When we think of Hydrangeas it is the mophead types that come to mind, a stalwart of acid soils in coastal areas. Whilst these hydrangeas are pleasant enough they are perhaps getting a bit ‘uncool’.

Our plant of the month for July is the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’ which is of the lacecap variety and a whole lot cooler for it…

Plant of the Month Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’

This deciduous plant will make a beautifully shaped medium or large shrub which prefers a shadier spot in the garden, think woodland style planting schemes.  Don’t be afraid to prune to a size which works for you, simply cut back to 5cm of the older wood in early spring.

We like to associate this variety with other shade loving plants, such as Astilbe, Anenome x hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’ and helleborus.

Embrace the shadier side of your garden and try a Hydrangea paniculata.