The Showstopping Variety Of Hydrangea That Produces Massive Flowers

Although most hydrangeas will demand your admiration when in full bloom, there's one option that's an absolute showstopper, and once you see it, you'll definitely want to add it to your collection. This cultivar is Hydrangea macrophylla 'Avant Garde'. What makes it so outstanding is its massive flowers that can easily reach a diameter of at least 12 inches and sometimes, even more. Imagine having a whole bush of these magnificent blooms in your garden!

'Avant Garde' is a mophead hydrangea, and apart from its huge flowers, it also sports very large dark green leaves which will provide a bold complement any other plant in your yard. Surprisingly, this hydrangea only grows to a height of just over 3 feet, so it's reasonably easy to manage. The eye-catching flower heads start out white and then transition to either pink in alkaline soils or a gorgeous powdery blue in soils that are acidic. What's even more amazing about this cultivar is that it will continue blooming if you remove the spent flower heads or cut the outstanding fresh blooms to display indoors. The flowers will last on the plant for at least two months, gradually changing color to green, and then a stunning red as they age.

Like most hydrangeas, 'Avant Garde' will prefer a spot in your garden that receives morning sunshine and afternoon shade. Dappled sunlight is fine but your hydrangea should be protected from the scorching afternoon sun. This hydrangea can handle most soil types as long as it's free-draining. With this cultivar, you'll find that the pH of your soil will determine the bloom color. You can easily amend this to promote the flower color you want by adding aluminum sulfate if you want blue flowers or lime if pink blooms are what you're after. There are other common household things that will change hydrangea color like magic such as ground eggshells, coffee grounds, or wood ash, but these might take some time to be effective. Mophead hydrangeas like this cultivar will do well in USDA hardiness zones 6 through 11.

One of the most important things to remember is to give your giant hydrangea plenty of water throughout summer. This might mean you'll have to water it daily when it's hot. The best method for watering hydrangeas is to water deeply and often, all the while ensuring excess water can drain away. You also don't want to prune 'Avant Garde' too hard as this one of those mistakes everyone makes when growing hydrangeas because it might reduce the number of flowers you get next season. In general, deadheading the spent blooms is all that's needed thanks to the plant's relatively compact growth.