Hydrangea serrata 'Blue Billow'

The parents of this lovely Hydrangea serrata (Lacecap) variety were found growing on the wooded slope of a Korean mountain, which explains Blue Billow's exceptional hardiness. This shrub produces delicate clusters of light blue flowers that last for several weeks in early to midsummer (July here in Connecticut), turning a stunning deep crimson as they age. Fall foliage is an attractive shade of burgundy. Excellent in a shady border with Ferns and Astilbes. 'Blue Billow' is a reliable bloomer through Zone 6, and adventurous gardeners in Zone 5, where flowering occurs 3 or 4 years out of 5 may also wish to give it a try. It performed well at our nursery in full sun. Blooms on old wood.

For this Hydrangea, you can change the color of your blooms by using one of our soil additives, flowers will generally be more blue when grown in acid soils, and pink when grown in alkaline soils.

Hydrangea is a valuable genus of some 100 species of shrubs and vines grown for their large and very showy flower heads. Hydrangeas are at their best in summer and fall—a quiet time for most woody plants—and are worth having for that reason alone.

For more information on Hydrangea care, click on Growing Guide.