Nantucket Blue™ Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are often the anchor plants for cottage garden designs. Nantucket Blue™ Hydrangea is the easy-care and high-impact bloomer all gardeners want. The big, blousy flowerheads are long lasting throughout the summer and make lovely fresh-cut or dried flowers. Hydrangea macrophylla has large, deep green leaves that remain fresh from spring to the first frost. 

Nantucket Blue™ is affected by the pH of your soil. True blue-colored flowers appear in soils with a low pH (acidic), and shades of purple to red will result from higher pH (alkaline) soils. The traditional mophead flowers can be deadheaded (or cut for the vase) to encourage longer blooming in the summer. Allowing the flowerheads to remain will not encourage seedhead formation or self-seeding. Hydrangeas are propagated either by taking cuttings of non-flowering stems or by air layering stems in the soil.

Nantucket Blue™ Hydrangea Care

Plant Hydrangea in a location with partial sun all day or dappled shade during the afternoon heat. Well-draining and consistently moist soil is perfect for growing large leaves and giant flower heads. Use a 2-3 inch mulch of compost or arborist chips to help soils retain moisture and stay cooler through the summer. Fertilize yearly, in the early spring, with a granular slow-release food for acid-loving shrubs. This will help the soil remain acidic and promote bluer flowers. 

Pruning Nantucket Hydrangea is very simple. The flowers will develop on either old or new wood, so timing is not critical. The best time to shape Hydrangea macrophylla is at the end of the winter before the foliage begins to grow. Cut out any stems damaged during the winter while also cutting the height back by half if needed. If winter damage is extensive, Nantucket Hydrangea will respond well to a rejuvenation pruning down to within 6-12 inches of the soil. 

Nantucket Blue™ Hydrangea Spacing

The overall size for Nantucket Blue™ is large with an open vase shape. The mature height and spread are 4-6 feet. Plant multiple shrubs about 5 feet apart on center. Hydrangeas can grow well in oversized pots and planters. Use a container with a 20-inch or more diameter.