Azure Skies bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Azure Skies'
USDA zones5 to 9
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate or wet soil
Sizeup to 5 feet tallup to 5 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Mounding
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Bloom color
- Blue
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
- Soil pH
- Acidic for blue flowers (pH 4.5-5.5)
- Toxicity
- Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses
Garden uses
Notes
'Azure Skies' bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Azure Skies') is a shrub for borders, cottage gardens, specimen planting, and cut flowers. It is hardy to USDA zone 5, or down to -20°F (-29°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and average to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Blue flowers open on a mounding shrub from early to late summer. Acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 keeps the blooms blue. Deer rarely make it their first choice.
Pairs well with Blue Angel hosta, Aureola Japanese forest grass, Autumn fern, and Lenten rose.