Hydrangea serrata 'Kurohime'
JAPANESE MOUNTAIN HYDRANGEAS are hale and hardy. Bud hardy yet very feminine. High maintenance? Not these ladies. In 10 years they have bloomed every year for everyone we have planted. They remain dormant longer and avoid late frosts. Generally they are somewhat smaller than the H. macrophylla.
H. serrata âÂÂKurohimeâ This is the earliest hydrangea to flower in our nursery. Lacecap flowering-plants are sometimes blue, sometimes deep mauve, sometimes both, depending on the amount of rain. Maroon stems and clean apple green foliage make this one of the most attractive mountain hydrangea.
A charming, delicate demeanor. Like their 'French' cousins they like good drainage, good soil and water and fertilizer. But you don't have to hover over them. Just plant them well to begin with and water once a week.
Give them acidity, (sulphur) for better blues and alkalinity, (lime) for more pinks. Don't trim them. Just cut yourself some bouquets. Do yourself a favor...grow some of these. You don't have 15 years to waste.
Zone 6-10.