Hydrangea macrophylla Wedding Gown

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Wedding Gown' is a new hybrid that brings a fresh breeze to the shade garden. This small bushy shrub produces dense hemispherical inflorescences in summer, resembling bridal bouquets, composed of small pure white stars, gradually invaded by pink shades before fading to crimson red at the end of summer. Its hemispherical flowers bloom in large numbers, carried by very rigid wood with shiny dark green foliage. Floriferous and resistant, with a compact habit, it has a place in all types of gardens and can be used in borders, as a standalone plant, in large pots, in a rather humus-rich, well-drained and moist soil, in semi-shaded to shaded positions.

The 'Wedding Gown' Hydrangea stands out from other varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla due to its compact habit, robustness, abundance, and originality of its flowering. This shrub is barely taller than it is wide, reaching 1m (3 to 4ft) to 1.20m (3 to 11ft) in all directions. Obtained by cross-breeding with a dwarf Hydrangea serrata, it also proves to be very hardy. From mid-June to September, these small fertile and sterile flowers, with striking dimorphism, form semi-spherical inflorescences. They bloom at the tips of the stems, on one-year-old wood as well as on new shoots, which is a guarantee of floribundity. Initially green, they transform into a crown of pure white peripheral florets with a triple row of petals, surrounding a tight cluster of fertile florets in the form of slightly green-tinted buds. Over the weeks, pink appears on the petals in an irregular manner, in the form of punctuations and large blotches, until they become entirely red. The flowering is accompanied by deciduous dark green foliage, carried by green stems punctuated with black lenticels. The leaves are opposite, reaching a minimum length of about ten centimetres. They are simple, ovate to elliptical, ending in a pointed tip, with serrated edges. Hydrangeas can live for at least 50 years.

The 'Wedding Gown' Hydrangea thrives everywhere, in non-burning sunlight, in semi-shade or even in shade, and is insensitive to bad weather. Hydrangeas are well known for brightening up the north side of houses. This one will thrive in a north or east exposure, in morning sun, in borders as well as in hedges. This variety is suitable for cultivation in open ground as well as in large containers, which can be placed on the terrace or near the entrance. Although these plants dislike lime, they are not strictly acid-loving plants. Pair them with Magellan fuchsias, annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy their magnificent flowering in the garden or indoors for a long time.