Species bigleaf hydrangea
Bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen'- Large, cone-shaped flower clusters in shades of pink set against rich green leaves

bigleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen'

Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen') is a magnificent flowering shrub known for its enormous, mophead flowers. Growing up to 6 feet tall and wide, the shrub produces huge clusters of deep rose flowerheads from midsummer through late summer. Its large, dark green glossy leaves create an impressive backdrop for the striking blooms. The blooms appear on old wood, so prune after flowering to avoid cutting off next years flowers. These hardy native shrubs thrive in full sun to partial shade and will reward you with a show stopping display each year.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Greenwood Cuttings,Hardwood Cuttings,Stem Propagation,Cutting

Hardiness Zone:

6 - 9

Flowers:

Pink to blue Flowers In Summer

Sun:

Deep shade, Filtered shade, Part sun/part shade

Soil:

Acidic, Alkaline, Well-drained

Fruits:

purple,pink Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen') should be watered about every other day (3 times a week) during the spring and summer. During this time, it is best to water the plants deeply, allowing the water to reach the root zone, and be sure that the soil is allowed to dry out a bit on the surface before watering again. In autumn and winter, the amount of water should be reduced, but the plants should still be watered on the same schedule. Waterlogged soils will cause root rot, so bigleaf hydrangeas should never remain water-soaked for extended periods of time.

sunlight

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen') prefer bright indirect sunlight. They should receive between 4-6 hours of morning sunlight each day, and avoid direct, intense afternoon sunlight. If the plant is in full sun for too long, it may experience scorching of the leaves and stems. If grown in full shade, it may produce few or no flowers. It is best to site these plants in a location that receives morning sun but is sheltered from the intense afternoon sun.

pruning

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen') should be pruned in late winter or early spring, just before new growth appears. Pruning should be done with sharp, clean shears and should be light and selective. Remove no more than 1-third of the older growth and cut back the new growth by at least 1-third. Focus on removing crossing branches, dead wood, and canes that have an "old wood" appearance. Doing this will allow the more vigorous new shoots to develop, resulting in fuller growth.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Bigleaf hydrangeas typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Bigleaf hydrangeas typically start flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Hydrangea macrophylla 'Alpengluhen' is in July and August.

Hardiness Map