Hydrangea macrophylla Red Ace

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Red Ace' is a new variety of large leaf hydrangea that stands out for its bicolour flowers, deep pink edged with white, gathered in beautiful round flower heads on a particularly dark green foliage. Depending on the soil and exposure, the pink of the flowers will be paler or almost red. Original and modern, this variety tolerates slightly sunny exposures better and stands out in the garden but also on the terrace, planted in a large pot. It is a contemporary bush, of modest size, very floriferous and easy to grow. This hydrangea grows well in fertile soil, even slightly chalky.

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Red Ace' is one of the many hybrids obtained by cross-breeding hardy species that belong to the Hydrangeaceae family, originating from China and Japan. It is a very recent variety. This bush shows a rather rounded and regular habit. It will reach on average 1.10m (3 ft 7 in) in all directions. In July-August, its small flowers with striking dimorphism bloom, forming round flower heads, of a good size. The flowers are bicolour, red to pink, edged with white. If the bush is grown in a sunny exposure, the flowers will be lighter. If, on the other hand, it grows in the shade, they will be red edged with white. The PH of the soil also influences their hue. Flowering is accompanied by dark green foliage in summer, marked with deep veins. The leaves are opposite, they reach a minimum of ten centimetres in length. They are single, ovate to elliptical, ending in a sharp point, and serrated. Hydrangeas can live at least 50 years.

The Red Ace hydrangea is a beautiful bush that stands out during twilight and exudes elegance in the sunlight. When paired with white or red hydrangeas, they complement each other well. The Red Ace variety thrives when exposed to an east or west-facing direction that is not too hot. They can be grown in open ground or containers, placed on terraces or near entrances.

Although these plants are not fans of limestone, they are not strictly ericaceous plants. You can pair them with fuchsias magellanica, annual impatiens, or plant spring flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. You can enjoy their sumptuous flowering in the garden or the house for a long time.

Note that the colour of the flowers of the hydrangeas macrophylla varies based on the pH of the soil. Traditionally, blue varieties turn pink in neutral or alkaline soil. To maintain a beautiful blue colour, mix ericaceous soil with your garden soil and add alum stone or aluminium sulphate (which can be found in slate) every year in spring.