Shrub · Hydrangeaceae family
bigleaf hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
In short a 10-second read
Bigleaf hydrangea (shrub) grows to 1–2 m tall and 1–2 m wide when mature. It grows best in part shade, in average to moist soil. It flowers in June–September; the flowers are pink, blue, white or red. Hardy to −21 °C.
× spread 1–2 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in part shade, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −21 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: a lot
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Frost
It overwinters outdoors; in cold, windy spots winter protection is worth it.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 5–10 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
June–September · pink, blue, white or red
Pruning
prune after flowering (July)
Planting
container plant: October–April
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −21 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −21 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does bigleaf hydrangea flower?
In June–September; the flowers are pink, blue, white or red.
Does bigleaf hydrangea tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does bigleaf hydrangea need?
At maturity 1–2 m wide and 1–2 m tall; recommended spacing 120 cm.
Does bigleaf hydrangea survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −21 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 10 expert sources. Last checked 20 October 2026.
Show sources (10)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- RHS Plant Finder
- Plants For A Future
- Neobiota Austria — Neophyten der Unionsliste
- SIŽP — Zoznam inváznych nepôvodných druhov
- Clemson HGIC - Hydrangea
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow shrubs
- grownbyoverdevest.com
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