Hydrangea macrophylla King George V

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'King George V' is a bush with intense fuchsia pink to deep red flowering. This ancient variety is still relevant today, as its long summer flowering is valuable in the garden, with few bushes blooming profusely during this season. It forms a dense bush dressed in healthy green foliage. Hardy, this Hydrangea should be placed in a shady location, in neutral to acidic soil. It is easy to grow, requiring only annual pruning in spring and watering in summer to keep the soil moist.

The Hydrangea macrophylla is a deciduous bush, native to Japan, where its beauty has been appreciated for centuries and mentioned in poems dating back to the 8th century! In this country that places great importance on plants, festivals are even dedicated to this bush. This 'King George V' Hydrangea is a variety obtained in Belgium in 1938, two years after the death of the English sovereign. It is a cross between two varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla, 'Rosabelle' with pastel pink flowers (a creation from 1928 by Henri Cayeux) and 'Merveille' with bright pink flowers, also by Henri Cayeux (1927) and a star of gardens between the two world wars. A historic variety, therefore, epitome of the species with its large spherical flower heads about twenty centimeters in diameter, this beautiful Hydrangea has retained all its ornamental interest. As with most H. macrophylla, the colour of the flowers depends on the acidity of the soil. It is more or less dark pink in neutral or slightly alkaline soil, turning to fuchsia pink and then deep red in more acidic soil. In any case, the colouring is remarkable for its intensity, which has allowed it to stand the test of time without losing its popularity. Flowering from July to September, well highlighted by the matte green foliage, this vibrant flowering is the main asset of this variety. A medium-sized bush, about 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) to 1.80m (5 ft 11 in) in all directions, this Hydrangea is not a strict ericaceous plant, but it prefers neutral to acidic soils. A semi-shaded exposure will suit it, as well as watering in summer. It is very hardy (-20°C). Easy to grow, it can live a very long time.

The King George V Hydrangea, a classic in flower beds, is a generous plant that will have a great effect in the garden when combined with other flowering shrubs that prefer non-calcareous soils. Choose plants with staggered flowering throughout the year to frame the flowering of this Hydrangea. For the beginning of the year, the 'Westerstede' Witch Hazel will brighten the short February days with its spider-shaped yellow flowers. In spring, there's nothing like a beautiful old variety of Camellia like 'Virginia Robinson' with its light pink flowers in April-May, followed in May-June by a Kalmia or mountain laurel, among the many available varieties. And to finish the year in beauty, a Camellia sasanqua with its fully open petals and bouquet of yellow stamens will be perfect.