Find your garden centre

Plant of the week: Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla - Hortensia

The Hydrangea is the queen of the summer-flowering shrubs as their large flower heads are borne in July and August when the shrub border is often rather dull. The most popular types are the Mopheads or Hortensias with large globular heads of sterile flowers. The Lacecap group is quite different - each flat flower head is made up of a central cluster of small fertile blooms surrounded by sterile florets.

Both groups make a magnificent show of white, pink, red, blue, or a combination of these colours, in some cultivars producing a wonderful almost metallic lustre.

Grow in well-drained, fertile soil, give them plenty of water during dry spells, regular feeding and light shade is preferred to full sun.