Acidic / Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Lacecap and mophead hydrangeas, cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla, are the most commonly grown hydrangeas in our gardens. Mopheads have full, round heads of large petals, and lacecaps have flattish flower heads of large outer petals and tiny flowers in the centre. Plants are typically rounded with mid-green leaves, and the flowers are either pink or blue, depending on your soil type – if you have acid soil there will be more lilac flowers, while alkaline soil generates pink blooms.
Grow Hydrangea macrophylla in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Shelter from cold, drying winds. To promote fresh, new, vigorous growth on established plants, cut back hard in early spring. Prune out from one-third to one-quarter of last year's growth to the base each year to encourage the plant to produce new shoots.
