SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Bird'

COMMON NAME: Bluebird Lacecap Hydrangea

GARDEN SIZE: 5 to 6 feet tall by 4 to 6 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 5 to 8

EXPOSURE: Dappled sunlight to partial shade; prefers cool, sheltered sites.

WATER & SOIL:Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soils rich in organic matter. Adapts to clay, loam, or sandy soils with acidic to neutral pH. Consistent summer moisture promotes better flowering and prevents leaf scorch.

HABIT (FORM): Bushy, dense, mounding shrub with rounded form

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Bright green leaves turning red in fall

FLOWER COLOR: Blue to lavender-blue with white outer florets (more blue in acidic soils)

FRAGRANCE: None

BLOOM FORM: Lacecap; Contrasting central and outer florets

BLOOM TIME: Summer

PLANT ORIGIN: Japan and Korea; naturally occurs in cool, mountainous woodland habitats

WILDLIFE SUPPORT: May provide some nesting sites and shelter for birds and small mammals, but does not serve as much of a host for local insects and wildlife. May provide food for insects in the spring.

FERTILIZING: Feed in early spring with organic compost or a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Avoid high-nitrogen formulas that encourage leaf growth at the expense of blooms.

PRUNING: Blooms on old wood. Minimal pruning needed. If pruning, do so immediately after flowering to preserve next year’s buds. Remove weak or winter-damaged stems in early spring while hydrangea is still dormant.

TOXICITY FLAGS: Mildly toxic if ingested (contains cyanogenic glycosides). Some traditional use of the leaves as a tea is reported, but do your own research thoroughly before considering for yourself!

USES: Borders, shaded woodland gardens, specimen, mass planting.