Hydrangea Lady in Red

The first Lacecap Hydrangea that can truly claim 3-season interest, Lady in Red is certain to cause a sensation in the plant world! This exciting shrub treats you to bright red stems, petioles, and leaf veins from spring through fall, plus large blooms that open appleblossom-white and mature to deep rose, giving way to fall foliage of rich reddish-purple! An ever-changing color show from a shrub that is compact, eager to grow, and renowned for its mildew resistance! The red highlights really stand out in the spring garden on this 3-foot-high, 4-foot-wide shrub. The leaves are large and toothy, like those of other Hydrangeas, but they glow with red veins, stems, and petioles! And no matter how short or warm your spring is, the red coloration will remain true right into (and through!) summer. The blooms arise most heavily in midsummer, each about 4 inches across and bearing the distinctive lacecap pattern of an inner circle of fertile flowers surrounded by an outer ray of sterile florets. New blooms will be white with just a hint of pink, gradually deepening and "blushing" until they are a rose so intense it takes on burgundy hues! A fully-blooming shrub has every shade of pink, rose, and red -- a magnificent sight for garden or vase! And then in autumn, the leaves turn a deep red with hints of purple. Many Hydrangeas offer a bit of fall foliage color, but Lady in Red makes no bones about it -- these leaves glow as brightly as your Maple or Dogwood! As beautiful as Lady in Red is, some gardeners will want this Hydrangea more for its stem strength and mildew resistance than its incredible color show. The stems are quite substantial and sturdy, making it an ideal cutflower for fresh and dried arrangements. (No "floppy heads" in the garden, either!) And the mildew resistance is invaluable to those of us who live with humid, hot, wet summer weather. Lady in Red is the long-awaited introduction from plant expert Dr. Michael Dirr of the University of Georgia. Dr. Dirr has been breeding Hydrangeas for many years, but Lady in Red is his first introduction -- a master plantsman himself, Dr. Dirr knows that no new variety should be rushed to market. You can rest assured that this shrub has been extensively trialled and evaluated, and that it meets only the highest standards. I am delighted to be able to offer it to you this season! Lady in Red is happiest in partial shade and in well-drained, enriched soil. Quite tolerant of heat and humidity, it makes a fine foundation planting, border knockout, or accent planting, with its compact, densely mounding habit and long bloomtime. Give it plenty of water, especially the first few seasons, for best growth and flowering. Space Lady in Red about 4 feet apart in the garden. We sell big 2-year-old plants in one-gallon pots. Zones 5-9.