Hydrangea macrophylla Magical Revolution Pink

The Hydrangea macrophylla Magical 'Revolution Pink' is part of a series of recent hybrids, where flowers change colour over time. Depending on the nature of the soil, it will bear slightly blue or pink flowers. In this 'Pink' version, the flowers display a changing colour where pink dominates: starting from a baby pink, they gradually turn to deep pink, then to a red-violet-tinged green, before fading into softer tones. Its generous flowering lasts all summer and even into autumn. Its compact habit is ideally suited to pot culture, on a terrace or indoors. It is also ideal for a shaded flowerbed. It is also a very hardy plant, robust and resistant to sun and rain.

The Hydrangea macrophylla from which the 'Magical' series is derived belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family and is native to China and Japan. 'Revolution' is part of a series of 'Magical' varieties, selected for their compact habit and remarkable colour-changing flowers. This is a sturdily built 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 width at maturity. It can reach 1.25 m in height in 10 years, depending on the growing conditions. From June-July, the small sterile flowers form dense bouquets, gathered into large light pink pompons with a small greenish-white bud at their heart. Then these delightful flower heads will gradually turn to a greenish pink, then to a deep red, and fade to a light green tinged with purple-violet in early autumn, in a texture resembling paper. The charming bouquet is composed of ball-shaped flowers at various stages of blooming. When grown in a pot indoors after being forced for early flowering, the flowers bloom for almost 5 months. The flowering is accompanied by dark green leaves, which fall in autumn. The leaves are opposite; they are at least ten centimetres long. They are single, ovate to elliptical, dentate, ending in a sharp point. 

With excellent hardiness, the Magical hydrangeas are also very resistant to weather conditions and perfect for brightening up the north side of houses. This variety will be happy in flowerbeds and low hedges, in the morning sun or semi-shade. This variety is particularly well adapted to container culture, which can be placed on a terrace or near the entrance. Its flowers will retain their beautiful pink colour in non-limestone soil but with a neutral to slightly acidic pH. Pair it with magellanica fuchsias, annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy its beautiful and long-lasting flowers in the conservatory, garden or at home in bouquets.

Please note that the colour of macrophylla hydrangeas' flowers depends on the soil's pH level. Typically, blue varieties turn pink in neutral or alkaline soil. Mix ericaceous compost with your garden soil to maintain a beautiful blue colour, and apply aluminium sulphate (present in slate) or alum stone every spring.