Hydrangea sargentiana (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun to dappled shade
Flowering period: Summer to early autumn
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 2.5m
Eventual Spread: 2.5m
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Hydrangeaceae
Hydrangea sargentiana is a deciduous shrub with an open bushy habit. Its dark green velvety leaves are ovate with serrate margins, up to 25cm long and 13cm broad. Its bark is peeling. Its white/ pink/ purple / pale blue flowers appear as a terminal corymb as flattened flower heads and are up to 23cm across. Its roots have stolons which aids its slow spread.
Hydrangea sargentiana Flower (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Hydrangea sargentiana, commonly known as the Big Leaf Hydrangea, is native to central China. In its native habitat it grows in moist open to dense forests and thickets. Hydrangea sargentiana is synonymous with Hydrangea aspera subsp. sargentiana.
The etymological root of the binomial name Hydrangea is derived from the Greek hydor meaning ‘water’ and aggos meaning ‘jar’ which refers to the plants cusp shaped fruit. Sargentiana is named after Charles Sprague Sargent (1841-1927), an American botanist and director of Arnold Arboretum.
The landscape architect may find Hydrangea sargentiana useful flowering shrub for shady, including woodlands. If grown in full sun its soil should be kept continuously moist.
Ecologically, Hydrangea sargentiana flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Hydrangea sargentiana Leaf (27/07/2013, Kew Gardens, London)
Hydrangea sargentiana prefers moist, rich, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil. It will not tolerate dry soils. In acidic soils its flowers are blueish and in neutral to alkali soils its flowers are pink.
Hydrangea sargentiana requires little maintenance. Damaged stems may be removed in early spring.
