Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt’s Supreme’

Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Merritt’s Supreme’ is a compact and dense mophead hydrangea with huge, rounded flower heads, packed with intense, rich purple-blue to deep rosy-pink florets, depending on the soil pH. Blooming from mid-summer to early fall, the bold blossoms are held aloft on thick stems. They turn a lovely plum color in the fall, further extending the season of interest in this plant. The foliage is dark green with large, glossy, serrated leaves. ‘Merritt’s Supreme’ is perfect as a specimen or in small groupings anywhere in the landscape that gets morning or filtered sun. Great cultivar for containers too! The size and longevity of the flowers make ‘Merritt’s Supreme’ hydrangea an excellent choice for flower arrangements.

• This deciduous shrub has a round habit, typically growing 3-4 ft. tall and wide (60-120 cm).
• A sun to part shade lover, it is best grown in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Full sun is tolerated if constant moisture is provided.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Watch for botrytis blight, bacterial wilt, leaf spot, rust, mildew.
• Perfect from foundation plantings to container plantings. Massed in a sheltered location or as an accent plant. Effective as a hedge and makes excellent cut flowers too!
• Remove spent flowers to promote new blooms.
• Blue in acidic soils, the flowers turn pink in alkaline soils. To change their color, add aluminum sulfate to the soil to make the flowers bluer or add lime to the soil to make them pinker. Treatment should occur ahead of time (late fall or early spring).
• This beautiful deciduous shrub should be pruned after flowering by cutting back the stems to a pair of healthy buds. Prune out weak or winter-damaged stems in early spring.
• Hydrangea macrophylla species is native to Japan. It is reported from seaside habitats as well as mountains in Japan, from Honshu southwards. This species has naturalized in China, New Zealand, and the Americas.
• May cause mild stomach upset if ingested, and contact with foliage may aggravate skin allergies. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.