Meet the Breeder
Tim Wood
Grand Haven, MI, USA
TUFF STUFF™
Hydrangea - Mountain
Hydrangea serrata
'MAK20'
USPP 24,820; CBR 4527
- Improved hardiness
- Reblooming
- Colorful blooms
Bud-hardy rebloomer! We wanted a hydrangea with improved bud and stem hardiness in addition to the ability to flower on new wood - and we created Tuff Stuff™ Hydrangea serrata. Deep pink lacecap flowers create a mass of color in early summer, and it continues to produce new flowers right up until frost. The semi-double to double florets begin with creamy coloration in the center before maturing to an intense pink. If you've had inconsistent performance with H. macrophylla, try the Tuff Stuff™ series - they're the reblooming hydrangeas that deliver on their promise.
Awards 2012 Gold Medal Plantarium
USDA Zone 5 - 9 (-20°F/-28.9°C)
Exposure Full sun, Part sun
Height 2 - 3'
Width 2 - 3'
Finish Time .5 season
Type Deciduous
Bloom Time Summer - fall
Flower Color Pink, Purple
Foliage Color Green
Liner Sizes 4", Quick Turn, Pre-Budded
General Care
Soil Moist but well drained soils are best. Mountain hydrangeas are less susceptible to wilting than bigleaf hydrangeas, but 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 mountain 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. Though they do rebloom readily on new wood, the best display comes from treating them as though they bloom only old wood.
Uses Mountain hydrangeas can be used the same as bigleaf hydrangeas: perfect 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 Mountain hydrangeas are from the same area of Japan as bigleaf hydrangeas but grow in the mountains instead of the seaside. As a result, they have naturally developed better cold tolerance and thus make an outstanding choice for gardens in USDA zones 5 and 6 especially.
Features: Attracts pollinators, Alkaline soil, Clay soil, Cut flower, Heat tolerant, Salt tolerant, Reblooming, Compact
Filters: Botanical genus: Hydrangea, Common name: Hydrangea - Mountain, Retail program: Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, USDA Zone 5, USDA Zone 6, USDA Zone 7, USDA Zone 8, USDA Zone 9, Exposure: Full sun, Exposure: Part sun, Bloom time: Summer, Pink flowers, Purple flowers, Green foliage
Features: Attracts pollinators, Alkaline soil, Clay soil, Cut flower, Heat tolerant, Salt tolerant, Reblooming, Compact
Filters: Botanical genus: Hydrangea, Common name: Hydrangea - Mountain, Retail program: Proven Winners® ColorChoice®, USDA Zone 5, USDA Zone 6, USDA Zone 7, USDA Zone 8, USDA Zone 9, Exposure: Full sun, Exposure: Part sun, Bloom time: Summer, Pink flowers, Purple flowers, Green foliage