The Black-Stem Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra'
'Nigra' is a lovely hydrangea with pastel blooms. While this alone would be a good reason for growing it, Nigra is admired mainly for its interesting black stems. Many hydrangeaphyles grow Nigra in their collection.
Nigra is easy to grow, likes part shade (especially afternoon shade), and rich soil. In other words, it is a typical macrophylla (mophead) hydrangea.
You may be wondering about the blue/pink/lavender color of the hydrangeas on this page. This is not characteristic specific to Nigra. Rather, it is typical of hydrangeas which recently have been planted or transplanted. Most all of the colored hydrangeas will do this when first planted.
Black-Stem Hydrangea Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 - 9 |
| Plant Type: Perennials |
| Light Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Sun (At Least 3 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 4 - 6 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 4 - 6 Feet |
| Spacing: 3 - 5 Feet |
| Habit: Rounded |
| Flower Color(s): Pink or Blue |
| Flower Description: Pink (alkaline soils), Blue (acid soils) |
| Bloom Period: Summer |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: Glossy green leaf black stems |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: N/A |
| Tolerates: N/A |
| Attracts: Butterflies |
| Container Role: Thriller |
| Uses: Combinations, Containers, Border, Hedge, Mass Planting |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Bigleaf Hydrangea |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nigra' |
- SKU:
- NIGHYD
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
#5 Pot
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Pre-Ordered Plants
Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated Spring Shipping Schedule
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
| Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
|---|---|
| Zone 10 | March 24th |
| Zone 9 | March 31st |
| Zone 8 | April 7th |
| Zone 7 | April 14th |
| Zone 6b | April 21st |
| Zone 6a | April 28th |
| Zone 5b | May 5th |
| Zone 5a | May 12th |
| Zone 4 | May 19th |
| Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants Shipping Now
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.