SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydrangea macrophylla 'RLL-12-20'

COMMON NAME: Midnight Rider™ Hydrangea

GARDEN SIZE: 3 to 5 feet tall by 3 to 5 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Fast

USDA ZONE: 6 to 9

EXPOSURE: Dappled sunlight to partial shade; protect from harsh afternoon sun here in Tennessee.

WATER & SOIL: Prefers moist, well-drained soils rich in organic matter; tolerates clay, loam, or sand. Performs best in acidic to neutral pH but tolerates mildly alkaline conditions. Blooms change color with the pH; in general, blue in acidic soils or pink in alkaline. Requires consistent moisture, especially in full or dappled sun.

HABIT (FORM): Compact, Rounded to Spreading Shrub

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Deep purple to nearly black foliage

FLOWER COLOR: Rosy-pink in alkaline soils, Blue in acidic soils

FRAGRANCE: None

BLOOM FORM: Mophead; on old and new wood

BLOOM TIME: Spring through Fall

PLANT ORIGIN: Japan, China, Korea, and Southeast Asia

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: Apply organic compost or a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring; avoid late-summer feeding to prevent damage to tender growth before frost.

PRUNING: Blooms primarily on old wood; prune immediately after flowering.

TOXICITY FLAGS: Mildly toxic if ingested (contains cyanogenic glycosides)

USES: Beds, borders, hedges, cottage or woodland gardens; accent plant for shade gardens