SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hydrangea macrophylla x serrata 'SMNHSDE'

COMMON NAME: Let's Dance Hot Stepper® Continuous Blooming Hydrangea

GARDEN SIZE: 3 to 4 feet tall by 3 feet wide

GROWTH RATE: Moderate

USDA ZONE: 4 to 9

EXPOSURE: Part shade; prefers at least six hours of sunlight with afternoon shade in hot climates

WATER & SOIL: Average water needs; prefers moist, well-drained, moderately fertile soil; mulch to conserve moisture and promote strong root growth

HABIT (FORM): Compact, mounded shrub

FOLIAGE: Deciduous; Green

FLOWER COLOR: Pink, turning blue in acidic soil

FRAGRANCE: None

BLOOM FORM: Mophead flower clusters

BLOOM TIME: Summer through fall

PLANT ORIGIN: Hybrid between Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea serrata

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 balanced fertilizer in early spring after ground thaws but before new growth; avoid excess nitrogen to maintain sturdy stems and abundant blooms

PRUNING: Blooms on old wood; do not cut back; prune only to remove dead or damaged stems after flowering

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

USES: Containers, hanging baskets, borders, mass plantings, and retaining wall draping. (Please note that plants used in containers are not covered by the limited warranty.)