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 specimen, used as an informal hedge, added to a mixed planting, or planted as a backdrop for smaller plants. It is a great 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 makes 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 soil that is slightly acidic. It is tolerant of frost, cool climates, coastal environments, and humid climates. Wind protection is important to ensure branches are not snapped and this will also result 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 much more likely to show 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 like compost into the soil during planting will help with 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 like 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 they are pruned back to a low crown which has short stems (about 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 criss-crossing or show disease. Young plants will generally be left with five stems whereas older plants can have 10-20 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 next season. Flowering can be affected with 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 prune the plants hard enough. This error results in a woodier 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 hard they are pruned in winter, how much care they receive, and how warm the climate is. In warmer climates such as Northland and Auckland the plants will 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 this is minimally trimmed, if at all, such that their 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 that informal hedges are trimmed with a little and often approach so they become bushy yet still contained.