Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous'

What are the garden uses for Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' in NZ?

Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' is a much-loved shrub in NZ gardens. It is most commonly grown as a specimen, used as an informal hedge, added to a mixed planting, or planted as a backdrop for smaller plants. It is an excellent complement to a modern or cottage garden, bringing both colour and elegance to a space. It is the gorgeous foliage and beautiful flowers of this plant that make Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' an excellent choice for a NZ garden.

What does the 'Bloody Marvellous' Hydrangea need to grow well?

The 'Bloody Marvellous' Hydrangea grows best when positioned in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained, slightly acidic soil. It is tolerant of frost, cool climates, coastal environments, and humid climates. Wind protection is crucial to prevent branches from snapping, which in turn results in a better-formed plant that will flower more prolifically.

Will Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' go blue?

Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' is known for its deep pink to red flowers, which can deepen to a wine-red or purplish hue as they age. It has been bred for these richer red and pink tones. It is well known that the colour of some hydrangea varieties (particularly Hydrangea macrophylla) can be influenced by soil pH. Acidic soils tend to produce blue flowers, while alkaline soils result in pink or red flowers. However, the 'Bloody Marvellous' variety is bred for its red tones, so while soil pH will have some effect, it is bred to be red-purple rather than blue. It is more likely to exhibit shades of pink, red, and purple, and does not turn blue.

Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' for sale

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Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' plant care

Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' care is simply about getting a few easy things right so the plant thrives. They prefer a sheltered spot in either full sun or part shade. Only in very hot climates should full sun positions be avoided. A well-drained, fertile soil is crucial. Adding organic matter, such as compost, to the soil during planting will help improve soil fertility. They prefer a moist soil, so consistent watering is essential, especially during dry periods, but be careful to avoid overwatering as this can lead to root rot. Applying shrub fertiliser in spring will keep the Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' plants well-fed for the year. Prune in late winter or early spring and continue to remove spent flowers to encourage further blooming. Applying mulch around the base of the plant helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. Monitor for pests, such as aphids, and diseases, like powdery mildew, and treat as needed with appropriate measures.

How to the prune the Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' Variety

The Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' variety is pruned each winter to contain growth and encourage fresh, new growth that will bear flowers. The Plant Company recommends pruning back to a low crown, which has short stems (approximately 10 cm long) with at least two buds on each stem remaining. Any dead stems should also be removed at this time, along with stems that are crisscrossing or show signs of disease. Young plants will typically be left with five stems, whereas older plants can have 10 to 20 stems remaining. These can be thinned back to 15 if desired, which will help produce bigger flower heads. Longer stems can be left on younger plants while they are establishing. In general, the harder the plant is pruned back, the more contained it will grow the following season. Flowering can be affected by hard pruning, but that is more likely to cause delayed flowering only. A mistake often made with pruning the Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' variety is to not pruning the plants hard enough. This error results in a woody plant and a much larger plant that can be difficult to contain.

What height and size does Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' grow to?

Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' grows to about 1.2-1.5 m in height with a similar spread. The ultimate size is determined by how much the plants are trimmed, how aggressively they are pruned in winter, the level of care they receive, and the warmth of the climate. In warmer climates, such as Northland and Auckland, plants tend to be larger than those grown in Southland.

Can the Hydrangea 'Bloody Marvellous' be grown as a hedge?

The 'Bloody Marvellous' Hydrangea is often grown as an informal hedge. That is, a hedge that is minimally trimmed, if at all, such that its natural, rounded shape is preserved to a degree. To create an informal hedge, space the Hydrangea plants 70-90 cm apart. The 'Bloody Marvellous' hedge can be trimmed as little or as much as you want, given it is the informality you are wanting. The Plant Company recommends a "little and often" approach to trimming informal hedges, allowing them to become bushy yet still contained.