Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’

One of the few hydrangeas with pretty fall color, Hydrangea serrata ‘Bluebird’ is a compact and tidy deciduous shrub laden with delicate lacecap flowers, up to 8 in. across (20 cm), in early summer. The flower heads are composed of large, showy sterile sepals radiating around a central cluster of tiny fertile, rich blue florets. Depending on the soil pH, the florets are pale pink or light blue. The profuse blossoms are beautifully framed by the foliage of ovate, dark green leaves which turn brilliant red in fall. Hard to beat for color, hardiness, grace, and long blooming season, ‘Bluebird’ is an outstanding landscape shrub.

• Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
• This deciduous shrub has a round, bushy habit, typically growing up to 4 ft. tall and wide (120 cm)
• A full sun or part shade lover, it is best grown in rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. Tolerant of sun if the soil remains moist.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Watch for aphids, capsid bug, hydrangea scale and vine weevil.
• Perfect from foundation plantings to container plantings. Massed in a sheltered location or as an accent plant.
• To change the color of your Hydrangea, 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 serrata species is native to Japan and Korea.
• May cause mild stomach ache if ingested, contact with foliage may aggravate skin allergies.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.