Hydrangea macrophylla 'Shooting Star'

The Hydrangea macrophylla 'Shooting Star' is a variety of hydrangea that is still relatively unknown. From July to October, it bursts into a thousand small white and double stars, gathered on flat inflorescences. Worked like delicate lace, the sterile florets surrounding a cluster of tiny fertile florets assemble into spherical constellations, cascading above a thick, dark green and glossy foliage. Its compact and bushy habit is well suited for cultivating large pots or shady flower beds in non-chalky soil.

The Hydrangea macrophylla Shooting Star is a recent hybrid resulting from cross-breeding the species H. macrophylla and H.serrata, among others. All these hardy plants belong to the hydrangea family, native to China and Japan.

'Shooting Star' is part of a series of 'Lacecap' cultivars selected for their flat flower heads. This bush has a compact and round habit, as wide as it is tall, reaching 100 cm (39in) in all directions. From July to October, its small fertile and sterile flowers, with striking dimorphism, form spherical flower heads measuring 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12in) in diameter, slightly rounded, pure white for five weeks, then turning a pale green. They are intricately arranged: the sterile florets, in the form of double stars located on the periphery, are carried by long pedicels that give them the appearance of shooting stars. The 'flower' heart consists of tiny white florets. The flowering contrasts beautifully with shiny, dark green, deciduous foliage with a waxy texture. The leaves are opposite, reaching a minimum length of about fifteen centimetres. They are simple, ovate to elliptical, ending in a tapered point, coarsely toothed like a saw. Hydrangeas can live for at least 50 years.

The Shooting Star Hydrangea possesses a unique, fascinating, and dynamic charm. Hydrangeas are well known for brightening the north side of houses. This one will thrive in a non-burning east or west exposure in flower beds and hedges. This variety is particularly well-suited for container cultivation, which can be placed on the terrace in a beautiful pot or near the entrance. Although these plants dislike chalky soil, they are not strictly acid-loving plants. Pair them with Magellan fuchsias, annual impatiens, or plant spring-flowering bulbs in front of their round silhouette. Enjoy their splendid flowering in the garden or the house for a long time.