Rio bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Rio'
USDA zones5 to 9
SunHandles partial sun to full shade
WaterHandles moderate or wet soil
Size2 to 3 feet tall2 to 3 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
'Rio' bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Rio') is a shrub for borders, cut flowers, cottage gardens, and specimen plantings. 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 from early to late summer on a mounding plant, and acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 keeps the blooms blue. It is not a favorite of deer, though hungry deer will eat almost anything.
Pairs well with Golden Tiara hosta, Lady fern, Autumn fern, and Northwind switchgrass.