Plant Details

Great Plant Picks - A compact and dense grower, 'Merritt's Supreme' is a choice addition to the smaller garden. The stocky thick branches and dense foliage create a full looking deciduous shrub maturing to about 4 feet tall. The large trusses of flowers are very prolific with rich coloring from dark indigo-blue to deep rose-purple. In autumn, the trusses mature in color to a lovely plum. This selection holds up well as a cut flower or for drying. The intense colors show best in the open. Mix with variegated or silver foliaged deciduous shrubs or perennials. Keep away from dark foliaged plants, the flowers are lost in the dark tones. This hydrangea grows best in light to open shade. A location protected from hot sun will keep the foliage and flowers from prematurely fading or scorching. A rich moist to well-drained soil produces the best growth and flowering. Hydrangeas are not drought tolerant and will grow and flower more prolifically with regular summer watering. The typically acidic soils of the Pacific Northwest will cause the variable flowers to bloom with purple and blue tones. For pink flowers, add lime to raise the pH and sweeten the soil. Have a soil test done to determine the amount of lime. Changing the color can often take a few years to accomplish with more than one application of lime. Remove a few old twiggy branches to the ground yearly or prune lightly to improve the overall shape. Heavy pruning can ruin the flowering for the following year. Consult an experienced pruner or take local classes before attempting substantial pruning.