Not edible
Toxic to pets and humans if ingested
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Plant out around your last spring frost. Space plants 36 in (91 cm) apart.
Photo: Raul654, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
When to plant
Timed from your frost dates, so it holds wherever you garden. Give yours and every step below becomes a date.
Optimal Spring Transplant
From a plantRecommended from a plant- Plant outaround your last spring frost
Optimal Fall Transplant
From a plant- Plant out6 weeks before your first fall frost
Optimal Indoor Start
From seedRecommended from seed- Start indoorsaround your last spring frost
- Begin hardening off9 weeks after your last spring frost
- Plant out10 weeks after your last spring frost
Growing hydrangea
- Spacing in the row
- 36 in (91 cm)
- Between rows
- 60 in (152 cm)
- Planting depth
- Top of the root ball level with or slightly above the soil; hole no deeper than the root ball and 2-3 times as wide
- Sun
- Partial Shade
- Soil
- Well-draining, organically rich soil is preferred.
- Germination
- 14-21 days at 65-75°F
- Mature height
- 3-15 feet
- Hardy to
- USDA zone 6
- Life cycle
- Perennial
Surface sow tiny seeds, light required for germination. Maintain consistent moisture.
Watering. Keep soil consistently moist, especially during establishment; avoid waterlogging.
Neighbours
The companion chart →Grows well beside
- Azalea
- Fern
- Hosta
- Rhododendron
- Astilbe
- Bleeding Heart
- Coral Bells
- Lungwort
Keep apart from
- Ivy
- Juniper
- Privet
Blackberry
Feeding
- Seedlings
- Diluted liquid fertilizer after true leaves appear.
- Growing
- Balanced slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring.
- Flowering and fruiting
- Fertilizer formulated for acid-loving plants or balanced bloom booster if desired.
- How often
- Once a year, in early spring, with an optional light boost in midsummer.
- Note
- Avoid late-season fertilization to prevent new growth vulnerable to frost.
Your hydrangea, planned to the day.
Canopy turns these timings into dates from your own frost data, places every plant at its spacing on your garden map, and tracks it all the way to harvest.