Hydrangea macrophylla Flair & Flavours Sweet Cupcake

Hydrangea macrophylla Flair & Flavours Sweet Cupcake displays a spectacular and long-lasting flowering. Its large round inflorescences turn blue in acidic soil, while they turn bright pink in neutral soil. It forms a compact, medium-sized bush with sturdy stems that easily support the inflorescences. It is perfect for creating beautiful dried flower bouquets. This hydrangea is very hardy and should be placed in a semi-shaded position with non-calcareous soil. It is easy to grow, requiring only an annual pruning in spring and regular watering in summer to keep the soil moist.

Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous bush native to Japan, where its beauty has been appreciated for centuries and mentioned in poems dating back to the 8th century! In a country that places great importance on plants, festivals are even dedicated to this bush. It is found naturally on the island of Honshu (home to the capital Tokyo) and was introduced to Europe around 1789. This bush is highly regarded by professionals, including nurseries specialising in its production and breeders who have selected dozens of cultivars, as well as enthusiasts.

Sweet Cupcake is a small variety, reaching about 1m (3ft) in all directions. It forms a compact, regular clump with dark green serrated leaves. Its inflorescences appear in July and last until September or October. The regular round heads are made up of 4-sepal flowers, which vary in colour depending on the soil acidity. If the soil is acidic and contains enough aluminium ions, the inflorescences will take on a blue to slightly purplish hue. In neutral or slightly alkaline soil, they will be bright pink. In both cases, it can be said that this beautiful bush has a charming and romantic appeal. In autumn, the foliage usually takes on a beautiful colouration that adds to its ornamental value.

Like all hydrangeas. Sweet Cupcake is not a strictly ericaceous plant, but it prefers neutral to acidic soils. A semi-shaded to shaded exposure in a warm climate suits it well, as well as regular watering in summer because it does not tolerate dryness (of the soil and the atmosphere), which can cause its leaves to wilt. In less sunny climates, it can be planted in an open space. Care consists of an annual pruning in spring, before the new leaves emerge. This bush is hardy (-20°C (-4°F) or more, although severe frost can damage the branch tips. However, they easily regenerate after pruning in spring). It is easy to grow and can live for a very long time.

Sweet Cupcake is ideal for container gardening, on a balcony or a terrace sheltered from afternoon sun. A thick terracotta pot is well suited. If using a plastic container, it is preferable to choose a "double skin" type, with two walls separated by an air gap, providing insulation and preventing excessive heating of the soil and roots in summer, and limiting the effects of freezing in winter. Use ericaceous compost with a bit of compost added. Water regularly during hot periods.

When planted in the garden, you can create beautiful beds under the shade of tall trees by combining this hydrangea with other shrubs that also prefer slightly acidic soils. Choose staggered flowering times to cover the entire season. For example, Hamamelis intermedia 'Diane' will delight you with its delicate red filamentous flowers in the middle of winter, followed by the beautiful small Magnolia stellata and its star-shaped pure white flowers in March-April. Azalea 'Delicatissima' will then reward you with its pleasantly scented pink flowers before passing the baton to our little hydrangea.