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| Hydrangea macrophylla
Bigleaf hydrangeaThe extremely showy sterile flowers are borne in large round corymbs, 5-10" in diameter, with some varieties being even larger. Flowering occurs in June-July and is usually pink to blue or purple in color; however, there are also red and white forms and blended colors. Flower color tends to be blue at a lower pH and pink at a near neutral pH, due to the greater availability of aluminum in acidic soils. Hortensia forms have all sterile flowers in a rounded inflorescence whereas lacecaps have fertile flowers in the center surrounded by a ring of sterile flowers in a flat-topped inflorescence. Although both hortensias and lacecaps are common in the trade, the more showy hortensias are the more frequently used. The author prefers the contrasting textures and colors of the lacecaps over the more gaudy hortensias. |
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