Hydrangea serrata Tuff Stuff
photo of Hydrangea serrata 'Tuff Stuff'
Mountain Hydrangea

Tuff Stuff™ mountain hydrangea lives up to its name. It shares the showy blooms and beautiful pink or purple colour of big-leaf hydrangeas, but because it grows wild on the chilly mountain tops instead of the mild seaside, it naturally developed substantially better cold tolerance. The sturdy lacecap blooms will be bright pink or deep purple-blue, depending on your soil pH, and the handsome dark green foliage resists wilting. IAlthough it is listed as a zone 5 it has bloomed reliably in our garden for the last  two years. 

  • Height: 61-90 cm (24-36 in)
  • Spread: 61-91 cm (24-36 in)
  • Hardiness: Zone 5 (4)
  • Sun or Shade: part sun to full sun
  • Bloom Time: summer to fall
  • Leaf Colour: green
  • Bloom Colour: blue to pink depending on soil PH
  • Nature Attraction: bees

Growing and Maintenance Tips

'Tuff Stuff' prefers moist, well-drained soil. Supplemental water may be needed in very hot weather. In our area afternoon shade is beneficial. Like all hydrangeas, it benefits from a 5-7 cm/2-3"layer of shredded bark mulch. Tuff Stuff hydrangea should not be pruned except to remove any dead wood in spring. This is done after the new growth begins to emerge on the stems. Older plants can have their oldest stems thinned periodically. Flower color will vary depending on soil. In acidic soils with abundant aluminum (a naturally occuring soil mineral), color will tend more to purple-blue. In alkaline soil or those lacking in aluminum, flowers will be a deep pink.

 

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