Hydrangea macrophylla Yamato

The Hydrangea macrophylla Yamato, more commonly known as 'Telenn', is a variety infrequently offered for sale. It is appreciated for the lightness of its sizeable globular flower heads, which are compound flowers similar to four-leaf clovers. Their complex and changing colour is a beautiful gradient of blue in acidic soil or pink in neutral to slightly chalky garden soil. Its leaves take on fantastic colours in autumn, which is rare in this category of hydrangeas. The bush eventually forms a very flowery vegetal dome from July to September. This hardy variety, accessible to all gardeners, deserves a beautiful place on the curve of a path, on the edge of the lawn, or near an east-facing facade. 

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Yamato', introduced in 1993, is a beautiful creation of the famous French hydrangea specialist Corinne Mallet. Like all Hydrangea, it belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family, and its ancestor is native to China and Japan. 'Yamato' forms a large bush with a spreading habit, wider than it is tall, reaching approximately 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) in height and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in width. From July to September, round-headed flower heads, without heaviness, 15 to 18 cm (5.9 to 7.1 in) wide, appear in large numbers on at least one-year-old wood. These are corymbs composed of sterile flowers with 4 petals well separated from each other. In acidic soil, these flowers display a blue colour of varying intensity, from bluish-white to cobalt blue and bluish-grey. However, in neutral to slightly chalky soil, the flowers will show various shades of pink, from pinkish white to fresh pink and purplish pink, all these shades mixing on the flower head and across the bush. The flowering spreads over a large, shiny foliage, rounded, dark green, and dentate, which turns red in autumn before falling. The leaves are opposite; they reach at least fifteen centimetres in length. They are single, ovate to elliptical, ending in a pointed tip, coarsely serrated. Hydrangeas can live at least 50 years.

The Yamato Hydrangea will delight hydrangea lovers who have retained the charm of wild plants. In blue or pink, its flowers also seduce with their refinement. Hydrangeas are well known for brightening the north side of houses. This one will thrive in an east or west exposure that is not scorching, in beds and hedges. This variety deserves to be highlighted at the edge of the short grass meadow in front of taller bushes or near the house. The Hydrangea macrophylla Tricolour, with its variegated foliage of great delicacy, would make a good companion for this Yamato hydrangea. Even if hydrangeas are not fond of limestone, they are not strictly ericaceous plants; they adapt to any good garden soil poor in limestone. Pair them with Japanese maples, ferns, Japanese anemones, lilies, foxgloves, annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy their sumptuous flowering in the garden or house for a long time. 

It's important not to prune too early! Let the dried flower heads remain on the plant, and only cut them after the spring frosts. These flower heads are effective in protecting new vegetation and future flowers. 

Also, remember that the colour of the flowers of Hydrangea macrophylla varies based on the soil's pH level. If you want to maintain a beautiful blue colour, mix ericaceous soil with your garden soil and apply aluminium sulphate (which can be found in slate) or alum stone every year in the spring. Traditionally, blue varieties will turn pink in neutral or alkaline soil.