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‘Parzifal’

Hydrangea - Bigleaf

Hydrangea macrophylla

'Parzifal'

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Closeup of the frilly blue bloom of Parzifal hydrangea "}
  • Blue flowers
  • Classic
  • Vigorous
Description

Named for the 13th c. German epic poem, 'Parzifal' hydrangea is a solid plant with strong stems and toothed, leathery leaves. Fringed mophead blooms vary in color greatly according to the soil pH.

USDA Zone
5 - 9 (-20°F/-28.9°C)
Exposure
Full sun, Part sun
Height
3 - 5'
Width
3 - 5'
Finish Time
.5 season
Type
Deciduous
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Blue, Pink
Foliage Color
Green

Soil

Moist but well drained soils are best. Bigleaf hydrangeas may wilt in dry soils but also cannot take soggy conditions for any period of time. Tolerant of a range of soil pH levels, however, soil pH will influence flower color.

Pruning

Avoid pruning bigleaf hydrangeas, except to remove any dead wood. These hydrangeas cannot be cut back or trimmed at any time of the year without impacting the bloom for either the current season or the next.

Uses

Bigleaf hydrangeas are classic choices for flower gardens, cottage gardens, and seaside plantings. They also make a showy addition to foundation plantings and can be used for low hedges or edging.

Growing Tips

Bigleaf hydrangeas benefit from a good layer of shredded bark mulch and afternoon shade, particularly in hotter climates. Apply a granular fertilizer formulated for flowering shrubs (like a rose fertilizer) if leaves start to yellow.