Hydrangea macrophylla Black Diamonds Dark Angel

Hydrangea macrophylla Black Diamonds® comes in various extraordinary varieties with dark and glossy foliage that perfectly highlights their flowering. These bushes have a rather slow growth rate, a compact and well-balanced habit, and a long-lasting summer flowering that is resistant to bad weather. Plant them in the garden or in a large pot on a terrace, in full sun or partial shade, in ordinary soil that is not too chalky.

Hydrangea macrophylla Black Diamonds® is a recent hybrid, resulting from the cross-breeding of H. macrophylla and H. serrata, among others. All these hardy plants belong to the Hydrangeaceae family and originate from China and Japan. The different varieties in this series of hybrids are named 'Dark Angel' (bright red flowers), 'Dark Angel' Purple (bright violet flowers), 'Red Angel' (round red flowers), 'Red Angel' Purple (round violet flowers), 'Baroque Angel' (round pink flowers), and 'Baroque Angel' Blue (round blue flowers).

It has been awarded several times in various competitions in 2014, in England and Ireland. This bush has a rounded and branched habit, as wide as it is tall, reaching about 1m (3ft) in all directions. From July to September, its small fertile and sterile flowers gather on inflorescences that are 15 to 25cm (6 to 10in) long, and are rounded or spherical. The flowering contrasts wonderfully with the foliage, which has a waxy texture, is highly glossy, deeply veined, very dark green, and strongly tinted with purple and black throughout the season. The deciduous leaves are opposite, reaching a minimum length of about 15cm (6in). They are simple, ovate to elliptical, ending in a pointed tip, and coarsely toothed. Hydrangeas can live for at least 50 years.

The Black Diamonds hydrangeas have a unique charm and fascinate with the richness and brightness of their dark foliage. Their association with white-flowered varieties such as 'Shooting Star', for example, is particularly successful as the colours complement each other. Hydrangeas are well known for brightening the north side of houses. This variety will thrive in a non-burning east or west exposure, both in flower beds and hedges. It is well suited to container gardening, whether placed on a terrace in a beautiful pot or near a doorway. Although these plants dislike limestone, they are not strictly ericaceous plants. Pair them with Magellan fuchsias or annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy their sumptuous flowering in the garden or indoors for a long time.