Species bigleaf hydrangea
Bigleaf Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra' - clusters of pink and purple flowers set against dark green foliage

bigleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra'

Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra') is a striking shrub. It produces large dark green, toothed foliage that deepens to a deep purple-maroon in fall. Large clusters of large ornamental white flowers draped around the edge of the foliage appear continuously through late summer and fall. Its mounded form provides a low-maintenance accent for any garden. Tolerant of sun or shade, this variety produces the best blooms in partial to dappled sun. Plant in moist, well-drained soil and prune in early spring before new growth appears. This hardy hydrangea is perfect for creating a dramatic landscape impact in any garden!

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:

Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Maintenance:

Moderate

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra') should be watered deeply and regularly. For the best results, water once or twice a week in the morning, making sure the soil is thoroughly moistened to a depth of at least 6-8 inches. If it gets very hot in your area, you may need to water more often. Again, allow the soil to dry out in between waterings to prevent over-watering and root rot. During active growth periods, the soil should be kept consistently moist but not soggy.

sunlight

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra') prefer bright, indirect light. They appreciate a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. The ideal amount of sunlight for a bigleaf hydrangea is between 4-6 hours of indirect sunlight each day. Depending on the amount of sun intensity, this may need to be adjusted. During the summer months, some morning sun is beneficial as long as it is indirect. During the winter, full sun exposure is tolerated.

pruning

Bigleaf hydrangea plants should be pruned in late winter (before spring growth begins) or early summer (after flowering has finished). For best results, prune your hydrangea back by about 1-third. When pruning, select stems that are crossing or interfering with the shape of the plant, remove any dead or damaged wood, and remove branches that are growing in towards the center of the plant. Make sure not to remove too much as bigleaf hydrangea plants are slow to regain their shape after significant pruning.

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 'Nigra' is in July and August.

Hardiness Map