Cape Cod bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Cape Cod'
USDA zones4 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, autumn
- 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
'Cape Cod' bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Cape Cod') is a shrub for borders, cottage gardens, hedges, and shade gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 4, or down to -30°F (-34°C). This plant likes part sun to full shade and average to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. Blue flowers open from early to late summer and again in early autumn, and acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) keeps them blue. Deer tend to pass it by. This mounding shrub grows fast to about 60 inches and tolerates salt.
Pairs well with June hosta, Western sword fern, and Lenten rose.