Plant of the Week: Hortensia hydrangeas

It’s not surprising hydrangeas are among our best-loved and most widely grown shrubs. The huge, showy flower heads appear in late summer, a time when borders are often looking a little tired, with blooms so prolific they almost cover the bush, like an explosion of colour and beauty.

Hortensia, or mophead hydrangeas are most popular of all, with football-sized heads in shades of white, pink and of course blue. You’ll need acidic soil to bring out the deepest azures; if you have neutral or alkaline soil and want blue hydrangeas, simply grow them in large containers of ericaceous (acidic) compost to bring out that gorgeous colour to the full.