Bloom Time Spring and Summer
Environment
This plant tolerates some drought, occasional wetness and some salt. This plant will grow in dry to occasionally wet soil. Suitable soil is well-drained/loamy, sandy or clay. The pH preference is an acidic to slightly alkaline (less than 6.8 to 7.7) soil.
Leaf Color Green
Fall Color No change in fall color
The flowers are very showy.
Culture Notes
Since the deciduous Bigleaf Hydrangea blooms on large buds formed on previous season's growth, any pruning should be done immediately after flowering. Long popular as a florist's plant, Bigleaf Hydrangea performs well in moist, rich garden soil in partial sun to fairly deep shade, where it can grow 4 to 8 feet tall. Be sure that tree roots are not competing with the roots, since this will slow growth dramatically. Flowers are bluish in acid soil, pink in neutral. This plant is considered mostly allergy free and causes little or no allergy problems in most people.
Pests, Diseases and Damaging Agents
Pests: Aphids, four-lined plant bug, leaf tier, rose chafers, scales and mites can infest hydrangea.
Diseases: Bacterial wilt may blight the flower clusters and leaves. Bud or flower blight infects dense flower clusters in wet weather or after frost. Several genera of fungi cause leaf spots on Hydrangea. Powdery mildews in different genera cover the undersides of leaves with light gray mold. Rust causes rusty brown pustules on the leaves.