Hydrangea 'Izu no hana'

294-195D4 Hydrangea 'Izu no hana'
Joy Creek Photo Archive (c) all rights reserved	There is little doubt that Hydrangea 'Izu no hana' is one of the most visually exciting of Hydrangea macrophylla types. Its large, double, sterile florets open on violet peduncles that extend down and away from the large central assembly of tiny blue fertile florets. The color of the sterile florets varies depending on the pH of the soil, but, in either pink or blue (sometimes even both at the same time), the florets are lovely as they deepen in color over the season. Depending on the exposure to sun, the thick, glossy green leaves can take on autumn tints. Once the fertile flowers are pollinated, the sterile florets turn their pink reverses out toward the viewer. 'Izu no hana' forms a medium-sized shrub. It was originally found in the wild on the eastern side of the Izu Peninsula south of the Tokyo-Yokohama area where hydrangeas are exposed to ocean breezes. Its Japanese name, which translates to "flower of Izu," refers to this location. June to August. 3-4 ft. x 3-4 ft. Pink or Blue flowers *Sun, Part Shade Zones 6, 7, 8, 9*