Hydrangea arborescens Ruby Annabelle

Hydrangea Ruby Annabelle, awarded at Plantarium 2016, completes this beautiful series of American hydrangeas with enormous globular flowers in a delicious red hue mixed with silver-pink. This small-sized bush forms large balls of dark red buds that open into silver-pink florets edged with ruby-red throughout the summer. Its stems are robust and sturdy, pleasantly adorned with beautiful dark green foliage. This hardy, robust and beautiful hydrangea is a gem for the garden or terrace. Its spectacular flowers are also beautiful in bouquets.

Hydrangea arborescens, or Virginia Hydrangea, belongs to the large Hydrangeaceae family. This botanical species, native to the Southeast USA, is less demanding in terms of shade and soil than its Asian counterparts. Through hybridisation, it has produced numerous varieties that have proven to be excellent garden shrubs, such as the famous 'Annabelle', obtained in the USA several years ago.

The 'Annabelle' series of arborescent hydrangeas are appreciated for their floribundity, hardiness, better tolerance to sun and less acidic soils, as well as their vigour. They consist of highly branched and highly floriferous bushes that decorate the garden from June until the first frost. Ruby, recently obtained in the United States, is a very hardy plant that faithfully reblooms on new shoots, even after cold winters. It has beautiful thick and branched stems that reach up to 90 cm (35.4 in) and form a bush with a similar width (even wider depending on the conditions). From the end of June, they are crowned with perfectly spherical large corymbs that continue to bloom until late summer. The sturdy stems effortlessly support the weight of the flowers, even when they are soaked with rain. These large flowers can measure up to 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter and are made up of a multitude of small flowers with 3 to 4 petals, in an old silver-pink colour edged with ruby-red. The whole is enhanced by dark green foliage, composed of beautiful simple leaves measuring 10 cm to 20 cm (3.9 in to 7.9 in) long, wide and ovate, nicely crinkled and deciduous. Hydrangeas can live for many years in the garden, often more than 50 years.

If you like easy-to-grow, floriferous hydrangeas with vibrant colours, Ruby Annabelle will delight you. If your decor is more contemporary, or if you have a small city garden, this small-sized bush will provide a romantic and elegant touch. Hydrangea arborescens Ruby Annabelle adds glamour to any semi-shady scene, whether placed individually or in groups. A small border of boxwood or Lonicera nitida 'Elegant' planted at its base will form an elegant setting for its large pink and red flowers. In the front of an urban garden, it brings romance and distinction. It can be surrounded by hellebores, daffodils, and pansies that extend the flowering period and complete the range of colours. Finally, while it is superb in flower beds and hedges, it is also perfectly suitable for use in pots or containers on a terrace. Cut its flowers to create beautiful bouquets!