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photo of Megan Mathey

Meet the Breeder

Megan Mathey
Grand Haven, Michigan

WEE BIT INNOCENT™

Bigleaf hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

'SMNHMC'

PP#35,815; CBRAF

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The soft pink blooms of Wee Bit Innocent bigleaf hydrangea "} Close up of a soft pink Wee Bit Innocent bigleaf hydrangea bloom Plant breeder Megan Mathey holding Wee Bit Innocent Bigleaf Hydrangea in a greenhouse A group of Wee Bit Innocent bigleaf hydrangeas in a landscape
  • Extremely showy
  • Doubled florets
  • High performance, even outdoors
Description

We all know someone who is innocent - but just a wee bit. Wee Bit Innocent hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is for them, and for anyone who can appreciate a high performance hydrangea with drop-dead gorgeous looks. Large, rounded mophead flowers are comprised of doubled florets of a sweet-yet-sassy pink or blue; it also exhibits some rebloom in late summer and fall. This is one of those plants that, when it was on trial, everyone who saw it stopped and said, "Oooooh, that's so pretty!" Grow it and see for yourself! Like the other members of the Wee Bit® series, it combines florist quality blooms with outstanding landscape performance, making these the perfect substitutes for the Cityline series.

USDA Zone
5 - 9 (-20°F/-28.8°C)
Exposure
Part sun
Height
2'
Width
2.5'
Finish Time
0.5 season
Type
Deciduous
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink, Blue
Foliage Color
Green
Liner Sizes
4", Quick Turn

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.