shrub

Bigleaf Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla

Updated 17 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) — a shrub, for Part sun, Medium water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightpart_shade_to_full_shade
Watermedium_to_high

↑ Gives back

Shademedium
Biomassmedium

Through the year

Emergence

New growth emerges after the last spring frost and consistent temperatures above 5°C.

Flowering

Flowering typically begins about two months after new growth emerges, lasting through summer.

Senescence

Foliage begins to die back with the first autumn frost.

Dormancy

Enters dormancy after senescence, typically lasting through winter until spring.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained-to-moist
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalYes
Accumulatespotassium, aluminum
Soil textureloam, sandy_loam
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceLow

Propagation

Methodscuttings, division, seed
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Stratificationcold stratification recommended for 60-90 days
Divisionspring

Wildlife & pests

Attractspollinators
Can host pestsaphids, spider_mites, scale_insects
Can host diseasespowdery_mildew, leaf_spot, botrytis_blight