Hydrangea macrophylla Teller Red

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Teller Red' is a variety of Hydrangea with a magnificent and long summer flowering in pinkish red. Its inflorescences are relatively flat. The plant is imaginatively nicknamed "Teller" by the Germans (which means "plate"). It is also known as "lace-cap". Of medium size, this beautiful and easy-to-grow bush will thrive in neutral to acidic soil and in semi-shaded areas, either as a standalone or in the heart of a mixed border.

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 attaches great importance to plants, festivals are even dedicated to this bush. Hydrangeas belong to the Hydrangeaceae family, which they gave their name to, and which includes other ornamental genera. Among Hydrangea macrophylla, we can distinguish the round-headed varieties from the flat-headed ones, the Teller group in German.

'Teller Red' is a variety that produces beautiful red to pinkish red inflorescences, of medium size (15 cm to 18 cm (5.9 in to 7.1 in)), and are clearly visible against its medium green foliage. In summer, it blooms for many weeks, between June-July and September-October. Its inflorescences are composed of small fertile flowers, tightly packed in the centre, with a periphery of larger single florets. A medium-sized bush, reaching a height of about 1.5 m to 1.8 m (4.9 ft to 5.9 ft) and a width of 1.3 m to 1.5 m (4.3 ft to 4.9 ft), it has a moderate growth rate of about 15 cm to 25 cm (5.9 in to 9.8 in) per year. Like all Hydrangea macrophylla, this bush is not strictly an ericaceous plant, but it prefers neutral to acidic soils, rich in humus, while tolerating some limestone. Its pinkish red colour is actually more pronounced in slightly alkaline soil; in acidic soil, it turns to purple-red. It is quite hardy (-20° C (-4° F) or lower). Severe frost can damage the ends of the branches, but they easily regrow after pruning in spring. Easy to grow, it can live for a very long time. 

'Teller Red', a classic in shrub borders, is a generous plant that will make a big impact in the garden, whether as a standalone or combined with other flowering shrubs that prefer non-limestone soils. Choose plants with staggered flowering throughout the year to complement the flowering of this hydrangea. You can also create a romantic atmosphere by pairing it with the moving Magnolia 'Daphne' and its yellow spring blooms, a rarity among this plant species. The classic, yet irreplaceable Philadelphus coronarius, with its simple pure white flowers in May-June and captivating fragrance, will create a transition with this hydrangea. And to end the year beautifully, a Camellia sasanqua with its fully open petals and bouquet of bright yellow stamens will be perfect.