Hydrangea Nikko Blue Shrub (Blue Flowers) in 10 in. (3 Gal.) Grower Pot

One of the original blue mophead Hydrangeas, Nikko Blue is an old-fashioned cottage garden favorite, prized for its 4 in. to 5 in. W, snowball-shaped, rich deep blue flower heads. Very floriferous, blooming all summer long, the blue blooms stand out from its medium green foliage. A vigorous deciduous shrub with a rounded habit, growing 4 ft. to 6 ft. tall and wide. Perfect for a partially shaded site in the cutting garden, near the foundation or in a patio pot, yet also commonly planted as a beautiful, eye-catching, flowering hedge.

• Botanical Name:  Classic big-leaf hydrangea, the blooms can be harvested to enjoy fresh or dried
• Standard against which other blue hydrangea are measured
• Usually no serious pests or disease issues
• Part shade lover, grows best in rich, medium moisture, well drained soil
• Flowers are blue in acidic soils, turning pink in alkaline soil, to change color add aluminum sulfate to the soil early in the growing season
• Blooms on old wood, next year's buds are set in late summer and early fall, any pruning must be done before this time of year
• Ships in a 10 in. tall and wide black nursery pot, the live plant itself is about 12 in. tall and wide
• Performs best in USDA plant zones 6 to 9, other climates may be too hot or too cold for this plant to bloom reliably
• Best site is partially shaded with morning sun and afternoon shade
• Thrives in loamy, well drained, organically enriched soil, blooms are pink in alkaline soils and the blue flowers come when the soil is acidic, it is easy to raise acidity by applying a hydrangea fertilizer as directed on package
• Shrub will grow to be 4 ft. to 6 ft. tall and wide, space 4 ft. away from other plants or structures
• Depending on time of year, this hydrangea may or may not ship with blooms on it, if in flower, the blooms may be pink or blue or both