Hydrangea macrophylla Stellar Pink - Mophead Hydrangea

The Hydrangea macrophylla Stellar is a variety of Hydrangea with unusual and attractive flowering. Small triple florets make up the large, flat inflorescences. This cultivar is produced here in pink, with white tips, but can turn bluish in acidic soil. This Hydrangea is a medium-sized bush that forms a more or less spherical shape and can be grown in borders, as a standalone plant, or in a container to decorate a terrace. It is hardy and should be placed in a shaded position, in neutral to acidic soil.

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 a country that places great importance on plants, festivals are even dedicated to this bush. This Hydrangea is a variety obtained by the Japanese breeder Toyokazu Ichie, who has more than ten cultivars to his credit since 2010. The full name of this bush reveals its origin: Hydrangea macrophylla STELLAR ’Kamosere Gokigenyo'.
The main attraction of this variety lies in the dome-shaped inflorescences, 20 cm or more in diameter, which display a beautiful medium pink colour in neutral to slightly alkaline soil. In acidic soil, they turn blue, which is typical for this species. The uniqueness of Stellar lies in its triple florets, made up of small, progressively larger star-shaped florets, with developing tips being whitish. The overall effect is quite charming. This flowering has the good taste of being perpetual, so the bush has flowers throughout the summer, from July to September. Afterwards, dried bouquets can still be enjoyed indoors for a few weeks. This medium-sized bush grows to about 1.20 m to 1.50 m in all directions, and like all H. macrophylla, it is not strictly a heather soil plant, but it prefers neutral to acidic soils that are rich in humus. It is very hardy, up to -20°C or more, although severe frost can damage the tips of the branches, they easily regrow after pruning in spring. Easy to grow, it can live for a very long time.

The pink Stellar Hydrangea, like all Hydrangea macrophylla, is often found in front of north-facing houses in Brittany and Normandy. It also thrives in non-scorching east or west exposures. In a romantic border, it can be combined with Camellias, Mock Oranges, and perennials such as masterworts, baby's breath, or foxgloves. It can also be planted in containers on the terrace or balcony, in a rich and well-drained potting mix with good water retention.

Note: The colour of Hydrangea macrophylla flowers varies depending on the soil pH. Traditionally, blue varieties turn pink in neutral or alkaline soil. To maintain a beautiful blue colour, mix ericaceous soil or blonde peat into your garden soil and apply aluminium sulfate (slate contains it) or alum every spring.