Hydrangea macrophylla Lady Mata Hari

The Hydrangea macrophylla Lady Mata Hari received the gold medal of the Plantarium Award in 2017 for its beauty and innovation. It produces large flowers, each capable of displaying 3 different colours. Every flower is unique, varying in shades of pink-mauve, cream white and apple green. Depending on the nature of the soil, it bears slightly blue or pink flowers. Its generous flowering lasts all summer and even into autumn. With a compact habit and well-spreading, it is ideally suited for cultivating in containers, on the terrace or indoors. In the garden, it adds colour to a shaded flower bed with its changing colours. It is also a very hardy plant.

Hydrangea macrophylla belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family. It is native to China and Japan. Lady Mata Hari forms a sturdily framed bush, very hardy, with a very compact habit, barely taller than it is wide, measuring about 1 m (3 ft 4 in) in height and 90 cm (35.4 in) in spread at ripeness. Depending on the cultivation conditions, it can reach 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) in height in 10 years. From June-July, the small sterile flowers form dense bouquets, gathered into large pompons of varied colours, including up to three shades. Each flower has pink, apple green and cream-white nuances. The 'balls' of flowers at different flowering stages create a charming bouquet. Grown in a pot indoors after forcing for early flowering, the flowers bloom for almost 5 months. The flowering is accompanied by dark green foliage, which falls in autumn. The leaves are opposite; they reach a minimum of ten centimetres in length. They are single, ovate to elliptical, dentate, ending in a pointed tip.

Of excellent hardiness, this Hydrangea macrophylla Lady Mata Hari is perfect for brightening up the north side of houses. It is ideal for borders, low hedges, morning sun, or partial shade. This variety is particularly suited to container cultivation, which can be positioned on the terrace or near the entrance. Its flowers will maintain their beautiful pink colour in non-limestone soil, with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Pair it with fuchsia magellanica, annual impatiens, or plant spring flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy its long-lasting, gorgeous flowers in the conservatory, garden or at home, in bouquets.

Please note that the colour of the flowers of macrophylla hydrangeas varies depending on the pH of the soil. Traditionally, blue varieties turn pink in neutral or alkaline soil. To maintain a beautiful blue colour, mix ericaceous compost into your garden soil and add aluminium sulphate (slate contains it) or alum stone every spring.