Hydrangea macrophylla Ruby Tuesday

The Hydrangea macrophylla, 'Magical Ruby Tuesday', is the latest addition to the Magical series, awarded at Plantarium 2015. It brings a very colourful red touch to this group of hybrids whose shades change with the seasons. Its flowers are born in soft dark red pompons, then successively turn to red-pink mixed with grey-red and bright green before fading into softer tones. Its generous flowering lasts all summer. It is perfect for making fresh or dry bouquets. Its compact habit is well suited to growing in large containers or shaded massifs in non-limestone soil. Very hardy. 

Hydrangea macrophylla, from which 'Magical Ruby Tuesday' is derived, belongs to the Hydrangeaceae family, native to China and Japan. 'Magical Ruby Tuesday' is part of an award-winning variety selected for their colour-changing flowers throughout the season. It is a hardy bush with a compact habit, wider than tall, 100 cm (39.4 in) high for 120 cm (47.2 in) in spread. Depending on growing conditions, it can reach 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) in height in 10 years. In June, the tiny flowers form dense bouquets of pompons in a rich and vibrant red, with a small white-pink bud at their heart. These delightful flower heads turn fuchsia red mixed with black-grey, then transform to fuchsia pink mixed with leaf green, and then fade, in early autumn, into a texture resembling paper. They then take on soft old rose and pale green shades. The flowering is accompanied by dark green, deciduous foliage. The leaves are opposite. They reach a minimum of ten centimetres in length. They are single, ovate to elliptical, dentate, ending in a sharp point. 

With excellent hardiness, hydrangeas are well known for brightening up the north side of houses. This variety will be happy in borders as well as hedges. This variety is particularly suited to container cultivation, which can be placed on the terrace or near the entrance. Even though these plants are not fond of limestone, they are not strictly ericaceous plants. Pair them with magellanica fuchsias, annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy its beautiful and long-lasting flowers in the garden or at home in bouquets.